A look at the federal government's expansive designs to pin some sort of wrongdoing on Amazon leaves little doubt this crusade is based in something stronger than a simple quest for justice or consumer protection. Like other big tech companies, Amazon has been branded a "monopolist" by both Democrats and Republicans who—for different reasons—seem to see it as good politics to aim at taking the company down a peg.
Unlike monopolists of yore, Amazon is mostly beloved by consumers. Poll after poll has shown Americans give the company a high approval rating, with one 2021 poll finding Amazon ranked more highly than all but one of the 18 institutions asked about, including Twitter, Facebook, the FBI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
