While the United states Armed Forces (private mercenaries) are in Vietnam, “united in … determination to take all necessary measures in support of freedom,” Republican (fascist/socialist) de facto President Nixon, Esq., signs the Postal Reorganization Act, removing the Cabinet status of the postmaster general and transforming the Post Office Department into an independent agency under the direct control of the Postal Board of Governors.  CONgress will no longer have to vote on increasing postage rates (something which caused the electoral defeats of many Federal legislators); instead postage rate increases will be approved by the unelected Postal Rate Commission.

       NOTES:

• In the four decades before the passage of this act the cost of mailing a first class, one-ounce letter rose from 2 Cents to 6 “cents,” an annualized inflation rate of 7.5%.  In the four decades since the passage of this act the cost of mailing a first class, one-ounce letter rose from 6 to 44 “cents,” an annualized inflation rate of 18.3%.

• Article I, Section 8 [Clause 7] authorizes Congress to establish (charter) Post Offices and Post Roads; it does not authorize CONgress to regulate or operate them, or grant a monopoly franchise.