[seizethecheese]

Variants of this comment pop up a lot. HN is a democracy. By definition, if it makes it to the front page, it belongs there.

[mark_edward]

HN is an oligarchy, the mods have a lot of arbitrary and invisibly operating power, they're not elected, not subjected to popular control.

I'm not necessarily complaining, it's what make the site what it is, but it's definitely not a democracy.

[seizethecheese]

The mods don't place things on the front page, but they can remove them. It's democracy with some control.