Is the Manufactured Crisis at the Post Office a Push Toward Privatization?
From Democracy Now -- Shock Doctrine at U.S. Postal Service: Is a Manufactured Crisis Behind Push Toward Privatization?:
Today, postal workers and their supporters are holding events across the country to press their demand for repealing the benefit-funding mandate and push back against calls for their workplace to be privatized. For months, Americans have heard dire warnings about the impending collapse of the United States Postal Service due to fiscal insolvency and a drop in the use of mail service. In early September, the U.S. Postmaster General told Congress that the USPS is close to default and unveiled a series of radical proposals to cut costs by firing up to 120,000 workers, closing several thousand facilities, scaling back deliveries, and reducing benefits for retirees. But many postal workers say the much-touted crisis facing the U.S. Postal Service is not what it seems. They argue the greatest volume of mail handled in the 236-year history of the postal service was 2006. They also point to a 2006 law that forced the USPS to become the only agency required to fund 75 years of retiree health benefits over just a 10-year span, and say the law’s requirements account for 100 percent of the service’s $20 billion in losses over the previous four years, without which the service would have turned a profit. Last week, Republicans introduced legislation to overhaul the USPS in response to a bill proposed by Democrats that would refund a reported $6.9 billion in over-payments to the USPS retirement plan, offer early retirement and voluntary separation incentives, adjust retiree benefits prepayment requirements, and preserve employee protections set out in collective bargaining agreements. We host a debate between Chuck Zlatkin, the legislative and political director of the New York Metro Area Postal Union, and Gene Del Polito, president of the Association for Postal Commerce in Washington, D.C.
And from Dave Dayden at FDL -- Postal Service “Crisis” Comes Entirely From Unorthodox Pre-Funding Mandate.
We’ve been discussing the imminent demise of the US Postal Service, and the potential loss of 120,000 good-paying jobs. But most of the near-term funding “crisis” for the USPS comes from an unusual pre-funding mandate for retiree benefits. James Parks explains:
And from Dave's post here's a new ad from the National Association of Letter Carriers, the American Postal Workers Union and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, explaining the cause of the "crisis."
Conservatives the world over, at least in the US and UK use this tactic often. I saw it in the 90s with the Tories ramping up the bad PR on trains to prepare for the privatisation of the transport system. Hope was that Blair would stop it, but he didn't.
me-oww!
Blair: bu$h's drooling lap dog. They had hope in him?
far left loon >.<
In 1997, he won a landslide victory leaving the Tories devastated, w/ no tory representation from Scotland or Wales. After 18 years of Tory rule, the excitement and the expectations were high. Blair, at 43 was the youngest PM of the 20th century. He promised to deliver unity and purpose for the future. He did neither--at least not in the positive sense of the word. It was all the 'New Labour' shite, which was really 'Tory Lite.'
It was shocking he felt for some reason, he had to French kiss the arse of W. He left the Labour party devastated.
me-oww!
Starting to see it in Canada as well. The postal workers here went on strike, but kept 24 hour rotations and distributed the strikes so as to minimize the effect of the strike on people as much as they could. Basically, a usable service was still running. Then management just locked them all out and shut the whole lot down completely.
The reason for this move was quite obvious. The complete disruption of the service would be blamed on the striking workers, rather than the management. There were certainly plenty of bloviating loud-mouth conservatives to make sure this narrative was sold hard. Then along comes the Heroic Harper Govt. who then proceeded to shit all over the rights of the post office staff to have representation and simply legislate them back to work with a middle-finger for a settlement.
Finally, they dance around, playing good-guy who put those nasty disruptive workers in their place for disrupting the mail service, even though they were the ones trying to minimize the disruption their dispute caused, unlike the management who actually sought to cause disruption and upset with their actions. Not merely disregarding the people in need of the service, but specifically targeting them, knowing the immense ire and animosity created by this action could then be steered against the staff.
Then of course, while the wounds are still raw, they start floating the "P" word around. After all, look how inefficient this public company is! Unions and workers disrupted your mail!
