The real story on the US Postal Service and Saturday delivery shut down

[Oldgamer]

It is depressing to see so many uninformed folks who are not paying attention to what is happening with our US Postal service. No, its not because they aren't generating enough revenue, it's not because the internet came along, it is a direct result of a sneaky pass of legislation to bankrupt them on purpose and push for privatization. If you take the US Postal service for granted you will find that one day, you no longer have it.

Link to article: http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/02/06/1547551/postal-service-saturday-delivery/

 

[Oldgamer]

Read the article, people: the USPS would be sitting on a surplus were it not for requirements put on them by a congress bent on forcing the postal system into bankruptcy so it can be privatized: the USPS is being forced to fund its pension program for people who haven't even been born yet, something we expect of NO other entity!

 

[Oldgamer]

Quote: could you imagine having to pay five years of insurance on your new car purchase? Or you must pay a predetermined deductable base on your family medical usage, this is yet another republican move to undermine the postal workers union, nothing more.why are they allowed to get away with this, messaging, everyone is lead to belive the USPS is unsubstainable. That's like tying someone up, trowing them in the deep end and watching them drown and then telling everyone they died because they could not swim.

 

[cubby1223]

First, already is a thread on this subject.

Second, it is my firm opinion that the post office is going down because the post office is becoming less and less important in today's world.

The post office could reduce themselves down to just 3 days delivery per week and it would not affect my life in the least.

The law requiring them to prefund pensions, yes it is shitty. But that doesn't change the fact that the post office is not a necessity anymore.

 

[Oldgamer]

First, already is a thread on this subject.

Second, it is my firm opinion that the post office is going down because the post office is becoming less and less important in today's world.

The post office could reduce themselves down to just 3 days delivery per week and it would not affect my life in the least.

The law requiring them to prefund pensions, yes it is shitty. But that doesn't change the fact that the post office is not a necessity anymore.

Did you bother reading the article? No it is not because of the internet. By the way is that what you tell millions of American's who may not have access to the internet like those out in the rural areas of this country?

In addition to that the US Postal service is the one organization that hires a ton of Vet's. More than any other.

 

[Oldgamer]

The U.S. Postal Service announced on Wednesday that it will discontinue first class Saturday mail delivery, marking another milestone in the decline of the once-ubiquitous government service. But it isn’t a switch to online mail that’s causing the postal demise — it’s Congress.
Under the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, Congress has for years forced the USPS to pre-fund 75 years’ worth of pensions for its employees, a requirement not made of any other public or private institution. That means that the Postal Service is footing the bill for employees it hasn’t even hired yet.
The USPS doesn’t actually receive money from the government, but still needs Congressional approval to make any changes to its structure. An analysis in July showed that the USPS, without its pension requirement, would have a $1.5 billion surplus.
But Congress has repeatedly failed to address the issue. Last year, the Postal Service defaulted on a pension fund payment for the first — and then second — time in its history, and political infighting stopped Congress from bringing any remedy to the floor.
Postal access is, ultimately, a rights issue for rural Americans; since they live in areas where internet coverage is inconsistent, post office closures and slowed-down delivery can mean big limitations on communication. A lack of access to postal services can lead to a growth in economic inequality. The new rules for Saturday delivery, set to take effect on August 1, 2013, will continue delivery of packages, but discontinue basic first-class mail.

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Quote: "Postal access is, ultimately, a rights issue for rural Americans; since they live in areas where internet coverage is inconsistent " And these are the same people that are voting for right wing anti-everything that benefits all americans, tea bagging conservatives to congress that are pushing for the collapse of the postal service. Ultimately these idiots are going to be the ones that are hurt the worst by the demise of the postal service, once they realize that the wonderful world of private companies such as fedex and UPS will not deliver to them since it doesn't make fiscal sense to drive 50 miles round trip for one package. That or their delivery fees will sky rocket. Either way, they'll find a way to blame Obama.

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[Oldgamer]

Another good Quote:

I would bet that most Americans do NOT know that the USPS is not a federal department, and not funded by taxes.

I would also bet that most Americans are not aware of the 75-year-in-advancer funding of a pension plan that Congress imposed on the USPS ten years ago.

I suspect that the Congressional republicans would like to cause the USPS to fail entirely, as that would eliminate a large group of union members -- a goal of the GOP.
I think it's time we informed our friends and neighbors of the outrageous burden inflicted on the USPS and demand that Congress fix the problem they created.
I live in in the suburbs of a large city and do a lot of e-mail and EFT for paying bills, so I won't be greatly affected, but I think of the elderly and the poor, who once again, will suffer the consequences of congressional chicanery.

 

[momeNt]

All the more reason to let the postal service fail. The less government has control over, the less they can impose regulations such as the pension funding.

 

[ivwshane]

Good luck OP. People prefer their ignorance to knowing the truth if it goes against what they believe.

If the post office ever goes away, get ready for higher prices from the competitors.

 

[Bowfinger]

Good luck OP. People prefer their ignorance to knowing the truth if it goes against what they believe.

If the post office ever goes away, get ready for higher prices from the competitors.

It surprises me a bit that the Dems seem to be complicit in this as well. Why aren't they pushing to protect the USPS and the vital services it provides by fixing such an onerous and irrational burden? Is it because they're beholden to the lobbyists of USPS competitors, they don't feel any political pressure, or something else?

 

[Bowfinger]

First, already is a thread on this subject.

Second, it is my firm opinion that the post office is going down because the post office is becoming less and less important in today's world.

