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Postal Service Discussion

I'd say, in a perfect world, privatize. Sell off USPS assets at fire sale prices, but the requirements of the USPS come with it, like delivering mail to all the country at one price, and access for everyone.


PS. postal coverage isn't truly "universal." I know people who live out in the sticks and not have a mail box or postal address.
 
they really should base rates on distance, they used to prior to @ 1850.
the oricinal rates in 1792 where this
not over 30 miles - 6
over 30 and not exceeding 60 miles - 8
over 60 and not exceeding 100 miles - 10
over 100 and not exceeding 150 miles - 12.5
over 150 and not exceeding 200 miles - 15
over 200 and not exceeding 250 miles - 17
over 250 and not exceeding 350 miles - 20
over 350 and not exceeding 450 miles - 22
over 450 miles - 25

maybe have distances similar to the way ups does it​
 
bumpity bump

WTOP.com - Postal Service reports billions in losses

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Postal Service is continuing to hemorrhage money, reporting a loss Tuesday of more than $2 billion over the first three months of the year and warning it could be forced to default on federal payments.
Such a default would not interrupt mail service to millions of Americans, but it could further hobble an agency struggling with a sharp decline in mail because of the Internet and a tough economy.
The agency says the $2.2 billion loss covers Jan. 1 to March 31 _ sharply higher than the net loss of $1.6 billion for the same period last year. The post office also said it will have reached its borrowing limit, set by Congress, of $15 billion by the end of the budget year on Sept. 30.
Unless Congress intervenes, the Postal Service said, the agency won't have the cash for certain payment to the government, such as billions for a trust fund to provide health care benefits for future retirees.
"The Postal Service continues to seek changes in the law to enable a more flexible and sustainable business model," said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick R. Donahoe. "The Postal Service may return to financial stability only through significant changes to the laws that limit flexibility and impose undue financial burdens."
Total mail volume, about 41 billion pieces, was down 3.1 percent for the January to March period, compared with the same time a year earlier, the Postal Service said. A modest increase in revenue from standard mail wasn't enough to offset the revenue loss from less first-class mail.
In the last three years, the agency has cut over 130,000 jobs. And it's making more cuts, with the elimination of about 7,500 administrative jobs in regional offices.
The Postal Service does not receive tax money for its operations.
 
I love the Postal Service. I'm an EBay seller, and USPS is my shipping service of choice. My only complaint is that actual post offices can have very long lines, but the rates are low because they are a public service and are subsidized, and packages always arrive promptly.
 
"The Postal Service may return to financial stability only through significant changes to the laws that limit flexibility and impose undue financial burdens."
So, it will be fixed. The government is not just going to let USPS fail.
 
mdram said:
they really should base rates on distance, they used to prior to @ 1850.
the oricinal rates in 1792 where this
not over 30 miles - 6
over 30 and not exceeding 60 miles - 8
over 60 and not exceeding 100 miles - 10
over 100 and not exceeding 150 miles - 12.5
over 150 and not exceeding 200 miles - 15
over 200 and not exceeding 250 miles - 17
over 250 and not exceeding 350 miles - 20
over 350 and not exceeding 450 miles - 22
over 450 miles - 25​


maybe have distances similar to the way ups does it​
Click to expand...
This goes back to my road arguement. Does the government charge you more for your commute to work than it does your neighbor? Even though you both travel the same distance, but you travel over 8 bridges and he doesnt?
 
nlsme said:
This goes back to my road arguement. Does the government charge you more for your commute to work than it does your neighbor? Even though you both travel the same distance, but you travel over 8 bridges and he doesnt?
Click to expand...

sure do all my bridges are toll bridges
 
I call bs, as a very small percentage of bridges in the US are toll bridges. And I am not only talking about "large" bridges. And even then, only a small percentage are toll.
 
nlsme said:
I call bs, as a very small percentage of bridges in the US are toll bridges. And I am not only talking about "large" bridges. And even then, only a small percentage are toll.
Click to expand...

of course it was bs

we both pay fuel tax
why should the guy getting 10mpg pay more then the guy getting 50mpg
for a 50mile trip?
its a choice of route/vehicle/ect

and remember they are looking into changing the fuel tax, or adding to it, based on miles driven. there are already pilot programs out there

so there are thoughts on changing that
why not change the usps pricing structure?
 