Fuck Conservatives. All they have proven to anyone paying attention is how unsuited to governance they are.
the gop created this fake problem because they want to
rob the retirement funds of the postal employees and do
not want to repay what they have already stolen.
the gop/teabaggers are total fucking criminal assholes.
They are planning on killing it because of the union.
$10. a stamp.
John Perkins and Naomi Klein know all about these tactics. More progressives should listen to them. Look what they've done to countries around the world and then realize they are doing that to the Unites States of America now too. Divide and Conquer. Shock Doctrine Politics. Privatization and False Flag Terrorism tactics. Sad how easy they are getting away with it all.
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Think Germany, early 1930's for the script. This is the real play.
How well they learned.
because even the nazis were not as extreme in their economic views/policies as the randian cult. For example, the nazis in Germany did not dismantle, or even dare to make an effort to touch, Bismarck's universal health care system.
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
...to refine their tactics and hone their message.
after all the randian and nazi mythos are both based on lazy interpretations of Nietzsche.
But I think it is a mistake to dismiss these assholes simply as fascists. Perhaps post-fascism is a better term? Since they are far more removed from the reality of their policies than nazi honchos ever were. And their actions now do have a direct global impact in almost real-time.
Also during its time, fascism had to compete with other political and socio economic systems. Whereas right now the savage capitalism is the system employed through the world by default.
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
Anyone who has not read Klein's book, "The Shock Doctrine", should do that before it ends up on the banned books list. The litany of US involvement (particularly the CIA and other clandestine folks) in most all of the wars (large and small), gov't overthrows, assassinations and assorted other crises during the last 60 years is spelled out very clearly by Ms. Klein.
There has been no doubt in my mind, that the Powers that Be (spearheaded by a global cabal of banksters) have been working real hard these past 2 decades to privatize - 'corporatize' every last part of our society, and as many others as they can manage across the globe. 9/11, Shock & Awe, drone attacks, financial collapse ...all are tools they've been using to create fear and confusion among the masses in order to ensure we'll be more likely to just go-along-to-get-along.
Welcome to the Brave New World of neo-feudalism.....where there will be no mail delivery.
"Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of Stupidity" - Frank Leahy
Amazing how well and easily it works. Even on the supposed intellectual class of progressive leaders and alternative media outlets. Shocking.
"Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
Hell, we're living it. It's going on all around us.
Is the Manufactured Crisis at the Post Office a Push Toward Privatization?
With all due respect, uhh..D'UUUUUUUH!
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Use the more correct term "PROFIT-ization". That way the teabagger might figure out that at least 20% will be scraped right off the top and handed over to investors BEFORE any service will or can be performed.
obviously they have made no effort whatsoever to think, so why worry about the unlikely possibility?
You're putting way too much stock on a group that is made of people who don't seem to be able to find their own ass with a flash light.
This is all we need to do to someone bitching about the USPS: tell them to stop being a hypocrite and put their money, and lots of it, where their mouth is by shipping all their letters and small packages with FedEx.
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
...NOT businesses. They should NEVER be run like businesses. They are services that, while seeking efficiencies, are there to provide a service, carry out a task, meet a need, but NOT MAKE A PROFIT. The focus of a business is and should be to make a profit. The focus of a government/gov't agency is to carry out their mandate. Nothing more, nothing less.
Yes, of course. The private sector "can do everything better" while paying slave wages and no bennies.
far left loon >.<
...to increase the bottom line.
USPS visa...
"Parachutes are allowed in checked or carry-on baggage, but may not be worn in flight."
---Southwest Airlines
but the continued war to bust up unions.
The Post Office has one of the best unions in terms of protecting their workers and being able to shut down shit without worrying about being fired like the air traffic controllers back in 1981.
Mmmm, or something like that.......
These repugs never stop wanting to do damage! They just can't wait to get their filthy, money grubbing hands on yet another government run agency in order to destroy it. Privatizing our postal service is like privatizing our fire or police department.
Their homeworld was a place called Earth, located in an uninteresting part of the galaxy. They had an expression: pride goeth before a fall. Their pride was their undoing. I know. I was there....They did not listen, of course. Arrogant men never do.
