Broward's GOP Loves Powerful Socialized Medicine

NOTE: Time now for yet another Simple Story Idea (SSI) for South Florida's journalistically challenged news media – provided free gratis in up-to-date eye-catching color.

   In Washington, Republicans loathe socialized medicine the way vampires hate sunshine.
   But not in Broward County, where Republican-run government hospitals are blowing away their private competition way better than any former Soviet boss ever dreamed of burying capitalism's free market system. 
   Consider:
   Broward's two government-run hospital systems are among the ten largest in nation: the North Broward Hospital District (dba Broward Health) and the South Broward Hospital District (dba Memorial Healthcare).
   Created by the Florida legislature as special taxing districts, the two giant health care conglomerates are run by Boards of Commissioners appointed by Florida's governor.
   In 1998, the Commissioners running the two districts were all strong Democrats appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles.
   However, by 2008, the 18 Commissioners running the two Districts were all devout local Republicans appointed by GOP Governors Jeb Bush or Charlie Crist.
   Bottom line?
   Compared to the current gathering of local Republican big wigs, yesterday's Broward Democrats were dumber than a box of rocks when it came to Powerful Socialized Medicine.
   But judge for yourself:

               Broward Hospital Profits (Losses)
                                   1998                 2008
Government
Hospitals
North District
Broward General      $20,113,454   $40,510,479
Coral Springs           $3,485,679      $6,316,270
Imperial Point           $2,155,005      $9,491,128
North Broward          $7,669,553      $22,736,076
Total Profit (Loss) $33,423,691    $79,053,953            136%
South District
Mem. Miramar          Not Open         $22,457,112
Mem. Pembroke      ($2,258,713)   ($625,310)
Mem. West               $6,611,996      $30,408,322
Mem. Regional        ($9,226,697)    $2,928,759
Total Profit (Loss  ($4,873,414)    $55,168,883            1,223%
All Government
Hospitals                $28,550,277     $134,222,836          370%

Private Hospitals
Cleveland Clinic     ($1,097,012)     $21,528,490
Florida Medical      ($3,761,615)     ($5,901,160)
Hollywood Medical ($490,274)        Sold to South District
Holy Cross            $10,612,178      ($25,063,899) --- REAL NEWS ALERT!!!!
Northridge               $6,759,511        Closed
Northwest               ($2,997,997)      ($2,337,650)
Plantation               ($2,713,112)      ($10,660,816)
University                $10,717,879       $1,499,489
Westside                $7,274,648         $13,840,999
All Private
Hospitals              $24,304,206      ($7,094,547)             (129%)

SOURCE: Hospital Data as Reported to
                    Agency for Health Care Administration