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Video and poll: A tsunami of intergovernmental cooperation?

• 1.

  Due to fighting over the same resources, DeCramer talks about forcing various watershed districts to sit at the same table (forming the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources).  Given the growing trend of insufficient resources, how much of an emphasis should government place on facilitating collaboration among those who share interests in the same resources and outcomes?  

   

  

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    Collaboration is key to ensuring that we're maximizing the effectiveness of our limited resources. The time, effort and resources required to facilitate collaboration is worth the outcomes.
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    Collaboration is easier said than done, and forcing them to the table doesn't necessarily mean that they'll work toward a common goal. It just adds another level of bureaucracy.
• 2.

  He notes that citizens tend to less comfortable engaging in work that is undertaken by large entities (for instance, people are more comfortable engaging with local government officials than federal ones).  Is it more appropriate or useful for citizens to have input at "lower" levels of government than higher?  Check the boxes for each level of government you feel like you as an individual could and should be able to make a substantive impact. 

  

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    Neighborhood
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    City
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    County
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    State
• 3.

  DeCramer is skeptical that a "tsunami of cooperation" is coming between various levels of government and other entities.  He  doesn't think that there's going to be a "realignment" of government (i.e. new or combined levels or entities, like 4 counties consolidating into one) but rather better alignment between existing bodies (e.g. counties work better together).  What do you think needs to happen (not necessarily what you think will happen), and why?

  

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    Better alignment – work better together with the entities/levels that we have
• 4.

  Why? (please provide insight to your answer above)

  Recent answers given:

  • It's hard enough to get people to want to change, so changing governmental structure sounds unrealistic
  • There currently seems to be a trend of partnerships throughout the state, with groups focusing on their shared goals not their differences. Plus, groups like to keep their autonomy for the simple reason that many people dislike change and fear the possible unfamiliar. Therefore, I see existing bodies staying as they are but working more closely with one another.

by Tom Ruffaner on Jun 29, 2011 @ 3:00am

Above all, I think it is extremely important to have a fully informed electorate and right now I believe the electorate is ignorant about most issues and tend to harbor feelings of resentment towards outsiders whether they be the next district, county, state governement or federal government.  If we are to resolve the multitude of problems facing our complex society we will need to make sure the electorate is fully informed about all issues and have a systemic viewpoint and a deeply held commitment towards the common good.