I remember from American history class in school (which they no longer teach), that was tried in NYC at one time, and a lot of building got deliberately burned down as different fire brigades used cutthroat tactics to compete with each other.
But it became obvious that "free market" dynamics do not apply to all aspects of society.
What works for useless trinkets and gadgets, does not necessarily apply when it comes to stop a house from burning, running a police force, or treating cancer, for example.
And given how we have polluted our tiny world almost beyond repair making said useless gadgets and trinkets, in effect taking a massive dump where we eat and drink from (an action almost unheard of among the rest of the animal kingdom), I am not sure that the so-called free markets applies to those either.
The truth being that there is no such thing as a "free market" never has been, and never will be.
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
Anything to attack unions and the people that work the last of the good union jobs.
Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds--Bob Marley
That's all they do these days. Make shit up and argue about it. Where are the jobs bills? Oh, too hard, let's make shit up and argue about it.
This is beyond sickening, those fuckers in Congress are being paid with OUR MONEY to jerk off and lie!
My TOWELS are more useful than these whores!
Granted I am a small subset of the population but basis the mail I receive, the USPS appears to be a huge subsidy for Netflix and junk mail senders. I can't remember the last time I received anything of note.
And granted I have a computer and internet access (which I understand not everybody in the US has) which has eliminated my need for the USPS, but were the USPS not to exist, what would be the fundamental change, if anything, in our lives as a whole?
Personally, I'd rather take the money we provide to the USPS and direct it towards education.
it looks like you need an education. The postal service is funded entirely by postal fees and stamps.
That's what this country needs, more patronization and uncivil discourse.
then.
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
So you make a false assertion and get called on it. Then you play the victim. Typical GOP/teabagger bullshit.
They operate at a profit save for the pension funding scam the Lame Duck Congress of 2006,rammed through before Nancy Pelosi and the Dems took over. The Post Office delivers over 25% of the packages shipped through FedEx and UPS because they don't want to be bothered serving some areas because there is no profit in it. They (FedEX and UPS) charge their usual rate and then hand the packages over to the USPS at a cheap fee and pocket the difference.
Thanks for the response. I clearly should have paid more attention to the video above. This being said, I still question whether there is a need for a government role in the USPS. Were it to be considered vital to our nation's interests or were no other options available (internet, FedEx) then I see the need for the government to intervene. However, I feel as if technology and the creation of competition has eliminated the need for the government to play as prominent role as it does.
than the private market! IF the post office were privatized it wouldn't be handed over to small, competing firms. There are huge expenses associated with shipping things long distances. It is 100% certain that prices would go up. There would also be lots of inefficiencies, like executive pay, marketing costs, lobbying, dividends, etc. In other words, more waste, higher prices.
It is amazing to me that our commons is being chipped away piece by piece and people don't stop to take a look at the bigger picture. These people don't just push for these things because of some reality less economic philosophy, they don't believe in the collective at all. If we get rid of everything that binds us together, anti-social behavior will increase as will people's sense of isolation.
"However, I feel as if technology and the creation of competition has eliminated the need for the government to play as prominent role as it does."
This has nothing to do with this issue, it is beside the point and silly. There wouldn't be much competition, again the costs of delivering far distances are immense. Competition brings prices down when there are many small firms competing. That isn't the reality of the current capitalist economy, sorry. Packages will need to be delivered. The question is whether you want it done by a non for profit entity with far less waste, a benefit we can all share collectively, or if you want it done by a more inefficient giant corporation.
So because YOU don't need it, it should go? Great attitude there, bub. Guess we should close down all the government services YOU don't need, right?
There's always free cheddar in the mousetrap, baby. - Tom Waits
I'm not saying because I don't need the USPS, it should go. Rather, it is my opinion that at one point the USPS was critical to our country's well being but with the advent of technology and new business models, that time has passed.
