As mentioned by another, it’s actually referenced in the Constitution. I believe there should be a government recognized service that cannot go out of business for purposes of issuing subpoenas, sending legal documents, getting mail to soldiers, interacting with foreign post offices, etc. that will go to EVERY U.S. address.
They don’t have to be in the overnight delivery business (that came AFTER Federal Express invented the category)
They don’t have to be in the big package delivery business.
They don’t have to be in the cheap junk mail business.
They certainly don’t have to be in the subsidize shipments from Red China business.
I find priority mail is mature and works well.
There is no political will to close the remote and rural post offices.
There is no political will to dump Saturday delivery.
We should make the postal service smaller in order to make the inevitable shortfalls more tolerable.
The junk mail sector is used to keep the USPS large. Dump the subsidies, make a first class letter 75 cents. The people whp howl about it are the same ones who also boast that they use Internet and email for everything.
I send a lot of personal snail mail, and scads of Christmas cards. I am willing to pay the extra quarter per throw, to make a better postal system with less junk mail.
Sadly, that's one of the few things that is profitable for them.
“Junk mail” is the only class of postage that has been growing. First class mail has been in a steady decline since the mid-90’s with the advent of email and it took another huge hit with electronic bill pay.
They have to rationalize their infrastructure. They need to offload their retiree benefits as well. Those are untenable as currently constructed.
The Constitution authorizes the postal service, not mandates it. Privatize it completely!