4 ms·

People also forget that the postal system was created explicitly by the constitution. In that sense it's a more authentic government institution than even the f

People also forget that the postal system was created explicitly by the constitution. In that sense it's a more authentic government institution than even the federal reserve which came later. The spirit in which it was created and the discussions surrounding it at the time also make it clear that the framers would be appaled by attacks on both the postal system and net neutrality that have become commonplace. Forcing a public institution to be self-supporting is a classic strategy to destroy that institution. To funnel tax money away from public transit, just cripple the system by raising fares in the name of profitability while giving tax breaks to automakers. To kill the postal system, set it up to fail with malicious metrics, and make sure companies like Amazon don't have to pay for the externalities they create. Just as a road is more valuable than the tolls it generates, uniformly accessible secure communication is a general force multiplier for any country. If some people have to pay more than others for the same service, much of that advantage is lost.

philwelch 5y ago
> People also forget that the postal system was created explicitly by the constitution. No—the constitution authorizes Congress “to establish post offices and post roads”. It does not obligate them to do so any more than it obligates them to declare war or hire pirates, to name two other clauses of the exact same section.
- klyrs 5y ago
  I believe you read the pirate bit wrong > To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
  - sio8ohPi 5y ago
    No, right below that: "[congress shall have the power] to declare War, *grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal*, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; "
    - klyrs 5y ago
      Ah, fair enough. Technically, a privateer is not a pirate... but I'll grant that's only a technical distinction.
      - philwelch 5y ago
        Privateers are a type of pirate, and pirates would sometimes alternate between privateering and freelance piracy based on what was more lucrative at the time.
- sio8ohPi 5y ago
  Interestingly, both the postal clause and and letters of marque are hold-overs from the (very few) powers granted by the articles of confederation. Without the power to tax or impose tariffs, I wonder to what degree the postal monopoly was seen as a revenue generating measure.

philwelch 5y ago

> People also forget that the postal system was created explicitly by the constitution. No—the constitution authorizes Congress “to establish post offices and post roads”. It does not obligate them to do so any more than it obligates them to declare war or hire pirates, to name two other clauses of the exact same section.

klyrs 5y ago
I believe you read the pirate bit wrong > To define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas, and Offenses against the Law of Nations;
- sio8ohPi 5y ago
  No, right below that: "[congress shall have the power] to declare War, *grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal*, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; "
  - klyrs 5y ago
    Ah, fair enough. Technically, a privateer is not a pirate... but I'll grant that's only a technical distinction.
    - philwelch 5y ago
      Privateers are a type of pirate, and pirates would sometimes alternate between privateering and freelance piracy based on what was more lucrative at the time.
sio8ohPi 5y ago
Interestingly, both the postal clause and and letters of marque are hold-overs from the (very few) powers granted by the articles of confederation. Without the power to tax or impose tariffs, I wonder to what degree the postal monopoly was seen as a revenue generating measure.