The history of the postal service is more than a chronicle of delivery speeds; it is a history of the expansion of the 'public sphere.' In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the creation of reliable and affordable mail systems allowed for the widespread distribution of newspapers and letters, which were essential for the development of national identity and political discourse. Before the post, information was often localized or restricted to the elite who could afford private messengers. The decision by many governments to subsidize the post as a public service, rather than a for-profit business, ensured that even those in remote rural areas could stay connected to the national conversation. This connectivity was a prerequisite for the success of democracy, as it allowed citizens to share ideas and coordinate across great distances. While digital technology has changed the way we communicate, the postal service established the principle that access to information is a basic requirement for a functioning society. Therefore, the postal service should be seen as a critical infrastructure that helped build the modern nation-state.