USPS may cut down to five days a week

[K.C.]

http://money.cnn.com/2009/01/28/news/economy/postal_service/?postversion=2009012817

Basically, they're screwed economically.

Part of the problem is that demand is scaled back because few people actually use the mail to communicate anymore (e-mail), and more people use UPS and FedEx for package deliver these days.

As a result, they're having a tough time competing. Being a government agency, they are at a bit of a disadvantage in that they have to supply the same service to EVERYWHERE in the country.

I can't imagine a Post Office in Casper, Wyoming has ever contributed dime of surplus back to the government.

This is a really easy fix, in my opinion.

Just tack on a 1-2 dollar tax fee on internet service, through internet service providers, that gets kicked back to fund the postal service.

Most people can afford, even in these times, 12-24 dollars a year, and there's a lot worse things I've been taxed or paid fees for than to keep the Post Office running (and it'd save a lot of jobs).

I'd gladly pay it.

[Dude!]

us postal service mail delivery
is one of the few things government does right

best value for the money out there

[MacVittie]

While people don't send letters anymore, I would imagine that a lot more packages get shipped now because of eBay, Amazon, etc. While USPS has to compete with UPS and FedEx, a lot more merchandise is purchased through the mail as opposed to 20 years ago when we all bought it at malls and shops.

[brettmojo]

This is a really easy fix, in my opinion.

Just tack on a 1-2 dollar tax fee on internet service, through internet service providers, that gets kicked back to fund the postal service.

Most people can afford, even in these times, 12-24 dollars a year, and there's a lot worse things I've been taxed or paid fees for than to keep the Post Office running (and it'd save a lot of jobs).

I'd gladly pay it.
That's YOU, they take enough of my money as it is.

Make it profitable or kill it. It's just another government agency that's a waste of money.

[Farmer Dave]

I'd gladly pay it.

Good for you. I'm sick of a dollar here, a 1% increase there. Give them the ability to compete on a realistic basis. A letter across the street or across country for the same $ amount make no cents.<--yes, I know how I spelled it

[HBox]

Good for you. I'm sick of a dollar here, a 1% increase there. Give them the ability to compete on a realistic basis. A letter across the street or across country for the same $ amount make no cents.<--yes, I know how I spelled it

I have more respect for a misspelling than a pun.

[K.C.]

That's YOU, they take enough of my money as it is.

Make it profitable or kill it. It's just another government agency that's a waste of money.

So we should repeal Rural Electrification and tear down all power lines from Utah to Maryland, and Texas to North Dakota because it's not profitable to maintain the infrastructure to keep those people with electricity.


Yeah...where can I register to vote for you?

:wallbash::wallbash::wallbash:



The government's not here to make a profit. It's here to serve the people. The Post Office is one of the few agencies that you can say, unequivically SERVES THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

Seriously, if you think it's about turning a profit, you have no concept of why government exists.

[K.C.]

Good for you. I'm sick of a dollar here, a 1% increase there. Give them the ability to compete on a realistic basis. A letter across the street or across country for the same $ amount make no cents.<--yes, I know how I spelled it

Then you would pay a hell of a lot more on your own, then you would through a flat rate. If you want to do that, be my guest.

It would also destroy the quality of the service, and the functionality of the workforce, since, now that it'd be operating solely on a customer demand basis, there would be a high fluctuation in salaries, layoffs, turnover, etc.

Basically you'd be turning the workforce of a major government agency into that of Circuit City.

And you'd be paying more for it.

[ryno1974]

As long as I have been alive (35 years) Canada Post has only offered service Monday - Friday like any other government agency. I agree with some of you that if yo are looking for a profit, spin it off to a private company. They will either make it work, or close it. There is no way you can make a profit at it, but it is a necessity so I think this is one of the few things that governments should run. That and all hospitals and health care providers of course. f those went private it would be the end of society.

[high fly]

us postal service mail delivery
is one of the few things government does right

best value for the money out there


I think they had better service back when they were a federal agency.
I remember back in the day there was a place in San Francisco selling bootleg records and I'd send off an order and get my elpees in 6 or 7 days....




In Paris, France, they get their mail delivered 3 times a day...

[K.C.]

As long as I have been alive (35 years) Canada Post has only offered service Monday - Friday like any other government agency. I agree with some of you that if yo are looking for a profit, spin it off to a private company. They will either make it work, or close it. There is no way you can make a profit at it, but it is a necessity so I think this is one of the few things that governments should run. That and all hospitals and health care providers of course. f those went private it would be the end of society.

Thaaaank you.

