[epistasis]

Suppose you were right, and a private service could outcompete USPS. Why haven't they already? There's many delivery services that go to residential homes now, and tons of spam mailers that would love to save a few dollars in those areas where a private service could do it more cheaply. I'd be shocked that if UPS or FedEx thought they could be more profitable than USPS they wouldn't start competing.

[bboston7]

It's illegal to compete with USPS on normal letter delivery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Express_Statutes

[epistasis]

Thank you, I did not know this! Also did not know that postal service was envisioned in the constitution.

I would think that if such services were thought to be of federal powers, that many more bedrock services that are essential provide to all of society, such as internet service, would also be written in today if the founders had started in 2000.

[casefields]

It's illegal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_Express_Statutes

RIP Lysander Spooner

[treis]

>Suppose you were right, and a private service could outcompete USPS. Why haven't they already?

They're prohibited by law from competing in regular mail delivery.