But to have people behind the scenes with the power to remove anything without accountability is also a huge potential loss. I believe the latter to be worse than the former. If people start throwing opinions, they reveal themselves, if the intelligence on the list is worth talking to, this will be challenged. If the majority of people on the list cannot tell opinion from fact, then having a moderator doesn't help the situation. I hope others will consider doing so too.
Many hands make light work.
I just happen to have posted twice in the recent past. If we do develop criteria for choosing moderators based on frequency of posting, my tenure will not be long. But I guess that is too much asked in an environment that thoroughly believes in the competition paradigm. I would agree with Arthur that posting and answering posts means moderation. Of course this will enhance the lits's academic fame.