Posted on 01/09/2006 4:39:26 AM PST by OPERATION CROSSROADS
P O L I C Y B R I E F1920 L STREET, N.W. - SUITE 200 - WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036 - 202-785-0266 - HTTP://WWW.ATR.ORGA Different Kind of Postal Fraud Why US Postal Service rate increases are effectively tax increases, how those taxes are being misspent, and what should be done to stop it once and for all. By Robert Fike, Federal Affairs Manager With Alex Singleton, Visiting Scholar1Introduction: It Works Like a Tax and Costs Like a Tax, So Let’s Call it a Tax The US Postal Service’s Board of Governors, when defending its recent decision to pursue rate increases far exceeding the recommendations put forth by the Postal Rate Commission, made the incredible assertion that the USPS “has not received any tax money for operating expenses since 1982. The customers who use its services pay for the entire cost of operating the system.” 2This statement is terribly misleading for three all-important reasons: 1-The USPS has been granted by the federal government a monopoly over the delivery of First Class and Standard A mail, as well as the use of all mailboxes. The rates it charges are essentially the product of a unilateral diktat imposed in a closed market, and not the result of competitive pricing yielded by an open market. 2-Consequently, where the USPS has a monopoly, the USPS has no customers. No one chooses to have the USPS deliver their mail simply because no one has any other option. Therefore, the rates we pay are ineluctable; we are without recourse to another carrier. And any compulsory charge that is endorsed by a government, whether directly or indirectly, is a tax.
(Excerpt) Read more at atr.org ...
Why is it that the US Postal Service is in the Red and requires more money again for stamps to compensate??
Seems kinda strange that we can Pony up to our local Express, get gas & eggs & Stamps, and go home knowing a fair profit was made? U.S. goes postal @ $.37, and the Local Express makes money selling them @ far below a $.07-$.11 margin, without mark-up? HUH?
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Why is it that the US Postal Service is in the Red and requires more money again for stamps to compensate??
That old bugaboo about pensions and medical coverage.
(Denny Crane: "I Don't Want To Socialize With A Pinko Liberal Democrat Commie. Say What You Like About Republicans. We Stick To Our Convictions. Even When We Know We're Dead Wrong.")
Thanks for the welcome.
I've been emailed and referencing topics from FR for too long, so I decided to join.
The topics and feedback here are educational & appreciated.
Yes, FR will definately get my 2 cents+, as it likely will be worth more here!
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Exactly my point.
The friendly gal at the gas station gets neither.
The grumpy one at the Post Ofice counter has earned hers?
Careful man, there are Postal types here on FR, and they DO own guns.. :)
For the service they provide, all I want is delivery Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Do this nation wide and they won't need a rate increase.
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