On the Federal Government (Circa the Second Half of the 20th Century) Persecuting Efficient Companies Through Antitrust Legislation (Microsoft, IBM, Schwinn, RCA, Pan-American World, etc.) While Simultaneously Promoting Monopolies via Protectionist Tariffs, Regulations Which Disproportionately Hamper Smaller Firms, Franchise Monopolies, Occupational Licensing (Which Severely Restricts the Entry of New Firms), etc.

I know that the government frequently works at cross-purposes (subsidizing tobacco farmers while simultaneously dishing out money for anti-smoking programs, for example) but this is so far beyond ludicrous to the point where I'm amazed that our economy works at all. Seriously, mercantilism and crony capitalism at its worst.