Are monopolies bad?
 

If you think they are, do you also think they should be made illegal?

Just curious.

Walmart pushed out the mom and pop stores, but it also made products cheaper. Walmart can buy out good/competing ideas but it cannot legally stop people from competing with them, so theoretically the market remains open to anybody who wishes to compete in that market or any other market that may be monopolized.

Microsoft is the other popular example. Anybody is free to develop an alternate browser (and they have, firefox etc) and product (Apple), so the market remains open.

they are not bad, unless they abuse their power, but most do, so yea, they are bad...

I don't consider Wal-Mart or Microsoft a monopoly personally, but a lot of people do. Like you said, they may have pushed some out of business, but who hasn't? Computers have pushed away typewriters. Cars have pushed away horses. Not the greatest comparison I know, but I'm sure you understand what I'm saying.

In theory, a monopoly would eliminate competition, which is not in the best interest of the public.