hi tkc,
yes, but with caveats.
companies need to have funds to invest in future activities. they may reasonably wish to keep a cushion against a downturn.
i kinda think different companies have different needs. so i'd leave it to companies. but i would increase the power of shareholders to demand dividend payments.
perhaps dividends should be issuable in the form of new shares or money, at the individual shareholder's option.