Posted on 08/12/2009 9:51:02 PM PDT by Schnucki
President Obama made what his advisers believe were his first public comments on the U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday, basically knocking its performance during his health-care-themed town hall in New Hampshire.
He said an audience member raised a "legitimate concern" about how a government-run health-care program might affect private insurers.
"My answer is that if the private insurance companies are providing a good bargain, and if the public option has to be self-sustaining -- meaning taxpayers aren't subsidizing it, but it has to run on charging premiums and providing good services and a good network of doctors, just like any other private insurer would do -- then I think private insurers should be able to compete. They do it all the time."
Then he invoked the Postal Service:
"I mean, if you think about it, UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? No, they are. It's the post office that's always having problems."
That comment provoked laughter from the audience.
Asked to clarify, the White House said Obama was pointing out that while core Postal Service services are different from those offered by UPS and FedEx, it has not undermined the competitive spirit of the private shipping industry.
"It’s been public for some time that the Postal Service’s fiscal path is unsustainable," spokeswoman Jen Psaki said when asked about the president's generally dismissive remarks. "It has been struggling due to unprecedented reductions in mail volume, and the effect of the economic crisis has made things worse." Psaki was unaware of any previous public comments made by Obama about the Postal Service or its financial woes.
The White House supports the House and Senate measures designed to provide short-term relief to the Postal Service and plans to work with lawmakers on long-term solutions, Psaki said.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
If you take the teleprompter away from a fool, he’s still a fool.
The national shame and international laughingstock that is Barry Soetero Hussein Obama Jr. continues.
He is imploding so beautifully, though.
Well, if his healthcare plan is gonna be just like the USPS, then all I can say is ...
“RETURN TO SENDER”!!!! ..heeheehee:)
When was the last time you sent a first class letter via UPS or FedEx (the much better, non-union choice of the two)? Oh, that’s right—it ain’t lawful. And, should the Postal Service’s generalized incompetence reassure us about the gubmint taking over the medical business? Yikes! Every time Prompter Boy opens his mouth lately something dumb falls out. They need to just scoop out his brain and drop in an encrypted radio so they can just prop him up and have somebody with a clue self-righteously condescend to the masses.
True but the media is still trying to cover it up so far.
Think of all the postal worker union members who followed the promptings of their union to vote Obama. Bet they would still vote Obama to this day. They’ll write off his contempt somehow.
Obama seems too stupid to even understand that he’s said something stupid.
I purchased something on the internet today and was offered a choice of USPS or FEDEX for $2 more. I specifically thought of his comments and chose FEDEX.
Busted a gut when I saw this.
Bama and Biden could be right up there
with the Redneck comedy tour.
Good Luck with that.
Bashing the postal service is like a reflex among so many people, but considering what they do, even though they have a monopoly, they don't really do it all that badly. I sent a batch of paperwork overnight across the country for only $16.89, and first class anywhere in my state and most of the neighboring states is always overnight.
UPS on the other hand, in my area, seems to load trucks upside down, with the smallest, lightest, most fragile packages at the bottom of the truck, underneath the 80-pound crates.
The USPS hasn't had a single dollar of taxpayer money in decades, either, a fact that Obama doesn't seem to realize. The only way they're "government" is by dint of their monopoly and Constitutional mandate. UPS on the other hand is probably far more dependent on government favors by virtue of the National Labor Relations Board and the cozy relationship between politicians and the Teamsters.
They have a monopoly and are almost 8 billion dollars in the hole?
With all due respect, they get most of the mail delivered but their profit margin is not an indication of success compared to the competition.
Wow, it’s getting really crowded under the Obamabus.
One of the downsides of having a monopoly is that you are required to deliver mail to places like Barrow, Alaska, zip code 99723, from Miami, Florida, zip code 33299, a total of 4,247 miles as the crow flies, for 44 cents per letter.
They've made incredible strides in efficiency and automation over the years, and considering that they do about $65 billion in business in a year, you should put the $8 billion figure in perspective.
Bump
For years Congress used the Postal Service as a private piggy bank, taking revenue (money earned), to fund projects having nothing to do with the mail. They sold off most of the package business to FedEx, DHL, UPS, who were lusting after first class mail...and how long would it be do you think before said companies raised the price of services for first class mail? Along comes the internet and a falling economy, and the postal service suffers. If you worked in your local post office, you’d know how hard these employees work. The fact that Obama uses them as the butt of one of his lame jokes simply underlines how unprincipled and stupid he is. But back to the internet, folks. How long do you think it will be before state and fed govt. decide to tax it. Each and every time you access anything, buy anything, read anything? It’s coming, folks. At some point soon, the price of a first class stamp will look pretty good.
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