In my opinion, the government should provide needs and not wants and dealing in industries whereby the profit motive is counter to the public well being. In my opinion, needs and those areas whereby the profit motive is counter productive are the judicial system, defences, police, fire, prisons, health care, etc. The USPS used to be a need but now it is mostly a want.
And, I'm not saying eliminate it entirely, but rather commence fazing it out. Do we really see our having the USPS 30 years from now, 20 years from now, 10 years from now?
drivel in some junior year business or economics class, wanna try the logic out, huh? If the government can do something, especially a service, far more efficiently than a oligopoly or monopoly, which it can in this case, then what is the freaking debate? With an oligopoly you will have higher prices than what the government charges and there will be much more waste. Executive pay, more marketing costs, more lobbying money, dividend payments, much higher administrative costs, etc.
"The USPS used to be a need but now it is mostly a want"
Based on what, cowboy? Why should I pay more to some oligopoly? Because you like the IDEA of it, or because it works out so well in the theories they teach you in school? Lets, while people have less money and the few ties that we have as a national community are being cut, pay higher prices to inefficient oligopolies. Lets also be useful idiots to reactionaries who want to stick the final nail in the coffin for organized labor. Competition is better as far as health care deliver, it will drive down costs. Haven't you heard?
We really are screwed. Too many people "think" like you.
You could go and pick up your own gas and electric bills at the utility. Wouldn't that be convenient? Don't be late: there are penalties.
far left loon >.<
That would be inconvenient. But now we have the internet. And again, I understand not everyone has the internet but that does not mean we shouldn't be educating our citizens and gradually moving the country as a whole to more efficient methods of operation.
But in the meantime... The post office is a lifeline for some people.
far left loon >.<
try sending a letter via FedEx and marvel at the cost differential with respect to USPS.
Also, there is no such thing as "privacy" when it comes to e-mail, for the most part, you could encrypt your messages and what not. But most people simply do not have the technical know-how to do so. That means that every message you send can be snooped on, mined for data, and use for other purposes.
Furthermore, there is a large percentage of the population, the elderly specially, that do not have access to a computer or know how to operate one. Similarly lots of people can't afford a computer, yet they still require the ability to communicate or send physical pieces of information.
Also, USPS services to all of the US of A, whereas UPS, FedEx, and DHL can be selective and ignore markets they find unprofitable or non important to their bottom line.
So what happens when the phone company, the shipping companies, or the cable provider decides your market is not profitable and stop servicing it. Are you OK with sending your letters via pigeon then?
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
Again, I feel technology has moved us past sending letters. As for packages, I definately send them via FedEx. I feel they provide a better service.
Granted it may be easier to mass track emails, but I'm not entirely convinced letters are our answer to privacy.
I agree that mail is currently needed for those without easy access to computers. Otherwise, the internet is readily available at our libraries; institutions I deem a need rather than a want (as referenced in a previous post) given that they educate our populace.
Although I have yet to see the private services ignore areas of the world, the reason these areas would be ignored is because the USPS is operating in them at an unprofitable level.
This final question is a pretty big hypothetical. Personally, if anything the world is becoming smaller not larger as your question implies. But, if I'm living in a location whereby the shipping companies, the cable provider or the phone company feels is not profitable then I'm going to take a guess that I'm living in this location for exactly this reason.
and if it doesn't it must be our fault anyways.
So you feel there is no need for a reliable, non-corporate controlled, method to sending information, bully for you. And honestly, nobody seems to be forcing you to use USPS services. So why is this a concern to you?
However, I think you need to own to the ultimate consequences of the logic you're proposing.
For example, libraries also do not produce a profit and are ran at a loss. Eventually the market will dictate that they too must be eliminated since Amazon may provide a better service giving people the drivel they want. Etcetera.
Which is why some of us feel that non-profit alternatives are required. Especially for something as fundamental as the exchange of information.
In the same sense that you should not be forced to use a public enterprise when it does not make sense, other people should not be forced to participate in the market similarly.
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
I don't follow your comment, "and if it doesn't it must be our fault anyways."
Fair enough in regards to the first portion of your statement. In regards to your second, it's a concern solely because I'm interested in dialogue and in the advancement of the world as a whole.
