I created a tool to calculate this over a year ago (http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-like-count http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-like-count) ... this actu

I created a tool to calculate this over a year ago (http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-like-count http://www.allfacebook.com/facebook-like-count) ... this actually benefits the publisher in that the more likes, the more likely a user will like it. Not completely transparent, but it's a well known fact.