IdeaTorrent, the server software which runs Ubuntu Brainstorm, may be the best user-generated approval and discussion system that I’ve seen since Digg was launched some years back. Instead of the initial post link being the only thing (besides comments) upon which users can submit single votes of approval (or, since Reddit, downvotes of disapproval), users can now submit and vote upon proposed "solutions" which are listed under an initial post, in addition to providing comments (I don’t think comments are voted upon in IdeaTorrent’s system). 

I would describe IdeaTorrent’s approach as a sort of user-driven vote-based survey forum, in which questions or concerns are voiced (once, preferably) and users submit and vote upon answers or solutions for such concerns before they offer their comments and reactions.

I think that this could be used by user-driven news-discussion/news-vetting forums which are often solicited for answers or solutions, such as Care2, GreenChange, and Reddit. It could help users focus less upon the popularity or awareness of a recent issue or information (as in how many votes have been recorded, how many comments have been submitted, how long the story stays on the front page), and more upon what solutions or responses are most ideal or popular. 

Furthermore, this may be a further elaboration upon the separation of reactions from comments which I’ve come to favor in newer user-ranking news discussion forums. IdeaTorrent’s model is, overall, a step in the right direction.