There's so many people who just like to bitch about getting taxed a buck, or paying a couple bucks for a bridge toll. Nevermind the fact that they'd never get any info, bills, or packages delivered to them, and they'd have no roads to drive on.

There are a LOT of thing that people can complain about, in regards to their tax dollars being misused.

But things like the mail...highway infrastructure...electrical infrastructure...these are some of the down to the core reasons government exists. Period.

[EddieMoscone]

I was under the impression that the USPS was NOT a government agency...just like the MTA is not a government agency. Yes, there may be government funding, but your mailman is not a federal employee.

I could be wrong though.

[Devo37]

how about charge more for all the bullsh!t catalogs, credit card applications, and other junk that clutters my mailbox every day.

aside from a monthly credit card statement (company doesn't offer a paperless option) and a w2 form once a year, i can't think of the last time i received anything of value through the mail.

[underdog]

I was under the impression that the USPS was NOT a government agency...just like the MTA is not a government agency. Yes, there may be government funding, but your mailman is not a federal employee.

I could be wrong though.

You're right, I believe. My father is a postal worker. We he joined he was a federal employee, but I don't think he is anymore. His time still goes towards his selective service time, though.

[OGC]

I'll miss the Saturday fliers and various junk mail. :glurps:

[high fly]

how about charge more for all the bullsh!t catalogs, credit card applications, and other junk that clutters my mailbox every day.
[/SIZE]


I agree.
They come begging for rate increases due to increases in volume, yet they don't seek to increase the rates on junk mail which takes up, what, 90% of what they diliver or something.
When asked, they will not discuss the dollars-and-cents cost to commercial mail, but always point to a percentage increase they have levied.
They need to increase the commercial rate until the revenue is enough to support their service and to where it approaches the point that business begins to think using them is not so profitable...

[Farmer Dave]

Then you would pay a hell of a lot more on your own, then you would through a flat rate. If you want to do that, be my guest.

It would also destroy the quality of the service, and the functionality of the workforce, since, now that it'd be operating solely on a customer demand basis, there would be a high fluctuation in salaries, layoffs, turnover, etc.

Basically you'd be turning the workforce of a major government agency into that of Circuit City.

And you'd be paying more for it.

Thank you, I'll pay for the service I use and receive. As I do with the rest of my daily business.

[Farmer Dave]

But things like the mail...highway infrastructure...electrical infrastructure...these are some of the down to the core reasons government exists. Period.

Really, I thought gas taxes and toll roads and bridge tolls paid for those.

You need a civics lesson.

[epo]

That's YOU, they take enough of my money as it is.

Make it profitable or kill it. It's just another government agency that's a waste of money.

Even my most libertarian friend has a quote about our government: "They are responsible for delivering my mail and protecting the borders."

The US Mail is not designed to be a "cash cow" for our government. Get a clue.

[K.C.]

Really, I thought gas taxes and toll roads and bridge tolls paid for those.

You need a civics lesson.

Way to cherrypick.

If you read the post, and my other posts, you'd obviously see I was talking about government agencies that perform essential services.

[K.C.]

Thank you, I'll pay for the service I use and receive. As I do with the rest of my daily business.

And like I said...you'll pay more, for shittier, unreliable service.

So it then begs the question why someone would willingly put themselves in a situation, where it benefits them to no degree?

[underdog]

Way to cherrypick.

If you read the post, and my other posts, you'd obviously see I was talking about government agencies that perform essential services.

He didn't even really cherry pick, he quoted what you said, and then only answered one tiny part of it. Cherry picking would have been an improvement over what he did.

[mikeyboy]

aside from a monthly credit card statement (company doesn't offer a paperless option) and a w2 form once a year, i can't think of the last time i received anything of value through the mail.



Actually, this year, for the first time, we're able to download our W-2s.

[brettmojo]

So we should repeal Rural Electrification and tear down all power lines from Utah to Maryland, and Texas to North Dakota because it's not profitable to maintain the infrastructure to keep those people with electricity.


Yeah...where can I register to vote for you?

:wallbash::wallbash::wallbash:



The government's not here to make a profit. It's here to serve the people. The Post Office is one of the few agencies that you can say, unequivically SERVES THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

Seriously, if you think it's about turning a profit, you have no concept of why government exists.

Apparently it's not going to unequivocally serve the people on Saturdays anymore. And really? For reals? The government doesn't exist to make a profit? WOW! And I wondered why all this time people talk about this national debt thingy. Thanks for that unequivocal enlightenment.

If my options are being taxed for one more thing and for internet service that my state already taxes me for or have to receive my bills and other mail electronically while saying SEEYAAAAAA!!! to junk mail. By all means liquidate the postal service. I have plenty of other options to send packages. It's one more thing OUR government wastes OUR money on.

