Post Office Eyes 1,600 More Branch Closings

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Marcus of AL 7:43PM March 09, 2010

Most Americans are unaware that the usps is not funded at all by us tax dollars.If congress would let up on the prefunding of retirees and future retirees health benefits , the post office might not be in such bad shape.In a competitive market as a privatized business, postal rates would be triple or worse.UPS and FEDEX can raise the rates whenever gas goes up,USPS has to get approval and that usually takes months.

jel of MA 2:07PM September 03, 2009

So congress is going to heap requirements on the Postal Service without doing anything to help its situation? They'll just pass a law forbidding more closures but not start funding them again. If they are going to require offices to stay open they should have to financially support the postal system.
There are a lot of small magazines that have been hurt by the Post Office's problems. Rates for periodicals have increased and that means that political cause publications or mailings of non-profits are more expensive, eating into the ability of such magazines to provide good coverage or even survive.
Maybe the PO can keep all the small branches open if the Congress will underwrite them in the name of the first ammendment and the free exchange of ideas to help keep periodical shipping rates down.

Frelance Minion of NE 4:28PM September 02, 2009

Wow, I cam looking for facts, but move along, nothing to see here. I can guarantee that there are 1600 tiny post offices near slightly less tiny post offices that can be closed. As for whether this has anything to do with the first lady (it doesn't), learn something: the USPS is a quasi government corporation. It has all the disadvantages of having to compete with FedEx and UPS, with the added benefit of having to answer to a passel of half-bright politicians whose knowledge of modern postal services ended with their stamp coollections as kids. The USPS is supposed to raise its own revenue and it does. It's off budget. It doesn't matter. get over it.(And for those who think that the postal unions are so powerful, welcome to the shiny new 21st century See: Ike's not president any more!
It's amazing how people want government to "run like a business" until it does, and then they want it to run like government, with goodies for everyone everywhere. We liberals at least play it straight: we like it when the government provides services, even if the costs are spread around. Republicans, on the other hand, enjoy their hypocrisy--they want the goodies, and want everyone else but themselves to pay for it. Let the USPS decide whether your Sports Illustrated really needs to be delivered on Saturday. (Hint: it doesn't.)

Tom of NC 3:44PM September 02, 2009

Only an idea that could live in Washington: the cure for the postal service and encourage use is to cut service. While there probably are too many branches, cutting Saturday deliveries makes no sense, as consumers will look even harder for better alternatives.
Some think the unions are at fault. That may be the case, but you need to think about the model at UPS. UPS can compete with a unionized workforce. I think the difference is that UPS unions seem to actually care about delivering the best service at the lowest cost, while still helping their members make a better living. Other unions seem just to care about the members wages, and not about the service that can guarantee those wages.

Tom of TX 8:59AM August 30, 2009

Um... I agree with most that you say, but the unions (although not entirely helpful) are not the fault of business closures. Unions are still needed. If they are so bad for the car industry why is Ford solvent. The answer is that GOOD mgmt saw ahead and shed costs and debt prior to a weaker economy. Also, GM gave very large pensions to their retiring MGMT who (some)may have earned it but for the most part it was fiscally irresponsible... and now OUR tax dollars are paying for their mistakes and near sightedness.

John of LA 9:43AM August 28, 2009

Well how does that old saying go? Come sleet,snow, rain or dark of night the mails must go through? Any way, if President Oabama would put some limits on his 1st lady {:(} & her excursions to London, Paris & Plays in New York City, most in her own duplicate of Air Force One,
That money could go along way to paying for our mail service. His 'Trillion' $$$$ budgets & spending is unheard of in America.
Another problem I have always criticized the Post Office for is when they go up on Postge due it at 5 cents each time & not those darn 'Pennies' All that wasted time & money installing postage machines where either pennys or 1 cent stamps were wasted. Most of us hate dealing with penny'any way!
Another MAJOR problem has been the Postal Union, just like our Car Companys they have about forced more businesses to shut their doors! I was waiting for some mail to be placed in boxes, looking for my employees payroll, when I was told that no more mail would be 'racked' today, even though there where several more bags still full with incoming mail. They had 'racked' their quota set by their Union! Plus with long, long lines they would leave their post to go smoke a cigarette. So supported by the UNIONS! Amtrak is going to be shut down soon...another Union boondogale!

Bob of FL 4:28PM August 27, 2009