It seems yesterday was a very bad day at Steemit headquarters. The pink slips were handed out to 70% of the staff. Some very good people, many who are active on here, were let go.
This from 
https://busy.org/@ned/2fajh9-steemit-update
Steemit operates on an automated schedule of converting STEEM to fiat. Like everyone who depends upon the crypto to survive, times are tough. I read a couple articles of people having to go back to their businesses that were overlooked because of time dedication to crypto.
It simply is the nature of this bear market. Many companies along with individuals are suffering. This is what we are dealing with.
While I feel bad for those who lost their jobs, this is a larger wake up call to all of us. There are many on here who preach at the alter of decentralization. Steemit has a lot of responsibilities with it's fingers in a lot of different aspects of what is taking place. Now, with cost cutting at the top of the priority list, things will need to be streamlined.
Since I am not a techie dude, I cannot provide a breakdown of how this ought to occur. That said, it is an opportunity for the community to step up and take over what needs to be done. At the same time, it is up to Steemit to relinquish some of that control.
Many will take this as a kick to the gut but I do not look at it that way. It is part of growing pains. We are in a very young, immature industry. Things like this happen. Whatever the reason for it, and I will not speculate or point fingers, it is time to mount up and overcome.
Decentralization is a barrier to outside interference since there is no single point of entry. It is why hacking is much more difficult on a decentralized system. This also applies to control. When power is decentralized, there is no single point of failure. Put too much power in the hands of an individual or entity and systemic risk is a factor.
Effectively, the way the responsibilities are delegated opens us up to 3rd party counter risk.
It is seriously time for the Witnesses to step up and work with the remaining staff at Steemit. There is really no other choice. Witnesses are our voice and they need to represent the platform. Steemit is not Steem; it is time to prove that.
Fortunately, the running of the blockchain is already in the hands of the Witness and the DApps are separate entities, not directly affected by this. Their development can continue as planned. What is affected is the further development that was discussed. Ned admitted this in the comment section of his post. Cost cutting is the main priority right now, everything else, in terms of timeline, is in question.
It is time for the adults in the room to take charge. In my mind, this is directed at the top 100 WItnesses. Most of them are very knowledgeable about the different aspects of the back end of the blockchain. The loss of manpower, according to the post, was large. This need to be made up somehow. The Witnesses either have the know-how or know where to find it.
I understand the decisions Steemit had to make. Anyone in business grasps what is taking place. This, once again, proves that all of this is not free. There is a cost to develop and run an operation like the Steem blockchain.
It is time for all of us to step up our game. All 261,000 people with at least 1 SP are stakeholders in this blockchain. This applies equally to the person with 1 SP as it does to Ned.
We often like to talk about community and how great it is on here. It is time to prove that by coming together. Each of us has a role to play in this. This with the ability can step right in and do what needs to be done. The rest of us can support them in whatever fashion we can.
I am reminded of a talk I saw Andreas Antonopoulos give about Bitcoin. In it, Andreas mentioned how Bitcoin was so much better than a centralized system behind fire walls because it was out there, open, to be hit by everything thrown at it. The "secured" system is actually more vulnerable because it is not exposed to every hack, virus, and all the other digital garbage floating around.
It is the same with us. It is easy to be a community when things are going along smooth as silk. However, the strength of a community only comes from being tested. Can we call ourselves a strong community if we are hidden behind a nice secure wall that keeps all the bad stuff away from us?
Obviously not.
Time to band together and set a new course for the next leg of the Steem journey.
With each setback is an opportunity It is up to us now to take advantage of this situation and reduce the 3rd party counter risk that exists.
Remember, this is our blockchain.
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