"Exactly who are the "guilty" parties?"

I can only speak for myself, but as well as I don't think we have paid pumpers TODAY I think we have paid basher on this board TODAY.

This had been completely different in 2007, the time when Agoracom was paid by PTSC - at this time there have been strange coincidences (to say at least) between activities on this board, changes in shareprice and news by the company.

Regarding the possibility to influence or even controll a messaging board on Agoracom I'm afraid that this is possible - with the Hub Leader status and its powers as a strong tool.
Therefore it's laying in the hands of these Hub Leaders to guarantee a messaging board with different and opposing views, even if those are contrary to one's own views.

And again: it won't help this board's sentiment to urge for specific names who couldawouldashoulda - as long as people on this board have the feeling of a fair and balanced board there is no need to talk about this.
But if this board tends strongly to one certain side (or the other) I can understand that people ask for the reason behind this.

Hope this helps - glty