That argument will always be made in regards to libraries. Naturally, I feel it is in error for a number of reasons. One, Amazon doesn't provide a better service simply for the reason as it is not accessible cost wise to everyone. Secondly, the function of the library is to improve the knowledge of the populace and the populace's overall well being and quality of life. Naturally, I don't see the USPS operating in the same manner but if you do, than we can agree to disagree.
Again, I just don't agree that the USPS is operating as the free flowing tool of information that you make it out to be. Granted, if it is not running a deficit then I tend to agree that it is better to have in place than not. However, I still feel we need to prepare for the question, will the USPS be required in 30 years, 20 years, 10 years?
I wasn't arguing this and if it appears I was then I apologize for the miscommunication.
is that I am using the very same argument against libraries, as you're using against the USPS. You can't have it both ways, apply the brutal logic of free market to items you don't care for, while the stuff you hold dear to your interests gets to be spared.
It seemed pretty obvious.
Furthermore, the same argument could be made about whether or not libraries required in 20 years from now. Google does a good enough job as a reference source, right?
See where I am going with this?
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
Again, I feel technology has moved us past sending letters. As for packages, I definately send them via FedEx. I feel they provide a better service.
2 years ago I mailed 15 - 20Kg boxes of stuff from Korea to Canada. Post office cost me about $800. Private firms were asking a FORTUNE (well over $2,000, depending). I sent it sea mail and it was supposed to arrive within 2 months. It all arrived in 2~3 weeks in perfect condition, thanks to the Korean and Canadian postal services. .
I loves me the post office.
far left loon >.<
It would be directed to war, regardless of your personal preferences. I see you've supped the oligarch's koolaid.
me-oww!
You are probably right in that it would be directed towards war. I can dream can't I... As for your comment, "I see you've supped the oligarch's koolaid", it is prematurely made given the little you know about me and serves no other purpose than to foster animosity and discord. I'm going to otherwise ignore it.
In all of your comments advocating the elimination of the Postal Service, you've overlooked one thing. The U.S. Postal Service is a constitutionally mandated organization. How do you propose to get around that?
And the last one is the biggest tell of all.
me-oww!
This will also be a run on the pension and healthcare funds which were legislated to cover employees for something like 75 years, a twofer as it bulks up those accounts with lovely $$$$ and makes the US Postal Service more cash-strapped in the short term.
Ben Franklin would be pissed. I have friends who are Postal workers and retirees and know that they are worried too. Maybe if some of them join up with the dirty effing hippies on Wall Street (and coming to your local financial districts), these plans will get some more (a little bit) notice.
the telephone, call the Congressmembers who sponsored the law requiring the prepayment provision in the
unanimoulsy passed 2006 Postal Act and ask them why the prepayment requirement was added to the bill
I think if you did we could eliminate much of this hair pulling conspiracy theory about union busting and find out it was simple Congressional deficit ass covering. The Postal Service had money in 2006. By making them pre pay for health insurance, the money was in hand and the deficit didn't look so big.
That's my guess. Based on hearing testimony on the current USPS crisis.
They can suspend the payments. But it would blow a multi billion dollar hole in the deficit and start another shut down war. That's another guess.
Maybe somebody who claims to be a journalist could call. And ask.
"That's fu*#ing retarded."
Big City Mayor
It was done by a voice vote on December 20, 2006 (with a republican being the judge) in the House; there was NO record of who voted how. In the Senate it was passed under "unanimous consent" because the clock was running out on that congressional session and there were more important things to get to before the new congress (the Dem one) was sworn in on January 3, 2007.
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill...
And you don't even have to listen to the answer if some blogger with a Naomi Klein fetish gets off the duff, calls Congress and simply asks.
"That's fu*#ing retarded."
Big City Mayor
Reslugs are ready to bleed them dry of their money and give it to the richest.
