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> People also forget that the postal system was created explicitly by the constitution. No—the constitution authorizes Congress “to establish post offices and

> 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 6y 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 6y 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 6y ago
    Ah, fair enough. Technically, a privateer is not a pirate... but I'll grant that's only a technical distinction.
    - philwelch 6y 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 6y 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.