The post office could reduce themselves down to just 3 days delivery per week and it would not affect my life in the least.

The law requiring them to prefund pensions, yes it is shitty. But that doesn't change the fact that the post office is not a necessity anymore.

That's a horribly arrogant attitude, that because you personally don't feel affected it's OK to gut it. Are you equally happy with the argument for banning "assault" weapons and large magazines by people who say such bans would not affect their lives in the least? If I said I'm OK with eliminating the military because "it would not affect my life in the least," would you consider that a reasonable argument? While you may not use the USPS, the majority of Americans -- and American businesses -- still depend on it. Don't be so self-centered.

 

[dmcowen674]

Good luck OP. People prefer their ignorance to knowing the truth if it goes against what they believe.

If the post office ever goes away, get ready for higher prices from the competitors.

Higher prices is what Americans want and expect.

 

[dmcowen674]

It surprises me a bit that the Dems seem to be complicit in this as well. Why aren't they pushing to protect the USPS and the vital services it provides by fixing such an onerous and irrational burden? Is it because they're beholden to the lobbyists of USPS competitors, they don't feel any political pressure, or something else?

I have a friend in one of the competitors to the USPS.

The Government has already given away the residential portion to UPS and the commerical portion to Fed-Ex.

This was done behind closed door meetings in June 2012.

 

[chucky2]

Hmmm...so they're frontloading the pension funding, when usually, the pensions are underfunded. This means there'll be a chance that the pension will actually have the money needed for the next few decades? What was bad about this plan again...?

 

[ivwshane]

Hmmm...so they're frontloading the pension funding, when usually, the pensions are underfunded. This means there'll be a chance that the pension will actually have the money needed for the next few decades? What was bad about this plan again...?

What was bad? In what business world is it rational to have 70 years worth if pensions to be funded in a span of 5-7 years? Now ask in what world would that make sense for an entity whose main purpose is NOT to make a profit.

 

[chucky2]

Well, in Fed sense it might be rational. Like, they say fund for 70 years, but what is really funded is about 20 years worth. Had they said fund at the normal rate, in 20 years, it'd be 30 years worth underfunded. That's what I'm saying...people keep saying it's way overfunded, but is that in the virtual sense or the knowing of the future sense?

 

[Zebo]

how are you people gonna take your govt back...for the people by the people? Or as Thomas Jefferson said consent of the governed? Everyone you're allowed to vote for is already bought and sold. Keep pushing for gun control I'm sure that will help.

 

[Oldgamer]

Good luck OP. People prefer their ignorance to knowing the truth if it goes against what they believe.

If the post office ever goes away, get ready for higher prices from the competitors.

Yep, people take things like the Post Office for granted, and don't realize how much they need it until it's gone.

It surprises me a bit that the Dems seem to be complicit in this as well. Why aren't they pushing to protect the USPS and the vital services it provides by fixing such an onerous and irrational burden? Is it because they're beholden to the lobbyists of USPS competitors, they don't feel any political pressure, or something else?

Yes, that is what ticks me off is why there isn't more of an outcry from the Dem's side, however, I did see several democratic senators on the news last night say they have been trying to fix/change the pension burden and they are running into all wall of NO from the Republicans on this issue.

 

[Oldgamer]

What was bad? In what business world is it rational to have 70 years worth if pensions to be funded in a span of 5-7 years? Now ask in what world would that make sense for an entity whose main purpose is NOT to make a profit.

If the US Postal Service gets taken over by say FED EX, or some other company it is possible they could get their hands on the pension money.. something to think about.

 

[Ausm]

Did you bother reading the article? No it is not because of the internet. By the way is that what you tell millions of American's who may not have access to the internet like those out in the rural areas of this country?

In addition to that the US Postal service is the one organization that hires a ton of Vet's. More than any other.

I wouldn't waste your time on a Rightist.

 

[Dude111]

It is depressing to see so many uninformed folks who are not paying attention to what is happening with our US Postal service. No, its not because they aren't generating enough revenue, it's not because the internet came along, it is a direct result of a sneaky pass of legislation to bankrupt them on purpose and push for privatization.

Of course it is mate.. Everything going on is part of the master plan to bankrupt this country and then bring in the NWO!!

 

[Texashiker]

Read the article, people: the USPS would be sitting on a surplus were it not for requirements put on them by a congress bent on forcing the postal system into bankruptcy so it can be privatized: the USPS is being forced to fund its pension program for people who haven't even been born yet, something we expect of NO other entity!

This has been going on for decades, no new news there.

My mom is a retired post master, and my uncle is a retired postal worker. My whole life I have got to hear about this or that about the post office.

The reason why the post office is having problems, they are not allowed to have a cash surplus. Any profit has to be handed over to the federal government.

Like all other federal programs, the post office has been raided to fund other projects.

It is not the post office that is broke, its federal governments out of control spending that is the problem.

 

[sm625]

Had the postal service been privatized 20 years ago, it would have shrank and morphed to fit the times. We cannot even imagine what it would have become, but I am sure it would have been better. Cheaper, more efficient, in some way. But we'll never know because it was never given that opportunity. We cannot see innovations that never happened, and so we cannot assign a proper value to it. It was just choked to death by unrealistic benefits that are way beyond what the private sector offers.

 

[finglobes]

White people can barely get a job at the PO. Its over 20% black alone not to mention other groups who get racial preferences. Dems will never let PO go down the drain because they want to their money for votes

 

[Atreus21]

Regardless of the reasons for its troubles, I don't see the reason for a government-mandated monopoly on postal services.