How big is the pension fund?
far left loon >.<
The Long Version:
NYC Occupy-Wall-Street-March-Join-US-Postal-Worker-RALLY-450pm-September-27th
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbjUMtewB_c
A Short Clip from Jonathan Tasini's YouTube Page:
Occupy Wall St Meets Postal Workers Fight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WhHRdQPrqY
Tasini opposed Clinton in the NY Senate Race (2006?) but she & Media1 ganged up on him, said he did not nave enough support to justify the debate they had earlier promised.
DLC Thuggery ..
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Uh what about that little requirement in the Constitution that says the govt is supposed to run the post office? I guess when it's privatized, there's ways around that.
And as usual, Obama is nowhere to be found. How dare he side with workers or the govt.
obama is on their team, we were duped, he has always been a corporatist and we were convinced he would behave otherwise
he is a top down, shrink government work force trojan wolf in sheeps benedict
and mark these words, more damage is done, more is stolen from the middle class, when the republican in office was elected as a democrat, we are MUCH better off if the republican in office is elected as a republican
if obama is not primaried the very best thing that could happen is he does not win re-election
If you want to primary Obama, show us what ya got.
I got nothing
kucinich won't run, sanders won't run, I don't know if there are any real progressives left besides those two
sad to say, I got nothing
Another "thinker" one who thinks he thinks. The GOP will be the destruction of the country and the middle class.
this is true, we agree, however you have not yet realized obama IS the gop, he is playing for the other team, he has demonstrated this with every single "economic decisision"
there are a few things being played against the usps
one, they want to steal the assets that were put into the retirement fund
two, they want to break another union so there are even fewer political contributors against corporatists
and third, there's gold in them thar packages, they will reap profit rewards untold when they lower wages, lower delivery days, reduce offices and raise prices
then the other two will raise prices as well
they are putting us through the paces now that citizens united allows corporate bought law more then ever before
our children will not have the same america we had, after the usps will be the policemans union, firefighters, then they will claim parks and beaches
then they claim bridges and tunnels
do not know how our grandchildren will deal with it and it does not seem like we can fight it effectively
Why is that again? Okay, suppose they only fund benefits for the next twenty years. What would that cost? How much money do you have to sink into an annuity now to pay for projected benefits costs twenty years from now? How much to cover benefits 75 years from now? Of the five billion how much is needed to cover immediately looming benefits, say the next five years? Anybody know an actuary they could consult? I believe the CBO employs a few. Ask them maybe? It's an interesting problem with a lot of factors to be considered like the contribution base and how much that might grow or shrink depending on mail volume and the employees required to deliver it and also the rising costs of medical benefits. Yep. A big complex problem.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
From what I've heard, they want them funded, just not to the level that the GOP USPS bullet to the head bill does.
Which I find odd. If the GOP wants people to be without any form of retirement savings, then why require the USPS to find the retirement as a way to kill them off. Is it just so they can say 'See what paying benefits does'. Well, yeah. You can die from drinking too much water too...
The problem with American politics right now is Republican extremism, and if you’re not willing to say that, you’re helping make that problem worse.
If you think funding retirees health for 75 years in advance is such a good idea, why is it that the Postal Service is the only entity, public or private, that is required to do so? Why isn't the Defense Department required to do so? Why not the Social Security Administration? Why not Congress?
Is there a single neoliberal policy you don't just love? By the way this doesn't prefund anything. They're not being forced to borrow from the treasury to pay into a fund that's set aside. There is no fund. They're borrowing from the treasury to give back to the treasury. Years down the line, after the usual corrupt, idiotic crap and foreign adventures, future politicians will screw the retirees out of it by saying 'yeah it was paid in but we don't know what happened to it, sorry."
FedEx is non-union.
They would probably jump (and contribute millions) if they were given the chance to handle all the USPS duties...
Could you imagine paying $5.00 to 'mail' a letter?
The problem with American politics right now is Republican extremism, and if you’re not willing to say that, you’re helping make that problem worse.
The money isn't the only thing that the USPS needs to fix!
I've had many letters and packages LOST by them. Even WITH a 'tracking number', which seems to serve no purpose that I can determine.
