I debated on the side of downvotes but I wasn't able to sway anyone.  But like Vir said, I came to realize how spiteful the whole process would be. 

Now I wouldnt however, mind a option where you could -1 say on your own end, and hide the blog from view if you deem it a waste of screen space.  I.E. how down voting comments works.

I'd like that very much. Like, kind of a blog ignore thing where I can have Mortale and Gobbledix on perma -1.

Isn't there a functionality to ignore blogs already?  Or users?

Cmon Mortale isn't that bad and surely shouldn't be named with Giggleprix in one sentence.

That would be nice.
I already hate the new concept of "most popular blogs" with Mings gay Aftermath Post on top for like 102342 weeks. WTB the old concept again: Most single Views on Top. Thats a better indicator for a good blog than fanboy +1 imho.

The popular blogs formal is still being tweaked.  It probably would be updated sooner were it not for the holidays.  But obviously, they havent changed much since tuesday which is odd.  Nothing has dropped off the list, per the old way which blogs dropped off after 2-3 days depending on activitiy.

There's a pretty simple solution that would allow upvoting and downvoting to live in harmony.

Here it is:

Have a feature that allows any user to see who upvoted and who downvoted any specific thread or post.
That way, most of the "cowardice" approach to the voting system will be removed, and people will be less inclined to spam votes for the sheer hell of it, as they'll be totally accountable for their choices.

Maybe add a user ignore feature, too, which would allow you to ignore any content posted by user X; again with a more basic list of how many people have user X on ignore. And there you have it.
Accountability and user defined soft-policing.

Showing who upvotes or downvotes would be a great feature.

It wouldn't stop chronic downvoting though.  It might actually encourage it.

Not necessarily, as it would tie into the ignore user function, so you'd be able to just remove downvote spammer X from your specific instance of GR. And, likewise, other users would be able to see (via some icon display or whatever) that downvote spammer X has Y amount of people ignoring him.

So in the end, with the ability to see who votes what, the people who do nothing but maliciously downvote will eventually be except (by their own doing) from the community itself, as it will be on show and obvious to all that said individual brings nothing to the site and is deservedly ignored.

Take away the toys and the children play elsewhere.