Let us consider such a conserved karma system. For every group of users that gets upvoted by outsiders more than they upvote outsiders, their karma is going to increase until the increase to their voting power produces an equilibrium. Consider such a powerful group that tends to upvote each other a lot, no conspiracy required. Their posts are going to be more visible without the group spending any of their collective power to make it happen. More visible posts will get more upvotes, compounding the group’s power with interest. There are combinatorially many potential groups, and this karma system would naturally seek out the groups that best fit the above story, and grant them power.
Let us consider such a conserved karma system. For every group of users that gets upvoted by outsiders more than they upvote outsiders, their karma is going to increase until the increase to their voting power produces an equilibrium. Consider such a powerful group that tends to upvote each other a lot, no conspiracy required. Their posts are going to be more visible without the group spending any of their collective power to make it happen. More visible posts will get more upvotes, compounding the group’s power with interest. There are combinatorially many potential groups, and this karma system would naturally seek out the groups that best fit the above story, and grant them power.