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You are probably hearing that the Post Office is "in crisis" and is cutting back Saturday delivery, laying people off, closing offices, etc. Like so many other "crises" imposed on us lately, there is a lot to the story that you are not hearing from the "mainstream" media. (Please click that link.) The story of the intentional destruction of the U.S. Postal Service is one more piece of the story of crisis-after-crisis, all manufactured to advance the strategic dismantling of our government and handing over the pieces to billionaires.
Here are a few things you need to know about the Postal Service "crisis":
The Postal Service is the second largest employer in the United States after Walmart. But unlike Walmart, which gets away with paying so little that employees qualify for government assistance, the Postal Services is unionized, pays reasonable wages and benefits and receives no government subsidies. (Good for them!)
Republicans have been pushing schemes to privatize the Postal Service since at least 1996. In 2006 Republicans in the Congress pushed through a requirement that the Postal Service pre-fund 75 years of retiree costs. The Postal Service has to pay now for employees who are not even born yet.No other government agency -- and certainly no company -- has to do this.
Unlike other government agencies (like the military) since 1970 the Postal Service is required to break even. Once more: the Department of Defense is not required to break even.
While required to break even the Postal Service has to deliver mail to areas that are unprofitable for private companies to operate in. A letter sent from a small town in Alaska is picked up and transported across the country to a farm in Maine for 46 cents. While the internet and recession have eaten into some of the Postal Services letter business, magazines, books, newsletters, prescriptions, advertising, DVD services like Netflix and many other services still depend on the Postal Service for delivery. And many people for one reason or another still send letters. In a democracy these people are supposed to count, too.
But along with require the Postal Service to break even, Congress has restricted the Service's ability to raise rates, enter new lines of business or take other steps to help it raise revenue. In fact, while detractors complain that the Postal Service is antiquated, inefficient and burdened by bureaucracy the rules blocking the Postal Service from entering new lines of business do so because the Postal Service would have advantages over private companies.
For example, Republicans in Congress forced the Postal Service to remove public-use copiers from Post Offices and even blocked the Postal Service from setting up a secure online system that allowed Americans to make monthly bill payments.
The following table compares how countries rank in Government and Business Efficiency, and shows the gap in their relative competitiveness. Some governments—listed below—heavily trail behind business competitiveness, others pave the way ahead. Do countries always have the government they deserve?
www.imd.org...
The fact is that the countries that are doing well have more efficient governments then their businesses IN ALL CASES.
We are a nation of ignorant fools that can't think or even care about REAILITY. THIS ISN'T A VIDEO GAME!!!
Originally posted by Chrisfishenstein
reply to post by FyreByrd
So we are supposed to feel bad for the poor postal worker making $30 an hour to start? Good for them, right?? Yeah I don't care either until I have to pay almost an effing dollar to send a freaking birthday card......It wouldn't be that high if they didn't pay their employees so much money to SORT MAIL!!!
Their job is one of the easiest jobs on the planet, you could literally hire a trained monkey to do it, yet the pay is rediculous...
Is there a difference between the two?
Originally posted by FyreByrd
Can't anyone see that it's not the government that is the problem it's BIG MONEY/BUSINESS that is causing 99% of the troubles in the world.
Kill the mailbox.
Save the trees.
USPS urgently needs to restructure to address its current and long-term financial viability. USPS has not been able to cut costs fast enough to offset the accelerated decline in mail volume and revenue—particularly costs related to its workforce, retail and processing networks, and delivery services. To achieve financial viability, USPS must align its costs with revenues, generate sufficient earnings to finance capital investment, and manage its debt.
Originally posted by Chrisfishenstein
reply to post by FyreByrd
So we are supposed to feel bad for the poor postal worker making $30 an hour to start? Good for them, right?? Yeah I don't care either until I have to pay almost an effing dollar to send a freaking birthday card......It wouldn't be that high if they didn't pay their employees so much money to SORT MAIL!!!
Their job is one of the easiest jobs on the planet, you could literally hire a trained monkey to do it, yet the pay is rediculous...
Originally posted by BrokenCircles
Is there a difference between the two?
Originally posted by FyreByrd
Can't anyone see that it's not the government that is the problem it's BIG MONEY/BUSINESS that is causing 99% of the troubles in the world.
or are they the one and the same?
Kill the mailbox.
Save the trees.
Originally posted by SnakeShot
Its was almost comical when I saw the postmaster on Fox News several days ago say- we have to stop Saturday delivery so that we don't have to raise rates.
This right after they DOUBLED the price for international shipping! It now costs me over $6 to send a
tiny 1 ounce almost flat bubble mailer package internationally! Go up a couple ounces, its $8.88.
Its almost like they Don't want us exporting more product!
Also, I never understood the arguement that they have less revenue since the internet.
Because of the internet, WAY more packages then ever are being shipped. If anything, I would think
they would be doing better.
Originally posted by usernameconspiracy
Originally posted by Chrisfishenstein
reply to post by FyreByrd
So we are supposed to feel bad for the poor postal worker making $30 an hour to start? Good for them, right?? Yeah I don't care either until I have to pay almost an effing dollar to send a freaking birthday card......It wouldn't be that high if they didn't pay their employees so much money to SORT MAIL!!!
Their job is one of the easiest jobs on the planet, you could literally hire a trained monkey to do it, yet the pay is rediculous...
A whole dollar? Dang, you've got it rough! Without the postal service, how much would it cost to send that birthday card by UPS or FedEx, pretty much your only other options?
Originally posted by jimmiec
Over half the mail they deliver is junk mail. Save trees, get rid of USPS. It is too bloated and just a burden on America. Their pay and benefits are not reflective of the reality of our economy. They are putting America deeper in debt. Privatize and restructure it to be sustainable. Let the employees currently working for USPS stay on. Paper is going bye bye anyway. USPS is on life support. Let it die already.
Originally posted by FyreByrd
Originally posted by SnakeShot
Its was almost comical when I saw the postmaster on Fox News several days ago say- we have to stop Saturday delivery so that we don't have to raise rates.
This right after they DOUBLED the price for international shipping! It now costs me over $6 to send a
tiny 1 ounce almost flat bubble mailer package internationally! Go up a couple ounces, its $8.88.
Its almost like they Don't want us exporting more product!
Also, I never understood the arguement that they have less revenue since the internet.
Because of the internet, WAY more packages then ever are being shipped. If anything, I would think
they would be doing better.
Hyperbole alert!! Not doubled, more a 48% raise which is high enough but hardly doubled. $6.00 doubled (x2) = $12.00. Check your math.
USPS revenues are down because Big Business is sending more and more bills, statements electronically. Revenues are down because there is less junk mail going through the post office and now it's online. The USPS is still the shipper of choice for small businesses that aren't big enough to negotiate special rates with private shippers.edit on 14-2-2013 by FyreByrd because: to make the math simplier