Why does Congress insist on destroying the Postal Service?

[Harry Dresden]

The biggest slap Congress has delivered to the USPS, though, is a 2006 decision to make the agency pre-fund its pensions for 75 years, an onerous burden not required of any other government agency, let alone adopted by any private company. Most of the USPS's losses are caused by this requirement. The other factor is the steady decline in First Class mail, as more people use the internet for routine correspondence.

The Postal Service keeps on coming up with plans to make itself profitable, or a least less unprofitable, and Congress keeps saying no or ignoring the USPS's structural issues

Close the USPS, let UPS and fedex do it. They seem to know how to deliver things all over the world and still make a profit.

they are not mandated, to not make a profit like the PO is....and i dont think they want a Postal Inspection service watching every move they make....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Why does Congress insist on destroying the Postal Service?

The USPS ought to be abolished.

Going Postal

Daniel McAdams

The USPS is a Soviet nightmare. Want to rent a P.O. box? Be prepared to fill out an extensive and invasive application form and prove that everything on it is accurate.

People hate the USPS so much they look for any possible alternative. Which is one reason they lose a ton of money. Then come crying to the taxpayer to bail them out.

Just last month the USPS told us they lost $1.9 billion in the second quarter of the year. The Postal Service says it is in desperate need of legislation to help make them “more competitive.” Only government action can make them competitive!

“‘To return the Postal Service to solvency requires a comprehensive approach, which is reflected in our updated Five-Year Business Plan,’ said Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe.”

Five year plan? Where have we heard that before? Oh yes…

So now we hear that the same USPS that cannot operate without massive financial losses — even with a monopoly on first class mail delivery — somehow has the resources to photograph the front and back of each piece of mail processed!

They cannot deliver our mail properly, cannot operate at a profit, cannot provide anything resembling customer service beyond the 1950s East Europe model, yet somehow they have unlimited resources to play big brother with all our postal communications."

.

They cannot deliver our mail properly,

yea they can and they do.....

it is not photographed like you think it is.....all those bar codes on the front of the mail piece tells them everything they need to know about where that letter is going and where its been....so they can reconstruct the the information and create a "photo" if you will of the letter.....

 

[Harry Dresden]

USPS is a dinosaur and has little value today and will have even less in the future. The constitution empowers Congress to create it, but does not mandate its existence.

little value today?.....stop the mail tomorrow and the rest of the week.....lets see how business reacts.....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Why does Congress insist on destroying the Postal Service?

That's easy, because the postal workers belong to a UNION!!!!

not all of them.......many dont belong....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Why does Congress insist on destroying the Postal Service?

That's easy, because the postal workers belong to a UNION!!!!

"Belong" as in "are wholly owned and controlled by.....".

no....

 

[Harry Dresden]

Will they deliver a letter from my house to my cousins house in California for 49 cents?

Nope.

My 85-year old mother is the only one I know who still sends letters. Soon, USPS will only be utilized by junk mail. I hardly think that's a reason for a bloated and costly bureaucracy.

My 85-year old mother is the only one I know who still sends letters

come on down and look and see all those First Class Letters that get mailed daily.....

a bloated and costly bureaucracy.

cant argue with that,its middle Management is very bloated and costly....

 

[Harry Dresden]

If junk mail ever stops coming a number of rural families might have to buy coal for their stoves.

Expensive coal.

Then they could march on Washington to demand coal stamps!

advertising through the mail is one of the most effective ways to advertise...

 

[Sunshine]

Why does Congress insist on destroying the Postal Service? - The Week

The $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill expected to clear Congress this week has a little something for just about everyone — except postal workers. Tucked in among the bill's 1,582 pages are instructions to the U.S. Postal Service "that 6-day delivery and rural delivery of mail shall continue at not less than the 1983 level." Also, "none of the funds provided in this Act shall be used to consolidate or close small rural and other small post offices in fiscal year 2014."

The marching orders from Congress wouldn't be so bad if lawmakers "had decided to appropriate money to keep rural post offices open" or offset the costs of Saturday delivery, says Slate's Matthew Yglesias. "But Congress in its wisdom has not delivered any money."

And that pretty much encapsulates the troubled relationship between Congress and the USPS. Lawmakers want the Postal Service to run itself like a for-profit business, but they retain the right of final say over all its major business decisions. The USPS is legally obligated to serve every address in the U.S. and its territories, but it can't set its own prices, decide where to expand or cut its operations, or make other basic business decisions.

Have you been to the post office lately? Have you been there and stood in the line out the door and around the block while they chew the fat with their friends? Have you put up with their abusive attitudes and their low IQ? There was a time when they had to pass a test to work for the post office. I don't know what happened to that.

The post office is putting itself out of business. If I have to pay $13.00 to mail a letter, and if you count the time standing in line that's about what it runs for a working person, then UPS Air is a much better deal. If you want quick service at the post office go 5 minutes before they close. They really move then.

 

[thanatos144]

Close the USPS, let UPS and fedex do it. They seem to know how to deliver things all over the world and still make a profit.

the united postal service is constitutionally protected. Clause 7 article 1

It's Article I Section 8. But it says Congress has the power to do it, not that they are obligated to.

I guess gov't regulations with mandates but no money to pay for them are a real bitch, Nutwinger. Welcome to private enterprise.

It is constitutionally protected.....So in order for the postal service to become private you need to amend the constitution.

 

[Harry Dresden]

I agree with the OP 100%....having said that...it's other problem is a nightmarish bureaucratic attitude among postal managers. Particularly SCF and BMC managers who believe enforcing rules is more important than anything else they do - including running an efficient center.
They are not there to serve you - they see themselves more like a police officer. There to ensure every rule is followed regardless how mundane and pointless it may be, or how delaying a piece may be costing a business $10's or even $100's of thousands of dollars.
Businesses are climbing over themselves to find alternate ways to reach potential customers. All to avoid the high cost and high demands of the USPS.

