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State has conflict of interest as well. It is entity that is trying to save and extract money, just like big corporation. Lets not pretend it is somehow more moral!

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But in democratic states the people also hold the reins on the other end via elections. You don’t get to vote for CEOs or their boards or their boards largest shareholders for $0.

So yeah they’re characteristically different.

The problem with state-run healthcare (as well as education) is that costs (especially salaries) can become a political issue. In parts of Canada we’re experiencing severe shortages of healthcare workers (such as nurses) because governments have frozen their pay for political reasons.

Why does the electorate vote for politicians who won’t pay nurses what they’re worth?

Because they campaign on promises to “cut the fat” from government. Lots of people earn less than nurses and are resentful of that fact.

Yes the point where people have a say is:

- state -> elections

- corporations -> competition

There are many possible scenarios in both cases where the interest of the people becomes irrelevant because of corruption, cartels, etc...

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