Perspective

The United States has changed a lot since it's birth in 1776, but even before it declared it's independence, it started the the postal service (1775-Ben Franklin)

That sounds very progressive and down to earth---but who really benefited.

The postal service has never been free and stamps didn't get started until 1847.  US registered mail started in 1855.  Pony express started inn 1860. Home delivery in town started in 1863 but in rural areas, you still had to go to the post office to get your mail until 1896. 

In addition to that, mail didn't help everyone. 

Mail was dependent upon literacy and before 1800, schooling was a family matter.  By 1875, about 80% of people could read (but not across the board, this was non-immigrant white people) 

Until the 1950's, half of the US population stopped school by 8th grade.  By the 1960's 40% were graduating high school.   

These days, about 20% of citizens have problems with reading/writing and 54% lack proficiency.  Proficiency was not discussed until recently.  By 1979, racial reading literacy differences were gone.

Percentage of persons 14 years old and over who were illiterate (unable to read or write in any language), by race and nativity: 1870 to 1979

Year	Total	White			Black and other
		Total	Native	Foreign-born
1870	20.0	11.5	–	–	79.9
1880	17.0	9.4	8.7	12.0	70.0
1890	13.3	7.7	6.2	13.1	56.8
1900	10.7	6.2	4.6	12.9	44.5
1910	7.7	5.0	3.0	12.7	30.5
1920	6.0	4.0	2.0	13.1	23.0
1930	4.3	3.0	1.6	10.8	16.4
1940	2.9	2.0	1.1	9.0	11.5
1947	2.7	1.8	–	–	11.0
1950	3.2	–	–	–	–
1952	2.5	1.8	–	–	10.2
1959	2.2	1.6	–	–	7.5
1969	1.0	0.7	–	–	3.6 *
1979	0.6	0.4	–	–	1.6 *

 By 2020, 87% of students were graduating from high school.  

Estimates are that 19% of high school graduates are still illiterate.

Equality is not all that equal.  At least most of us are currently benefitting from the 7 day a week package delivery even if we can't all read our mail.