The 'VS Senate' model of Collaborative Government is a multi-tiered Caucus with input groups involving Elders and Experts right down to the Village Level..

The principle is that the Local Elders are the ones who know the Local problems best. They are the ones who best know which solutions would work and which would not.
There is a wealth of expertise & wisdom in our older or retired business leaders and in our senior Academic community.
There is a wealth of 'bright ideas' and 'issue exposure' in our younger people.
The VS model is designed to bring these two groups together in a 'Collaborative Democracy'..

The 'S' in 'VS' stands for these Senior Specialists (Latin Senatus).
Unlike our current leaders, these "Senior Specialists" know all the pitfalls, they have seen a thousand "bright ideas" come and go! They know what works and what doesn't. Their expertise and wisdom, coupled with the lateral thinking and energy of the younger citizens could be a formidable force for innovation, good governance and a balanced society.

We will be calling on this massive resource to assist in the formulation of our policies, to stand for election or to take up advisory roles.

Village Senate..
Our country will no longer be steered by powerful lobbyists (or unions) who can legally (?) influence critical policies with million dollar political donations.
The C.P.D. (Collaborative Policy approval and Development) process will be based on a hierarchical system of Tribunals..
At the "Village" level, every elected member will head a tribunal that chairs monthly public meetings throughout their electorate.
The tribunal will include an esteemed local business leader and an esteemed local academic.
These two advisers will be conscripted for set periods from an approved pool of "Senior Specialists". (similar to "Jury Duty")
(Why conscripted? Sadly, these talented people would never willingly enter politics! While their wisdom and leadership skills far exceeds that of the average politician, they would never choose to work among politicians and lobbyists!)

These monthly public meetings will address issues raised via the 'suggestion box' of previous meetings.. The meeting will be attended by those 'Local Experts' with experience in the tabled issues.
The proposals from these meetings will be collated and scheduled to one of the relevant weekly State level meetings. (which are run on the same principles as the Village level meetings.)

With this process, can we still get 'bold and courageous' decisions at the top?
Hitler was of the opinion that he alone could make wise and courageous decisions because, in his words.. "You will never get one courageous decision from a hundred cowards!" and his sister statement "You will never get one wise decision from a hundred fools!"
Logically, there is truth in those statements - but 100 citizens do not equal 100 fools. All of us may behave foolishly from time to time, but, with peer review and peer respect, we can think wisely and bravely most of the time.
With these peer structures in place, 'Mr. President' will be keenly aware of the wishes of the people, and will know that any 'bold decision' he has to make tonight will need to be justified to the 'collaborative' tomorrow.

Governance corrupted by lobbyists and unions..

Unions are famous for using 'Standover Tactics' on politicians, there are many court allegations that unions spend enormous sums of money to threaten politicians and influence the outcome of legislation.
A now notorious video clip (released by 'The Examiner' and many other media papers) shows a "SEIU (Service Employees International Union) official threatening California Legislators." She says..
"The power of the union helped many Democrats get into office who would not have done so without our assistance. We got a good memory; and come November, if you don't back our program, we'll 'help to' get you out of office." (How is this different from blackmail?)
This was not a back-room, secret conversation.. The lady appears to be on an official podium within chambers! She appears and sounds like she is directly speaking to (and chastising) these "Democrats" she claims to own!