FreakyLocz14 said:
I say we privatize it.
Click to expand...

because then it would be more expensive as the unions would take even more power, unless you treat them like the air traffic controllers union, no strike clause.

imagine a mail carrier strike that lasted months

now if we could eliminate the union part then sure
 
mdram said:
of course it was bs

we both pay fuel tax
why should the guy getting 10mpg pay more then the guy getting 50mpg
for a 50mile trip?
its a choice of route/vehicle/ect

and remember they are looking into changing the fuel tax, or adding to it, based on miles driven. there are already pilot programs out there

so there are thoughts on changing that
why not change the usps pricing structure?
Click to expand...
None of the "new" ways cover my example of it costing you the same as the guy who doesnt use the expensive bridges you do. The only way to do that would be to make EVERY bridge a toll bridge. The way the government works on EVERYTHING, is to spread the cost around. Thats why it costs the same to mail something accross the nation as it does to the next town.
 
nlsme said:
None of the "new" ways cover my example of it costing you the same as the guy who doesnt use the expensive bridges you do. The only way to do that would be to make EVERY bridge a toll bridge. The way the government works on EVERYTHING, is to spread the cost around. Thats why it costs the same to mail something accross the nation as it does to the next town.
Click to expand...

and thats the problem
the government tries to be FAIR.
life is not fair
the government has no clue how to make a business break even
 
The government is not a "business". They are there to do what "business" cant do. So what, the usps has had a few bad years, in their lengthy existence. The USPS budget will be brought under control. And, I would say, they are not trying to be "fair" by spreading the cost around. It isnt "fair" that your neighbor pays the same as you for a less expensive commute. It isnt "fair" that your neighbor pays for your childs education, even though he has no kids. The government does not try to be "fair", it tries to improve on the welfare of ALL Americans, by doing things "business" cant.
 
mdram said:
and thats the problem
the government tries to be FAIR.
life is not fair
the government has no clue how to make a business break even
Click to expand...

Medicare cost of overhead: 5.2%
Private insurance cost of overhead: 12.5-30%

source

Government is non-profit, not a business. Businesses exist to create profit, government does not.

Many of the problems we have now are because government responsibilities and services have been outsourced to private for-profit corporations. These same corporations use government to eliminate competition, create monopolies, and have non-profit government services transferred to the for-profit sector.

It is the government's responsibility to

"provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity"

and these responsibilities should be either run or properly managed by the government on behalf of the people.
 
noah way said:
Medicare cost of overhead: 5.2%
Private insurance cost of overhead: 12.5-30%

source

Government is non-profit, not a business. Businesses exist to create profit, government does not.

Many of the problems we have now are because government responsibilities and services have been outsourced to private for-profit corporations. These same corporations use government to eliminate competition, create monopolies, and have non-profit government services transferred to the for-profit sector.

It is the government's responsibility to

"provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity"

and these responsibilities should be either run or properly managed by the government on behalf of the people.
Click to expand...

that quotes this paper
http://www.cahi.org/cahi_contents/resources/pdf/CAHI_Medicare_Admin_Final_Publication.pdf
read the paper
"This study, based in part on a technical paper by Mark Litow of Milliman, Inc., finds
that Medicare
 
nlsme said:
You do realize there are already private alternatives? And who would buy it, if the mandates placed on the USPS were carried over?
Click to expand...

By privatization, I mean get rid of all gov't control, including mandates.

They would have to provide better service to compete with FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.

Most people use privately owned electronic mail anyway, so the Post Office is used as a package delivery system.
 
FreakyLocz14 said:
By privatization, I mean get rid of all gov't control, including mandates.

They would have to provide better service to compete with FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.

Most people use privately owned electronic mail anyway, so the Post Office is used as a package delivery system.
Click to expand...

The mandates are there for a reason.USPS delivers to a LOT more places than the private sector.
 
I like USPS. They're reliable, ship all over the place, workers are more trustworthy, prices are reasonable (especially for flat rate), and deliver on saturdays!
 
Slightly off topic, but maybe someone will know. Can you stop the postal service from giving you mail?

I have never received a letter I wanted from the postal service in like 5 years. All the bills are handled online.

The only thing I have received in the mail is netflix, and I have them delivered to my work address. But I still get junk mail from every part of the world delivered to my door every day. I simply take the junk mail, walk to the shredder and shred it. I really never sort it anymore. Just a quick look at all junk mail and shredder. Can you call them and just have them shred the stupid mail for you?

Not that I am against the postal service, I go postal daily, but really is there a way to just say nope, if it comes to the house I don't want it? I have tried return to sender it only sends more.
 
RiverOfIce said:
Slightly off topic, but maybe someone will know. Can you stop the postal service from giving you mail?

I have never received a letter I wanted from the postal service in like 5 years. All the bills are handled online.

The only thing I have received in the mail is netflix, and I have them delivered to my work address. But I still get junk mail from every part of the world delivered to my door every day. I simply take the junk mail, walk to the shredder and shred it. I really never sort it anymore. Just a quick look at all junk mail and shredder. Can you call them and just have them shred the stupid mail for you?

Not that I am against the postal service, I go postal daily, but really is there a way to just say nope, if it comes to the house I don't want it? I have tried return to sender it only sends more.
Click to expand...

You can have the them hold your mail for a certain period of time.
https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/landingView.do

This is the best you can do altogether:
How to Stop USPS Junk Mail | eHow.com
 
Vihzel said:
I like USPS. They're reliable, ship all over the place, workers are more trustworthy, prices are reasonable (especially for flat rate), and deliver on saturdays!
Click to expand...

Wait. Have you ever heard of the term, "going postal?" ;) :p
 
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