The U.S. Postal Service was dealt a very hard blow in 2006 by a conservative lame duck Congress. It created a crisis for that once proud institution by passing a postal reform bill which obligated the Postal Service to prepay 75 years of a pension and benefits plan for its employees — some $11.1 billion — to the U.S. Treasury in a 10-year window of time.
So is it any wonder then that our Saturday mail service will come to an end in August since our conservative lawmakers have caused our Postal Service to go on life support just about?
I believe our Congress won’t rest until they succeed in getting rid of the Postal Service altogether, since their greatest wish is to privatize mail delivery. And when that happens, what a sad day it’ll be for Americans, and most especially elderly Americans who live in rural and remote areas of the country.
We Americans must never forget that the Postal Service is the only institution stipulated by the Constitution of the United States.
ANN BECHIOM
Elizabeth City
Comments
Who uses USPS anymore? I
Who uses USPS anymore? I can't remember the last actual "letter" I received. I do receive the occasional card (Christmas, birthday). Everything else is pretty much junk mail.
I receive my bills on line, pay them on line.
The USPS is a victim of itself -- too many employees with overly generous retirement and health benefits....Typical Union problem.
It needs to be cut back drastically.
I believe the Federal government is requiring all government disbursments be transacted electronically in the very near future. That would include SS checks and other government checks. So.... they won't be delayed by the post office not delivering on Saturdays.
Both Parties Involved
The P.A.E.A. bill was introduced by Rep. Thomas Davis [R-VA11] and had three cosponsors:
Danny Davis [D-IL7]
Henry Waxman [D-CA30]
John McHugh [R-NY23]
I agree that the Postal Service is the only institution stipulated by the Constitution. I am appalled that our government has set aside its Constitutional duties and instead involves itself with duties outside the scope of its Constitutional obligations.
Excuse me but
I believe the Congress was controlled by liberals at the time you cite. In addition you may remember that your guy Obama said, for the purpose of defending Obamacare, at the time that the Post Office was doing just fine and that was in 2009. Sorry Ann, your Red Herring won't work this time. Just fess up and admit that the degradation of the post office and other financial woes of the country was something that you voted for and I certainly believe that you and others deserve a good dose of what you voted for. I'll also add that with your guy in office, the reduced hours at the Post Office is going to be the least of your problems during the next 4 years.
2006 was a gop controlled congress
Twinstar.... it was 2006, it was before the Dems took control of the house (that would have been January 2007)
and I am quoting here...
"Also, there was a bill before congress in 1998.... UPS spent over $5 million lobbying against its main competitor. Janna Little lobbied congress to not allow the Postal Service to expand the services it offers. UPS at this time initiated a smear campaign against the Postal Service by among other things sending every member of congress a box filled with anti Postal Service editorials."
that was during the height of GOP control of the House of Representatives....
Who is Janna Little??
Should would now be known as Janna Ryan, Paul Ryan's wife.
Look it up.
Let's look at more than just one example of costs
Back during the 60's and 70's when the post office was paying janitors at the rate of $12.00 to $14.00 per hour wasn't exactly a good example of good fiscal spending. Somewhere it all catches up with you.
"Smile!"
Aw, come on Ann? Can't I coax a smile from that perpetually annoyed countenance? ;)
????
How will making it function better and more efficiently (privately)be bad for America? Oh I get it now, where will all the voters go to get a government job?
by that logic
By that logic, why don't we privatize the military and Police forces in this country?
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