I don't ever use the USPS to ship anything and have switched the important bills and such over to email notices and I pay online.
I kept getting burned... I feel sorry for them, but they really have to do a top-down fix to get my packages back.
Heck the last time I had them hold my mail I STILL GOT MAIL for a day or two. Once they didn't even hold a single letter! Ohh, I was so pissed!!! Picking bills and cards and such out of the snow in our front yard. The freaking idiot just kept JAMMING more stuff in the box! What a total screw-up that was! 'Oh, we didn't have record of your request' the idiot simp manager at the local office said. I had the mail held at our PO box at the same time. They got that one...
Freaking bureaucracy!
The problem with American politics right now is Republican extremism, and if you’re not willing to say that, you’re helping make that problem worse.
"I've had many letters and packages LOST by them". If you send goodies that the sniffer dogs like, their masters take the goods home for personal use. In 60 years I've never had the USPS "lose" anything of mine, even IF it was, ahem, suspect.
The United States aspires to democracy, but no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power.
You're probably among the segment of the population that thinks the post office is supposed to seal your package for you after you mail it and figure out your illegible writing.
UPS or FedEx doesn't want anything at all to do with door to door mail delivery. Hell, UPS doesn't even want to do residential delivery if they can get around it. That's why they've contracted with the U.S.P.S. in the Last Mile Delivery program.x
get in the way of a rant based around a personal experience.
God knows FedEx has never had any parcel gone missing.
Ironically, today UPS delivered a package, which apparently had been used during the summer training of a major NFL team en route to my home. It is not like UPS and OOPS sound so similar for nothing.
CTHULHU 2012 "Why vote for a lesser evil?"
to Foreign Muslim countries.
Get your lemonade, watch the traitors hang
Congress' TREASON have no boundaries, so does M$M's brainwashing/sidetracking
Republicans for Voldemort
Government does work, just not for YOU. Government work ONLY on the behalf of the Tycoons
Repeal stupid
... JUST BEFORE they were about to lose power - does that sound familiar ?
Get your lemonade, watch the traitors hang
Congress' TREASON have no boundaries, so does M$M's brainwashing/sidetracking
Republicans for Voldemort
Government does work, just not for YOU. Government work ONLY on the behalf of the Tycoons
Repeal stupid
WTF is "chub"?
The United States aspires to democracy, but no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power.
Is the Manufactured Crisis at the Post Office a Push Toward Privatization?
The United States aspires to democracy, but no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power.
.
The United States aspires to democracy, but no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power.
In a letter to Senator Joseph Lieberman and Congressman Darrell Issa, Mr. Nader proposed simple solutions to fix the U.S. Postal Service's financial hole. Mr. Nader noted, however, that the financial "crisis" facing the USPS was completely manufactured.
Mr. Nader identified several drains on the U.S. Postal Service's financial resources, including a Congressional mandate that the USPS prefund its future retiree health benefits for the next 75 years by 2016 and $82 billion in overpayments that the USPS has made to federal pension systems which have yet to be refunded.
Mr. Nader points out that the $103.7 billion prefunding mandate is something that, "no other government or private corporation is required to do and is an incredibly unreasonable burden." He continues by revealing that without this onerous prepayment provision, "the USPS would not have a net deficiency of nearly $20 billion, but instead be in the black by at least $1.5 billion."
Mr. Nader ended by calling on Congress to take action that would have a minimal impact on the patrons of the USPS and prevent further post office closings, deterioration of service, or job cuts.
http://www.thenation.com/blog/163650/save-pos...
First they ignore us..then they ridicule us..now they are feeding us chicken crap- sign my petition:
http://www.change.org/petitions/fda-stop-feed...
www.ickenittlepost.com
The plan has been, for years, to turn the USPS over to FedEx.
We're approaching the denouement of this saga.
If I remember correctly the Post Office is mandated in the constitution. The wingers may attempt to privatize it but only be a constitutional amendment. I did a bit of research and the postal service is authorized by the Postal Clause: Article 1, section 8, clause 7. It is one of very few agencies specifically authorized by the founders in the constitution.
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