Postal Service Nearing Default (For Real, This Time...)

[mapiyu]

I'm all for being green, and it's true that the majority doesn't really need postal service. People have already mentioned seniors, but why is nobody talking about how this will affect the poor?

I'd love to see some credible stats on how many Americans don't have computers and/or internet. I bet it's a higher number than most of us would imagine.

"Well, then they can use the internet at their public library."

That's great, but what about people who don't own cars (or their cars are unreliable POS, or they can hardly afford to pay for gas, etc.)? What if they don't live in an area with public transportation, or what if they live a good hour away from the nearest library branch? And is the average library, particularly in more rural areas, equipped to support a sudden onslaught of elderly and poor citizens clamoring for internet access just to pay their damn bills?

On top of that, the amount of public sector jobs that would be lost would be devastating.

 

[hotatlboi]

This is only a problem because there is a restriction on how much they can charge. Obviously their current volume cannot support the price of mail currently. The price has to increase.

 

[hotatlboi]

Getting rid of the USPS would actually be very green.

It would be unconstitutional and stupid.

 

[jackoroe]

It would be unconstitutional and stupid.

There is no Constitutional requirement that we have a post office. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to establish postal routes and maybe build post offices. The Postmaster General is no longer a cabinet member or in the line of succession. He was last, when he was.

 

[hotatlboi]

The post office delivers 40% of the world's mail.

Ending it would be absurd.

And as one of the small number of government agencies specifically authorized by the Constitution, it really is an excellent example of how absurd the conservative position has become that government can do NOTHING and EVERYTHING has to be cut.

There are hundreds of government offices that should be closed before anyone even thinks about killing the post office.

 

[jackoroe]

The post office delivers 40% of the world's mail.

Ending it would be absurd.

And as one of the small number of government agencies specifically authorized by the Constitution, it really is an excellent example of how absurd the conservative position has become that government can do NOTHING and EVERYTHING has to be cut.

There are hundreds of government offices that should be closed before anyone even thinks about killing the post office.

All in due time, I'm sure!

 

[NineOfClubs]

The post office delivers 40% of the world's mail.

Probably 90% of the world's junk mail.

 

[Joshua_me]

Thank you. I will. I will also be conscious enough to understand the predicament I will be in as I grow older, so will therefore will commit myself to being more proactive when it comes to learning new technologies,

Ha !

Ahh, youth...

 

[NineOfClubs]

From Joshua_me:

I hate to break it to you, but for some the Internet is a scary, futuristic beast that they want NO part of...

Just like cell phones, ATM's, caller ID, etc..

Get used to it!

 

[justdra]

This is like everything else. Unless you or someone close to you work for the USPS then it's not a big deal. As someone you know that works for them if they are willing to take pay cuts and take cuts to their benefits to keep the USPS open and see what they say. I don't get how it got this bad or they go so deep in the hole. If they knew the union agreements were going to break them, why would they even sign the agreements and why wait til now to ask Congress to take action. The USPS is like Social Security to elderly people, that's their way of life. Most don't have computers, and going to the post office to get their mail each day and talk to friends is part of their daily life.

 

[hotatlboi]

This is like everything else. Unless you or someone close to you work for the USPS then it's not a big deal. As someone you know that works for them if they are willing to take pay cuts and take cuts to their benefits to keep the USPS open and see what they say. I don't get how it got this bad or they go so deep in the hole. If they knew the union agreements were going to break them, why would they even sign the agreements and why wait til now to ask Congress to take action. The USPS is like Social Security to elderly people, that's their way of life. Most don't have computers, and going to the post office to get their mail each day and talk to friends is part of their daily life.

Horrible misconception.

I'm younger and work as an IT professional so none of those categories apply to me, however the post office is very important to me since I get my paychecks mailed to me.

If it were to go away, I would be forced to use paypal, which would mean my usable income would decline by 2%.