Why Broward Doesn't Work - Part Six
Broward County has a larger population than 12 of our United States.
But …
Unlike Broward, each of the 12 states operates under a traditional form of American government that includes three branches of government that function as a system of checks and balances: Executive, Legislative and Judicial.
Broward County government, however, consists of only one branch of government: a Legislative body consisting of nine elected commissioners, with one serving as a figurehead mayor.
Okay.
Some might claim the Broward State Attorney's Office serves as the Judicial segment of our tradtional system of checks and balances at the County level – which, in reality, is less likely than a gala courthouse wedding for State Attorney Mike Satz and Amy Winehouse.
Of course, there's also the press (or the 4th Estate), which historically has served as the fourth component in our nation's system of political checks and balances.
However, aside from alternative media pitbulls like Bob Norman and Tom Francis of New Times, Broward's traditional news media are more lapdogs than watchdogs. (But
then it ain't easy staying on top of things by telephone from the 9th floor of the Sun-Sentinel building.)
Anyhow, as any middle school civics student will tell you, Broward's county form of government is a dysfunctional antique leftover from the days when ours was a nation of farmers. (Actually, county government dates back to the 11th century and the Norman conquest of England – when the king and his nobles ran the show as Medieval Special Interest Groups.)
Bottom line?
Broward's county form of government is way long on bloat, but way short on accountability.
Population Governmental System
Of Checks & Balances
Broward County 1,733,178 No
Idaho 1,545,801 Yes
New Hampshire 1,324,575 Yes
Maine 1,318,301 Yes
Hawaii 1,295,178 Yes
Rhode Island 1,053,209 Yes
Montana 974,989 Yes
Delaware 885,122 Yes
South Dakota 812,383 Yes
Alaska 698,473 Yes
North Dakota 646,844 Yes
Vermont 621,760 Yes
Wyoming 544,270 Yes
SOURCE: US Census Bureau
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