3 ms·

> why does it need to be a federal agency? Cause it’s constitutionally mandated. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Clause https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki

by JackFr 6y ago

> why does it need to be a federal agency? Cause it’s constitutionally mandated. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Clause https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Clause

eru 6y ago
Yes. But not the question becomes, why would it be a good idea to have such a clause in a constitution? Edit: I just had a look. The clause only seems to talk about the power, not the obligation to run a postal service. In fact, 'An early controversy was whether Congress had the power to actually build post roads and post offices, or merely designate which lands and roads were to be used for this purpose, [...]'.
- Nasrudith 6y ago
  Regardless of if it was a good idea they would need a large margin in order to pass the ammendment and given the rural statea it would be DOA from them alone, even those who might support it likely wouldn't consider it an important issue. There are / way more important questions left unresolved in the constitution's text. I am all for at least planning a set od constitutional modernization proposals and mass vote while dreading what sorts of messed up things they would try to put in there and get passed. Especially if logical viability was a requirement.
  - eru 6y ago
    I don't think you'd need to change the constitution. As far as I can tell the constitution only gives congress the power to interfere in mail, it doesn't impose an obligation to do so. > Section 8 > 1: The Congress shall have Power To [...] To establish Post Offices and post Roads; Similar to how the same section gives Congress the right to borrow or to impose tariffs and excise duties, but I don't think anyone would construe that as an obligation to borrow or a ban on free trading. I don't think there was any constitutional crisis when the national debt reached 0 during the Andrew Jackson administration?

3 ms·

> why does it need to be a federal agency? Cause it’s constitutionally mandated. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Clause https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki

by JackFr 6y ago

> why does it need to be a federal agency? Cause it’s constitutionally mandated. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Clause https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Clause

eru 6y ago
Yes. But not the question becomes, why would it be a good idea to have such a clause in a constitution? Edit: I just had a look. The clause only seems to talk about the power, not the obligation to run a postal service. In fact, 'An early controversy was whether Congress had the power to actually build post roads and post offices, or merely designate which lands and roads were to be used for this purpose, [...]'.
- Nasrudith 6y ago
  Regardless of if it was a good idea they would need a large margin in order to pass the ammendment and given the rural statea it would be DOA from them alone, even those who might support it likely wouldn't consider it an important issue. There are / way more important questions left unresolved in the constitution's text. I am all for at least planning a set od constitutional modernization proposals and mass vote while dreading what sorts of messed up things they would try to put in there and get passed. Especially if logical viability was a requirement.
  - eru 6y ago
    I don't think you'd need to change the constitution. As far as I can tell the constitution only gives congress the power to interfere in mail, it doesn't impose an obligation to do so. > Section 8 > 1: The Congress shall have Power To [...] To establish Post Offices and post Roads; Similar to how the same section gives Congress the right to borrow or to impose tariffs and excise duties, but I don't think anyone would construe that as an obligation to borrow or a ban on free trading. I don't think there was any constitutional crisis when the national debt reached 0 during the Andrew Jackson administration?