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My 2 Cents Worth
ATR (Americans for Tax Reform) Policy Brief ^ | March 6, 2001 | R. Fike & A. Singleton

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 ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: postage; rate
Great! I just bought a book of $.37 stamps & realize I need to go back and get a book of $.02

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?

1 posted on 01/09/2006 4:39:27 AM PST by OPERATION CROSSROADS
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To: OPERATION CROSSROADS

Welcome to the forum. No postage here, but don't forget to contribute to the FReepathon.


2 posted on 01/09/2006 4:48:37 AM PST by Coop (FR = a lotta talk, but little action)
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To: OPERATION CROSSROADS

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.


3 posted on 01/09/2006 4:54:17 AM PST by the tongue
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To: OPERATION CROSSROADS
Just pay the bills online and forget the postage stamps. A two cents increase in first class mail isn't that much of a hardship. There are worse things in life to encounter than the U.S Postal Service. Oh yeah, the mail's delivered at day's end. Talk about speedy service!

(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.")

4 posted on 01/09/2006 4:54:39 AM PST by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
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To: Coop

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!


5 posted on 01/09/2006 4:55:23 AM PST by OPERATION CROSSROADS
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To: OPERATION CROSSROADS
I get at least 10 unwanted catalogs a week, the local "free whats for sale" rag, the local PO closes a noon time for lunch, because no one wants to work there, left a hold mail notice the last time we were on vacation, came home to find a weeks worth of mail stuffed in the box..

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.
6 posted on 01/09/2006 4:55:27 AM PST by tiger-one (The night has a thousand eyes)
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To: OPERATION CROSSROADS
End the post office monopoly on letter delivery
7 posted on 01/09/2006 4:57:05 AM PST by Tribune7
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To: OPERATION CROSSROADS
Welcome to FreeRepublic.

For HTML help, click here: Webmonkey

8 posted on 01/09/2006 4:57:20 AM PST by pageonetoo (You'll spot their posts soon enough!)
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To: OPERATION CROSSROADS
As a ebay seller, i can tell you that nothing, not UPS, FedEx or DHL beats the USPS for small package delivery. The USPS beats them in price, delivery time, and care of packages.

This article has straw man arguments. For example, the author states that because we are not taxed on USPS services, this is a tax break for the USPS.

He states in one paragraph that the USPS has a monopoly on delivery of 1st class mail, then in another paragraph, the first class mail quantity is falling off.

Going to read more and will post again about it.
9 posted on 01/09/2006 4:57:47 AM PST by Lokibob (Spelling and typos are copyrighted. Please do not use.)
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To: the tongue

Exactly my point.
The friendly gal at the gas station gets neither.

The grumpy one at the Post Ofice counter has earned hers?


10 posted on 01/09/2006 4:58:15 AM PST by OPERATION CROSSROADS
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To: OPERATION CROSSROADS

Careful man, there are Postal types here on FR, and they DO own guns.. :)


11 posted on 01/09/2006 5:17:43 AM PST by Paradox (Time to sharpen ole Occam's Razor.)
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To: tiger-one

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.



I'd be happy if I could use my PO Box as a recipeint for UPS package deliveries. I'd pay a few bucks a package for that service (though it would save UPS so much dough that they'd undoubtedly pay the USPS a cut of their revenue.)


12 posted on 01/09/2006 7:47:26 AM PST by Atlas Sneezed (Your FRiendly FReeper Patent Attorney)
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