In order to sway popular opinion in their favor, the monopolists and other apparent beneficiaries of the policy can marshal a variety of arguments in its defense.

• For instance, proponents of the postal monopoly frequently point to the institution's historical tradition and even denounce opponents as "unpatriotic."

• Proponents may argue that the provision of the good in question is a "technical monopoly"—that is, that the good by its nature cannot be provided competitively. If competitive provision of a good is truly impractical, of course, then any coercive policy outlawing such competition becomes superfluous; hence the "technical monopoly" argument is illogical prima facie. In any case, such arguments have become increasingly implausible and less widely accepted in recent years, as ever more sophisticated technology has offered new solutions to the problems of competing providers.     

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