Save the Post Office: we can do it and here's how

[jon_norstog]

It looks like the Post Office is going to close in a few weeks without a bailout. I'm not going to go into the causes except to say it was a setup.

It would be crazy to let the Post Office go down the tubes, and an insult to the founders, especially Ben Franklin, who saw the need for it. I get my heart pills in the mail, no waiting in line and Kaiser pays for the stamp. We write to our grandkids in Idaho, cards and letters, it makes their day. The closest thing we have to secure, private communication in these days of total internet surveillance is US mail. This is not a red or blue issue. We need the Postal Service, and should no more lose it than we should lose a branch of the military.

One of the things I learned from the lobbyists when I was working for Navajo Nation, those trips to DC trying to get a settlement of the so-called Navajo-Hopi "land dispute": If a Senator or Representative gets fifty letters on an issue - real, hand-written letters from his/her constituents - he will assign a staff person to work on that issue. If he/she gets a whole mess of letters, there WILL be action.

In the case of the Postal Service, it looks like the Senate is where you've got to change some minds. I sent letters today to both my senators at their DC offices. It didn't take long and cost maybe a buck for postage. Since the anthrax scare, mail to the DC offices goes through a kind of lengthy processing, so I put a msg on the outside of the envelope: "Save out Post Office"

You can post all you want on the internet or click on a "survey" or "petition" but it doesn't have the weight of real communication. Write your own letter, that way they'll know the issue means something to you.

And go buy a sheet of stamps!

Thank you in advance to any and all who do this, no matter your political persuasion.


jn

[Roadkingtrax]

I cannot understand the current political forces that would weaponize and leverage the Post Office's existence to strike about against political or business adversaries.

Someone will have to explain that to everyone else, because it is a damn shame and a national embarrassment.

[dryheat]

Totally agree. But the PO is 'always' going broke.

[clintonhater]

I cannot understand the current political forces that would weaponize and leverage the Post Office's existence to strike about against political or business adversaries.

The attempt to privatize mail delivery--that is, turn it over to UPS, Fedex, other private companies--actually began several years ago when Repubs controlled the House & certain mad-dog USPS haters & "free-enterprise" fanatics among them began demanding that USPS "pay for itself" (you know, like police & fire depts.) or die. That was when the law requiring USPS to pay in advance for future medical & retirement benefits was passed, which no other business is required to do, & this financial drain is one of the things killing the PO. Those mad-dogs (it takes only a few key members to stifle legislation) are now suppressed, but there's still opposition from Senate Repubs. These are the same FAHs who were too incompetent, too stupid, too lazy, to "build the wall," or do anything else productive, when they had total control of Congress, but they're now making up for that by destroying the PO.

[jcg&jmbfan]

Reminds of the saying "all I want the federal government to do is deliver my mail and protect the borders." They can't even do those two things efficiently and effectively.

[togor]

Yeah seems like someone forgot to tell DC that the post office isn't a hated enemy in rural USA.

[dryheat]

Reminds of the saying "all I want the federal government to do is deliver my mail and protect the borders." They can't even do those two things efficiently and effectively.

That was a saying?
There are a lot of things that need saving. How about saving Clear Skies. Clear Skies? We saved the Redwoods and Buffalo when they were almost gone. That worked because there wasn't much left to save and someone stood up. Starlink(I know this is new to you guys) sent 60 satellites into low obit recently. More recent they sent another 60 sats up. Eventually it's going to be 1200 and maybe a max of 4000. I know this isn't effecting your delivery of meds, but it is the end of mooning with your girl under a beautiful starry night. Nothing stays the same. And nothing stays the same faster these days. A little rant.
Alright, to stay on topic, I worked for the PO for thirty years. Twenty, I was a "carrier"(get it?). Ten in maintenance. Postal mean anything too you? We had a couple of instances but nothing that went to "ten". I can't imagine what it's like now in a building with about 100 people working close together during a crisis. Probably OK for the most part. But,it's unionized and the whiny ones will use that. One of my shipments is a week late.

[Major Tom]

No Mail? Good! No more bills. LOL Because my computer usually goes down quite often, I do not subscribe to "paperless bills". If I don't get a bill in the mail, I can't pay it. Talk about a economic breakdown!

[jcg&jmbfan]

That was a saying?
There are a lot of things that need saving. How about saving Clear Skies. Clear Skies? We saved the Redwoods and Buffalo when they were almost gone. That worked because there wasn't much left to save and someone stood up. Starlink(I know this is new to you guys) sent 60 satellites into low obit recently. More recent they sent another 60 sats up. Eventually it's going to be 1200 and maybe a max of 4000. I know this isn't effecting your delivery of meds, but it is the end of mooning with your girl under a beautiful starry night. Nothing stays the same. And nothing stays the same faster these days. A little rant.
Alright, to stay on topic, I worked for the PO for thirty years. Twenty, I was a "carrier"(get it?). Ten in maintenance. Postal mean anything too you? We had a couple of instances but nothing that went to "ten". I can't imagine what it's like now in a building with about 100 people working close together during a crisis. Probably OK for the most part. But,it's unionized and the whiny ones will use that. One of my shipments is a week late.

Well, I didn't state it was an old saying, but I have read a variation of that comment on the internet many times over the years. My take is it's not an all inclusive statement, but that the gov needs minimal involvement in the functions of our lives. I am a small gov proponent, but think the PO should remain a part of the gov, properly managed of course.

[lyman]

not sure how it is around anyone else's area, but here in Central VA the post office gets more right than wrong,

I ship a few hundred items a month, and most (98%) go thru USPS w/o any issues,


cannot say the same of Fedup and OOPS

[Sandpebble]

I'm with Lyman on this one.... we have a government funded military, police, fire and emt services.... why not a postal service like other civilized nations ?

[lyman]

I'm with Lyman on this one.... we have a government funded military, police, fire and emt services.... why not a postal service like other civilized nations ?

that is like the 2nd or 3rd time we have been on the same page,



does this mean RED will call me a stooge??



oh wait,,,,


he already has,, and sent me his resume,,,

[togor]

Gillibrand suggests letting the PO get back into the low end banking business as a way of allowing it to broaden its service portfolio. I have bought a lot of gun related items over the years with USPS money orders.

[clintonhater]

Gillibrand suggests letting the PO get back into the low end banking business as a way of allowing it to broaden its service portfolio. I have bought a lot of gun related items over the years with USPS money orders.

I'd be worried if she involves herself in the PO's affairs, as she's one of the most rabid gun-haters is the Senate, who recently wrote a letter to the Supremes trying to influence them about an important gun case in NYC. Maybe one of her ideas will be further restrictions on shipping guns. That two-faced bitch began her political career in my Congressional district by running ads bragging about her mother being a NRA member, because she thought that would be an asset in a formerly Repub district. Once she got to the Senate & could count on fellow gun-haters in NYC to keep her in office, she turned her coat, & has since then become one of the leading gun prohibitionists.

[jon_norstog]

Hey! Looks like we have agreement among a bunch of people who love to disagree. Well, damn!

OK it might take a half-hour to write those letters. Get enough letters and those senators WILL pay attention.

TIA

jn