.it's other problem is a nightmarish bureaucratic attitude among postal managers.

mostly the middle managers.....they do think they are important.....i see you have met a few....

There to ensure every rule is followed regardless how mundane and pointless it may be,

if that rule is a Federal Law governing the Mail.....you bet they will enforce it....you would too....

 

[bripat9643]

The biggest slap Congress has delivered to the USPS, though, is a 2006 decision to make the agency pre-fund its pensions for 75 years, an onerous burden not required of any other government agency, let alone adopted by any private company. Most of the USPS's losses are caused by this requirement. The other factor is the steady decline in First Class mail, as more people use the internet for routine correspondence.

The Postal Service keeps on coming up with plans to make itself profitable, or a least less unprofitable, and Congress keeps saying no or ignoring the USPS's structural issues

Close the USPS, let UPS and fedex do it. They seem to know how to deliver things all over the world and still make a profit.

The postal service is mandated by the Constitution.

No it isn't, dipstick.

 

[bripat9643]

the united postal service is constitutionally protected. Clause 7 article 1

It's Article I Section 8. But it says Congress has the power to do it, not that they are obligated to.

I guess gov't regulations with mandates but no money to pay for them are a real bitch, Nutwinger. Welcome to private enterprise.

It is constitutionally protected.....So in order for the postal service to become private you need to amend the constitution.

Also wrong.

 

[edthecynic]

The biggest slap Congress has delivered to the USPS, though, is a 2006 decision to make the agency pre-fund its pensions for 75 years, an onerous burden not required of any other government agency, let alone adopted by any private company. Most of the USPS's losses are caused by this requirement. The other factor is the steady decline in First Class mail, as more people use the internet for routine correspondence.

The Postal Service keeps on coming up with plans to make itself profitable, or a least less unprofitable, and Congress keeps saying no or ignoring the USPS's structural issues

Close the USPS, let UPS and fedex do it. They seem to know how to deliver things all over the world and still make a profit.

UPS uses the post office to deliver their packages for the final step. I have gotten many UPS packages that are delivered to my local PO who then delivers them to my house. If UPS could deliver them the final step for less than the PO they would, so if you abolish the PO you will pay more to have UPS deliver from door to door.

 

[bripat9643]

USPS is a dinosaur and has little value today and will have even less in the future. The constitution empowers Congress to create it, but does not mandate its existence.

little value today?.....stop the mail tomorrow and the rest of the week.....lets see how business reacts.....

The mail doesn't have to be delivered by the Post Office. If government allowed it, 500 companies would spring up tomorrow to deliver First Class mail.

 

[thanatos144]

On the bright side, it took waaaayyyy longer for government to ruin the postal service than it did for them to destroy social security and Medicare.

The post office has been hurt by email. Many now receive monthly statements and pay bills online, so no need for stamps. I often use UPS or FedEx for mailing packages because for some items, it's just cheaper.

It sucks what is happening, but not hard to see why.

It's so cute how liberals suddenly quote the constitution. That didn't matter when the Dems passed Obamacare or Obama made recess appointments when congress wasn't in recess. It doesn't matter that federal immigration laws are being ignored or that Obama is unilaterally deciding who can ignore the Obamacare law. Yup, suddenly it matters again.

I also like how liberals act as if Republicans can pass things all by themselves. It gets funnier every day.

The object is to be better then liberal and that means amending the constitution instead of being cooks like them and ignoring it.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Nope.

My 85-year old mother is the only one I know who still sends letters. Soon, USPS will only be utilized by junk mail. I hardly think that's a reason for a bloated and costly bureaucracy.

Years ago, I got all my bills and letters and junk mail from the USPS. Today, I get only junk mail from the USPS. It waste paper and is environmentally unfriendly. I think it is time to rethink the USPS, and how it conducts business. It reminds me of IBM, it failed to change.

IBM did not have to ask someone if they could piss,and then wait for 3-4 different committees to revue and approve it and then send it to Congress and wait for them to act....meanwhile 3 years later......

 

[Harry Dresden]

The constitution ALLOWS for the postal service.. but it is more of a drain on the government and our country than ever.. it has become the same as it's parent (the federal government) full of red tape, multi-levels of shit, useless expenses and high spending, and about as clueless to what is needed as can be

If it is to be kept, it should be audited, streamlined, and made to be competitive with the private sector offerings WITHOUT being fed money from taxpayers.. if it cannot be, efforts should be made to retire it, just as other government agencies have been retired or modified in the past... hell, MANY agencies should be retired, but that is another story

WITHOUT being fed money from taxpayers.

can you prove that?.....

 

[rightwinger]

UPS and FedEx takes all the high profit, gravy packages and leaves the USPS with the Congressionally mandated dirty work

Let them, pick up and deliver letters door to door for 49 cents and then tell me about their profit

 

[bripat9643]

99% of my mail is junk

fix that first and the USPS might stay alive

If private firms were allowed to deliver the mail, they could provide services like screening out junk mail. The Post Office has to deliver this trash by law.

 

[rightwinger]

USPS is a dinosaur and has little value today and will have even less in the future. The constitution empowers Congress to create it, but does not mandate its existence.

little value today?.....stop the mail tomorrow and the rest of the week.....lets see how business reacts.....

The mail doesn't have to be delivered by the Post Office. If government allowed it, 500 companies would spring up tomorrow to deliver First Class mail.

At $1 a letter or more