Dump ‘Em!
Semper Watching!
*****
One of the very few flaws in our Constitution is that it does require the Federal Government to maintain a postal service.
This raises the specter of a taxpayer bailout, ordered by Federal judges.
And the Black Caucus thinks THEY’RE going to have a mob out in the streets...
Amer Postal Workers Union saying that (in ads they run) USPS doesn’t get a penny of taxpayer money but they are required by law to prefund retirements etc.; they say that a different bill should be passed:
>>The USPS is asking Congress to enact legislation to remove postal workers and retirees from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and federal retirement plans; allow management to lay off 120,000 employees, and effectively eliminate our right to collective bargaining. In September, the Postal Service will default on a $5.5 billion payment to the Treasury.
>>Some members of Congress are using the budget crisis to attack our rights, while ignoring other methods of fixing the problem...On the other hand, H.R. 1351, introduced by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), would allow the USPS to use the billions of dollars in pension overpayments to meet its financial obligations. It would address the cause of the USPS financial crisis without cutting pay, reducing benefits, eliminating collective bargaining rights, or slashing service. However, word on Capitol Hill is that Rep. Issa is blocking consideration of H.R. 1351.
Up to now, the post office has always been self-financing, one of the few government agencies to do this. Only now are they going into default, and it is in part due to the transmission of data and communications electronically, rather than by snail mail.
It wouldn’t bother me much as I only snail mail about a dozen letters a year at best.
The USPS needs to continue to exist, but almost exclusively because of very old treaty obligations. We bent over backwards to get about every country on the planet to agree to an international mail system, something that has never been seen before or duplicated. It took two different empires, the British and American, to make it happen.
However, that being said, the USPS as it exists today, can be both significantly downgraded, and opened up to competition. But still emphasizing some unique qualities which it has as a para-government operation.
The most important of these would be “secure and certified” mail. That is, the legal part of mail delivery, as the equivalent of a bonded courier backed by the force of law. For example, they could deliver secure mail to a person or their representative that would require a fingerprint and digital picture (camera in the pad), along with a signature for release.
This could include process service, notarization, sworn statements, legal documents, high value items like jewelry, etc.
The USPS would give up on advertisement mail, and would also have to compete for 1st class mail. This would require variable costs for postage in the US, even if international mail costs had to stay the same.
No problem just raise the price of a Stamp to$5.00\s
Ok - time for a reality check:
What IS the United States Postal Service? I have used the USPS as an example of how “great” government-run anything is (intentional sarcasm). But some I know say that is a bad example because the USPS is NOT owned or run by the Federal Government.
So what’s the REAL story?
But have you seen the Post office commercial that says they are profitable?
Front page news in yesterdays Rapid City Journal, was the story of a small town about to lose it’s post office.
There are a ton of solutions to the PO problems. A couple of my suggestions would be get out of the package business and give that operation to those who get the job done without too much duplication of effort.
Mail delivery once a week in rural locations. Maybe even once or twice a week in urban locations. I’m sure one of the overriding issues with a shrinking PO would be their pension system, which probably would collapse with a shrinking PO.
A whole lot more is going to collapse if WE THE PEOPLE don’t get a handle on our master the US Government.
Fund to aid injured postal workers at risk if USPS defaults
August 29, 2011
A fund that compensates federal employees for work-related injuries will run out of cash in the last quarter of 2012 if the U.S. Postal Service defaults on an upcoming $1.2 billion payment, according to the Labor Department.
The mail carrier, which has been losing billions of dollars each year, has more than 560,000 full-time employees, the largest pool of workers covered by the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act.
U.S. Postal Service Wants to Cut 220K Jobs; Seeks Approval From Congress
August 12, 2011
The U.S. Postal Service wants approval for a plan to eliminate 220,000 full-time jobs and 300 processing centers by 2015 and will seek approval from Congress for the move.
The agency is trying to move fast to shore up its money-losing business, avoiding default in late September.
The postal service receives no taxpayer funds and expects to lose $8 billion or more this year, as its business declines amid more people using online bill pay and e-mail. The postal service needs to cut its payroll to 425,000 jobs and take over its retirement and health benefits instead of participating in federal programs, Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe told Reuters.
But Congressional approval is needed for either step. Donahoe saaid the agency hopes to reach a deal with Congress by the end of September to give the agency more control over its finances.
The postal service has threatened to default by the end of September if Congress does not step in with help.
If Congress does address the issue — as the USPS is asking — it is expected to be politically sensitive, since both plans including the job cuts and benefits change would face severe opposition from postal worker unions which have contracts that ban layoffs.
Writing on the wall has been there for the USPS for a while now.. but let me ask this...
When I grew up, the postman ALWAYS was in their full uniform, shirts button, tucked in, they, on the surface at least, appeared to take pride in themselves and their appearance.
Today, most postmen I see look like slobs, rarely have a full uniform, or if they do its not work properly, shirts unbutton, untucked, etc etc etc. Now I am sure that if I looked at the wages and benefits they make today its more even adjusted for inflation than it was in the 70s...
So why are they allowed to look so damned unprofessional?
Yes...this, indeed, is how this once great country ended up with the prince of fools in the driver’s seat...
THINK!
Semper Watching!
*****