Once an entity like Apple becomes Apple, it can't really be competed with in the traditional sense. The whole European Union likely couldn't create a new Apple if they wanted to due to inertia and the insane capital costs. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that's more of a factor here.

I agree with the Libertarian view that a lot of firms don't want to compete, so they lobby for special protections that come out of the tax layers in a somewhat coercive manner. In some cases (national defense) I think it's acceptable, but probably not for all cases.