These are all pretty cool ideas, and I'm looking for ways to throw people bones if they're struggling. (I'm trying to create a simple adaptive difficulty type system.) So I'm going to look at these ideas and try to work them in.
The problem with this system is that if you're struggling, get bailed out then lose your influence and lose public opinion, that could create a feedback loop where players get into trouble and then things get worse. So if I use these ideas I'll have to make sure it helps people who are struggling rather than making things worse for them.