This is quite interesting @geoffrey (GOT reference?) I like the idea of followers sharing voting power, but wonder if that might possibly make a situation like on Instagram where people beg for follows and likes. (whether or not this is good or bad I guess depends on who you talk to).

I feel that from the data I have seen, the wealth of the whales is being distributed to more quality users and creating solid dolphins. But yes, while the whales are all very helpful and honest (from my experience). 

Money can corrupt people and one sperm whale could sleep with a humback's wife (whale relations haha) and cause a huge rift in the ocean. A whale war would divide and devalue what steemit is striving for. So you have a great point that keeping a checks and balances system in place to prevent abuse of power is very important.