The economics are questionable in a moral sense - monopolies are widely considered to be good for the monopoly's shareholders and bad for everyone else.

No, it's questionable in that competition might be ruinous for the company, but it's great for workers, customers, shareholders and innovation.

No. I'm saying that he's wrong. Competition is great for innovation, workers, customers and shareholders.

The core reason people hate/distrust/discredit economics is because it lays out a lot of solid yet uncomfortable or unfortunate points. People just really really don't want to know that the economic world is just as trying and punishing as the real world.

Huh? Economics as a discipline is great. Orthodox economics is exactly what I'm drawing on with my comment.