So let me get this straight. From my brief perusal of this thread and the other one that has now been closed; (obviously) the reputation system is gone because of the forums software change.
Under the old rep system, we could not neg rep anyone more in a 48 time line, lest we risk getting a temp ban. We could not positive rep anyone too much either, lest we were presented with the "You must spread some more reputation around before giving it to ____ again" message. And actually that applied to trying to give a neg rep as well.
Then after the initial the forum software changes and we could agree and disagree as much as we want with a 'like' thrown in and no 'messages'.
Now, we cannot even disagree at all with a post? I'm sorry but a political forum becoming "Politically Correct" by not allowing any 'down' of a poster's post is too Politically Correct for a political forum.
Just takes out political out of a political forum. IMHO.
If it was or is at all possible with this new forum software, try to add the extension, or whatever to retrieve the old rep and then we should all quit our . . . . . . B+++ching.
p.s. I am sure that many others who have been members much longer than I will flame my post, it has happened before and I expect to happen again.