MPR: The Future of Small Towns: Idea Generator: Idea detail and comments

Categories : People : Economic opportunity : Human services : Telecommunications : Transportation : Social/cultural opportunities : Education : Government & policy : Other

Idea for: Government & policy

Bring more state employment opportunities to outstate Minnesota
The State of Minnesota (as an employer) should consider moving departments to various locations in out-state Minnesota. This would spread civil service employment opportunities over a greater share of Minnesota's population and help bring infrastructure and revenue to areas outside the Twin Cities.

With e-mail and other technological advances, it should no longer be necessary for everything to be based in the Twin Cities/greater metropolitan area.

From Andrea Johnson of Lake Elmo, MN on 05/19/05

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Chris, I don't understand your point. I agree with LeAnna and Andrea and think it's wonderful that the government jobs would be in more areas to put workers in closer contact with those they serve. Maybe then when small town MN talks, our state government would listen.

From Lisa Cary of Duluth, MN on 06/10/05

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From susan campion of montevideo, MN on 06/07/05

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I disagree with Chris on this one--so little is really shipped anywhere anymore. People can work from pretty much anywhere in our information age, so why not encourage departments to get up into northern MN, or the western half, or anything other than the Twin Cities? That way, government isn't BIGGER, it's just more spread out, and they can actually get to know the folks for whom they're creating and enforcing policy, making them more connected.

From LeAnna Lesmeister of Moorhead, MN on 05/27/05

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No, no, no, no, no! Any plan that increases the size, scope and/or physical reach of state government is a bad idea. The reason is that we have too much government already with too many layers of bureaucracy and waste. Farming out state services to small towns in outstate MN will just add another layer of rent, utilities, transportation and administrative costs to our tax bill.

I agree that it's important to bring job opportunities to small towns to keep them vital, but NOT government jobs.

From Chris Norbury of Owatonna, MN on 05/27/05

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I'd have to settle for "Great Idea" because that is as high as it goes!

In this high tech information age, much of the government red tape processing work could be "outsourced" to outstate Minnesota.

From Leland Rueb of Onamia, MN on 05/25/05

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From VIctoria Ford of Saint Paul, MN on 05/19/05

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