In a truly free market it is very tough for monopolies to form. The very conditions a monopoly creates such as high prices and relative scarcity of goods, are the very conditions where competition would thrive. In reality government intervention is essential to the formation of monopolies, business get laws passed to help them and hurt their competitors, then they get a monopoly. In a free market a business may monopolize a market for a short time if they provide good services at prices people are willing to accept. But if they just sit back and fail to provide what the market wants they will be overtaken by competitor's. Besides if a business provides goods and services so well that people choose to buy their goods over all others giving them a monopoly, so what. There is nothing wrong with that as long as the consumers choose to make it happen. The minute the company fails to provide what the consumers want, or a smaller company provides a better product at a cheaper price, the game is over.If what we're referring to by "free market" is a system in which just enough regulation exists to keep monopolies from forming, then I'd say I support that 100% and am apparently not a socialist after all. ;-)
As with many things most of what you hear about Anti-Trust and monopoly's is myth. Promoted by socialists who love big government and hate capitalism.
No personal offense intended.