Thaaaank you.

There's so many people who just like to bitch about getting taxed a buck, or paying a couple bucks for a bridge toll. Nevermind the fact that they'd never get any info, bills, or packages delivered to them, and they'd have no roads to drive on.

There are a LOT of thing that people can complain about, in regards to their tax dollars being misused.

But things like the mail...highway infrastructure...electrical infrastructure...these are some of the down to the core reasons government exists. Period.

Yeah. The government does a really great job with all the tolls we pay. Our infrastructure rated one of the poorest among all the developed nations of the world (http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=us-infrastructure-crumbling-2009-01-28)... Yeah, there ARE a lot of things to complain about. So forgive me for not giving a shit about the USPS, a nearly obsolete service of a mismanaged government.

It astonishes the hell out of me the sheep that are so willing to fork over more and more money to a government that so unequivocally mismanages that money. What? A trillion dollar bailout? Sure why not. What? No one knows where half the money has gone? What? No one was watching how it was used? Why what a bad idea that was!

Yeah no fucking shit.

how about charge more for all the bullsh!t catalogs, credit card applications, and other junk that clutters my mailbox every day.

aside from a monthly credit card statement (company doesn't offer a paperless option) and a w2 form once a year, i can't think of the last time i received anything of value through the mail.



Exactly.

[brettmojo]

Even my most libertarian friend has a quote about our government: "They are responsible for delivering my mail and protecting the borders."

The US Mail is not designed to be a "cash cow" for our government. Get a clue.
No, we are the "cash cow".

But hey, what's another dollar or two.

[underdog]

And really? For reals? The government doesn't exist to make a profit? WOW! And I wondered why all this time people talk about this national debt thingy. Thanks for that unequivocal enlightenment.

Swing and a miss.

Your favorite must be UPS, right? I mean, they were the most popular when you were growing up.

Also, the USPS has been one of the few parts of government that hasn't been completely mismanaged over the years.

[boosterp]

So we should repeal Rural Electrification and tear down all power lines from Utah to Maryland, and Texas to North Dakota because it's not profitable to maintain the infrastructure to keep those people with electricity.

Well, you are mostly wrong about Texas on this part. We are the only state with it's own power grid which is owned by private companies and can completely isolate itself. It would be nearly impossible for Texas to experience a cascading power failure like the north east did a few years back.

Yeah...where can I register to vote for you?

:wallbash::wallbash::wallbash:



The government's not here to make a profit. It's here to serve the people. The Post Office is one of the few agencies that you can say, unequivically SERVES THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!

Seriously, if you think it's about turning a profit, you have no concept of why government exists.

As long as I have been alive (35 years) Canada Post has only offered service Monday - Friday like any other government agency. I agree with some of you that if yo are looking for a profit, spin it off to a private company. They will either make it work, or close it. There is no way you can make a profit at it, but it is a necessity so I think this is one of the few things that governments should run. That and all hospitals and health care providers of course. f those went private it would be the end of society.

If it turned into a private company it would fail miserably. I use the toll roads around Houston as an example. The began as a private company and failed when it did not make enough profit to support itself. The County had to take it over.


how about charge more for all the bullsh!t catalogs, credit card applications, and other junk that clutters my mailbox every day.

aside from a monthly credit card statement (company doesn't offer a paperless option) and a w2 form once a year, i can't think of the last time i received anything of value through the mail.



Understand that junk mail still pays the USPS bills, without it stamps would be near $2.

I was under the impression that the USPS was NOT a government agency...just like the MTA is not a government agency. Yes, there may be government funding, but your mailman is not a federal employee.

I could be wrong though.

Wrong, look it up.

[underdog]

After reading about the USPS, I've changed my mind. We should let them fail.

They are only the 3rd largest employer in the United States. There would be no fallout at all if they failed.

[PapaBear]

us postal service mail delivery
is one of the few things government does right

best value for the money out there
I agree. I ordered some flea meds from 1800PETMEDS late Sunday night. It got here from FLA today. And that was with the slowest shipping option (First Class Mail).

[epo]

After reading about the USPS, I've changed my mind. We should let them fail.

They are only the 3rd largest employer in the United States. There would be no fallout at all if they failed.

What? There are secondary effects that aren't obvious to cutting public programs?

Insanity!

[underdog]

What? There are secondary effects that aren't obvious to cutting public programs?

Insanity!

I just enjoyed finding out that the USPS is the 3rd largest employer behind the Department of Defense and...

Walmart.

[SatCam]

I'm bringing back the pony express.

Anyone wanna invest?

[A.J.]

Now maybe Pantera will post more.