To a Better Democracy

As a country (Nation, Democracy, Kingdom, Empire etc) grows older, powers houses gets stronger and the interests of the rich and power holders overtake the interests of the common public that eventually leads to the demise of the nation. Unfortunately the American nation is going in this direction (Corporations grow above the law and its lobbiest become powerful than the law makers, Rich control the lives of the public through direct and indirect laws, average citizens work till death unable to retire, laws written by corporations in their favor, 95% wealth controlled by less than 10% of the population, public money used for the richs' cause without anyone's notice, Bribary for elected officals acknowledged as lobbying and customery, ...).

The following ideas can prevent the demise of a great nation and can help to shape a better democracy:

1. Everyone elegible to vote should vote (100% participation). If a person does not vote then he/she should not be eligible for Tax deductions and concessions.

2. These should be choice that states "No confidence in any of the Candidates" in the list of candidates that contest, so that one can choose this option while voting.

3. Win or loose, no one should be allowed to contest for a specific public office (Congress, Senate, Municipal, County) more than three times. (Note: If an elected official could not get his/her agenda done within 3 terms then he/she will never get those done. New Blood can. Also long periods of power and previlege will get a person out-of-touch with public's difficulties and reality. So this term limits is essential. As a rule of thumb no one should be allowed to be in power / hold public office for more than 12 years)

4. In America, a Senator is suppose to represent the best interest of the State he/she is elected from but the current system directly or indirectly affects other States also. For e.g. in the health care debate of 2009, say if both Senators from NY want Public option but they may not get it because the Public option does not get 60% vote from Senators even though there may be 58% vote for it. So it is an ironey that the minority - 42% that do not want Public option wins over the majority! Also the wishes of the State Senators (say NY) are not taken care! So the operation of the Senate should be changed such that if the Senators from NY vote for a public option then State of NY gets public option. Similarly if the Senators from Utah do not want a public option then State of Utah DOES NOT get a public option! This will directly affect the State the Senators represent and will truely reflect the opinion of the public from the State the Senators were elected (If the Senators go against the wishes of the people, people of that state will make sure the Senators are voted out of office as they are directly affected be their Senator's vote but not because of a decision vote in Senate from a Senator of another state for whom they did not vote for! - as is the case now!).
Note: The Senate is a State representation at the Federal Government. There are cases for which laws can be made applicable to willing states (like the health care example given above) and cases for which the law needs to be applicable for entire nation (like whether to go to war). If there is a tie in Senate vote (50%) then congress and President (the other two branches of law makers and executers) should decide whether the law should be made applicable to the entire nation or to individual States as voted by the Senators of the State.

5. All insurance (Car, home, life, health etc) should be run at the State or National level by 5 to 9 Non-Profit Organizations. There should be only 4 types of insurance (Normal, High risk, Luxury and Luxury High Risk) and each of this 4 catagories should be seperately administered within its own pool of insurance in such a way that it does not affect the other category in premium and compensation!

6. For ages upto 40 - 5 days a week as work week.
Normal work day - 7 1/2 (Seven and half-hours of work a day) hours with 15 minutes break for every 45 minutes of work. (The 15 minute break is included for 7/12 hour work calculation)
(e.g. Work starts at 8.00 AM; Work until 8.45 AM; break from 8.45 AM to 9.00 AM;
Work again from 9.00 AM; Work until 9.45 AM; break from 9.45 AM to 10.00 AM;
Work again from 10.00 AM; Work until 10.45 AM; break from 10.45 AM to 11.00 AM;
Work again from 11.00 AM; Work until 11.45 AM; break from 11.45 AM to 12.00 noon;
Lunch Break from 12 noon until 1.00 PM
Work again from 1.00 PM; Work until 1.45 PM; break from 1.45 PM to 2.00 PM;
Work again from 2.00 PM; Work until 2.45 PM; break from 2.45 PM to 3.00 PM;
Work again from 3.00 PM; Work until 3.45 PM; break from 3.45 PM to 4.00 PM;
Work again from 4.00 PM; Work until 4.30 PM; Leave for the day.

Note: Anyone that works overtime can work only upto a maximun of 10 hours a day including the 15 minutes break counted as work for work hour calculation. The extra 2 1/2 (Two and half hours work ) of extra time should be paid at 1.5 times normal compensation calculated on a daily basis.

7. As we are social living beings everyone should have paid vacation for their Birthday, Spouse's Birthday, Marriage day, Children's Birthday (upto a maximum of 3 children), 20 days annual vacation days, 15 days for burial of close relation; In addition everyone above age 40 should have the last friday of every month as paid vacation; In addition everyone above age 45 should have the first and last friday of every month as paid vacation; In addition everyone above age 50 should have friday of every month as paid vacation; So they work only 4 days a week but get 5 days a week pay. This helps for gradual retirement! Also no one should be allowed to work above 65 years of age but should be allowed to retire from 55 years of age onwards. Everyone should get Pension from 60 years of age onwards till death.

Note: If anyone calls the above plans as Socialism - so be it. At present Americans are fooled in a system in which the Rich enjoy Socialism benefits but rest 90% population are indirectly forced to work as insecure laborers for Capitalistic owners until death but with a dream of capitalistic hope!

-Suresh