[Gordongekko909]

Can the USPS do all that without tax subsidies? If not, you're *still* paying more for their services. It's just that you're paying them 1) whether or not you're actually using them, and 2) on your income taxes instead of at point of sale.

[muawiyah]

There's not been a subsidy since the days of Ben Bailer, and that's decades ago. Time to catch up on the news.

[adamsjas]

Can the USPS do all that without tax subsidies? If not, you're *still* paying more for their services.


Yes, and they have. Last year (2005) was the first in three years they has a special appropriation from the Treasury, mostly for disaster preparedness.

in 2005 they got 503 million in appropriation (haven't spent it all yet), and earned 3,681 million from operations (delivering mail).


http://www.usps.com/history/anrpt05/fstatements_005.htm

They have been steadily paying down the debt to the Treasury since being converted to a quasi autonomous government corporation.

http://www.usps.com/history/anrpt05/fstatements_004.htm

.

page 44 of 66

,

Statements of changes in net capital

(Dollars in millions)

Year ended September 30, 2005, 2004 and 2003

blank	Capital Contributions of U.S. Government	Retained Earnings (Deficit) Since Reorganization	Total Net Capital (Deficiency)
Balance, September 30, 2002	$3,034	$(6,036)	$(3,002)
Net Income	-	3,868	3,868
Balance, September 30, 2003	3,034	(2,168)	(866)
Net Income	-	3,065	3,065
Balance, September 30, 2004	3,034	897	3,931
Net Income	-	1,445	1,445
Balance, September 30, 2005	$3,034	$2,342	$5,376
See accompanying notes to financial statements.