How to get the general population to pay more in transaction fees?
I don't think that it is definitely a good idea to increase the transaction fee.  One of bitcoins biggest selling points is the ability for micro-payments and very low transaction fees.  While I do agree with others that micro-transactions will eventually move off the blockchain.  For now even with the block-reward halving, transactions fees still won't benefit miners financially much for a very long time.  As again as I said the ability to make bitcoin transactions much cheaper than traditional means is one of bitcoins main selling points and will be for a long time.  Until such a date that the majority of bitcoin transactions are made off the blockchain.  Instead in house by larger bitcoin payment and services provider outlets.