Too difficult for me to grasp the truth behind all this whales thing, flagging, down or up or self votes and manipulations of timing.
I think Steemit it's not a platform designed for free speech if that is what you are talking about, it's a social platform from the beginning trying to get quality content (avoiding what is considered dangerous for vulnerable people) to gain money in a fair economic game, not communist, more socialist perhaps but there is not wrong with that if it well apply.
If anybody wants free speech this has never been a place for that and that is written implicit in the same rules that made you be in the position you are.
So I hope you still enjoy the benefits you achieved so far for a long time.
But don't give the free speech thing as it's being lost in Steemit, It has never been gained.