How to fix the down-vote problem

A simple way to keep the down-vote brigade at bay

Just as Reddit limits the frequency of comments, so too it should limit the down-vote frequency. The chronic down-voter should get the "You are doing that too often; wait an hour" message.

If down-vote statistics are maintained, then the down-vote to up-vote ratio should be used to determine the duration of the wait between consecutive down-votes.

If down-vote statistics are maintained for each subreddit, the users who do the most down-voting should be identified, exposed, and possibly banned.

Optionally voting should entail a karmic cost: the chronic down-voter should be required to pay in points for his down-votes. The ratio of down-votes to total-votes could be used to determine how much is charged. If one of his ten votes is a down-vote, then that vote will cost him a tenth of a point. If every vote he makes is a down-vote, then each will cost him a full point.

I hope someone will pass this suggestion on to the appropriate Reddit Overlords.