Post Office Cutting Back as People Mail Less and It Costs More

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Why Kristen Stewart had crutches at the Oscar? According to Stewart's kidney artist, Beau Nelson, the actress incapacitate herself after stepping on glass.

Dressefus of NE 5:47PM March 11, 2013

Here's an idea that came to mind while reading articles on this subject: What if the basic mail came ABSOLUTELY EVERY OTHER DAY, meaning your mail comes on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Monday....

Think about it. Every weekend the mail carrier would deliver your mail on either Saturday or Sunday, so you're still guaranteed one weekend delivery. (The Sunday deliveries could even start later and end later, so that at least every other week the mail carrier be working a few hours later one day.) I envision many advantages, and won't bore you by listing them here. (But you're enouraged to use your imagination and think of a few yourself!) The size of the deliveries would go up - but hasn't the USPS pointed out that the size has been going down because people aren't mailing as much? And this move could be used to improve the job of the delivery carriers: they could work three days one week, four days the next. If the USPS still paid them for a full week, I bet most would be excited about that! And the USPS could even do something smart like having carriers spend part of their extra time getting involved in some other way. The possibilites are immense...

Just a thought from me -- what do YOU think?

Bo Champagne Jr. of LA 4:11PM March 05, 2010

No next Depression ?

“September 18: Electronic Run on Money Market Funds - According to Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D) (PA-11), in mid-September of 2008, the United States of America came just three hours away from the collapse of the entire economy. In a span of 2 hours, $550 billion was drawn out of money market accounts in an electronic run on the banks. Rep. Kanjorski: “It would have been the end of our economic system and our political system as we know it.” Kanjorski’s bombshell begins to detonate at roughly 2:10. was there when the secretary and the chairman of the Federal Reserve came those days and talked to members of Congress about what was going on. We don’t even talk about these things. On Thursday, at about 11 o’clock in the morning, the Federal Reserve noticed a tremendous drawdown of money market accounts in the United States to a tune of $550 billion being drawn out in a matter of an hour or two. The Treasury opened up its window to help. They pumped $105 billion into the system and quickly realized that they could not stem the tide. We were having an electronic run on the banks. They decided to close the operation, close down the money accounts, and announce a guarantee of $250,000 per account so there wouldn’t be further panic and there. And that’s what actually happened. If they had not done that their estimation was that by two o’clock that afternoon, $5.5 trillion would have been drawn out of the money market system of the United States, would have collapsed the entire economy of the United States, and within 24 hours the world economy would have collapsed. Now we talked at that time about what would have happened if that happened. It would have been the end of our economic system and our political system as we know it. It still has not been reported who or what entities began this rush.”

http://www.luxlibertas.com/a-chronogy-of-the-current-fiscal-crisis/ Videos

“Democrats caused the recession and Republicans tried to stop it”

http://winteryknight.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/democrats-caused-the-recession-and-republicans-tried-to-stop-it/

Bill Hedges of MO 3:47PM March 05, 2010

When BUSH/REPUBLICAN HOUSE & SENATE pushed and scared the country "NEXT DEPRESSION" for the BANKS and AIG bailouts $870 BILLION.

AMTRAC Got $2 BILLION subsidy.(GLORIFIDE WELFARE)

AUTO MAKERS "BRIDGE LOANS" with the whole company as colateral, lock stock & barrel, for $17 -$2o BILLION LOAN.

U.S.POST OFFICE recieved $2.5 BILLION "SUBSIDY" TAX PAYER GIFT!!

The post office needs compitition!!!

Congress needs to Remove the FIRST CLASS PRIVLEGE LAW that would snap the POST OFFICE from every year or two crying email, Internet banking as WOLF- WLOF!!

LAST WOLF was "ANTRAX" that scared Billions out of us TAX SUCKERS!!!

ernie werner of IN 12:51AM March 05, 2010

1. Cut 50%: The best kept secret among mail carriers is that most routes can be completed in half the allotted time.

2. Cut by another 50%: Saturday delivery should have been cut out decades ago. Nowadays, 2 deliveries per week are sufficient for residential addresses. Eliminate another 50% of the carriers and re-assign the routes so that each carrier gets a Monday-Thursday route and a Tuesday-Friday route. Allow Wednesday to be a short day for business addresses only and special deliveries.

3. Cut another 20%: Open up competitive bidding for all routes to UPS, FedEx or any other delivery service. This eliminates the taxpayer burden for those ridiculous pensions.

Do the math, and you’ll come up with 80% savings.

Funny how the “consultants” hired to look at this problem couldn’t figure any of this out.

Jeff Hackl of CA 6:59PM March 04, 2010

i work in mid island new york i work inside on tour three we have mdos that never even come out of thier office. i hear we have two plant managers although we never had a service talk meeting them. the mail goes on the machine and thats all they care about. is thier numbers. the mail will sit in ths back of the machine while the trucks come and go.although they are paying mailhanders overtime all the time. we still get a mule driver , its a shame. ive been there 23 years . i like my job i am a clerk mangement never listens to anything an empolyee has to say to help the mail flow. i wish john potter would come to mid island under cover like one of us maybe then he will see how poorly this building is being run.i myself 2o4b a short time when i applied for the program i was denied because of my sick leave record. i had 20 years of service. at the same time i was demied they hired people off the street. i dont think my sick leave record should of been at factor. but that also shows that management didnt want people who knew what they were doing they wanted people they could mold and now where did that get them i do see ken hale walk throug the builing i hope thats a good for the mail flow

gladys mccabe of NY 3:52PM March 04, 2010

What is all this hubbub ?the postal "service " has been cutting back in many ways for decades.When I take three connecting transit (rarely punctual-as the drivers seem to be in the same scaling down mode) to be first in a non existing pre dawn line at the Post Office -where I've had a box for thirty three years.A sign by the buzzer on the dutch door says open from six a.m. to noon.Being the first to ring at six doesn't get a response.Neither will ringing at six fifteen.The only thing that keeps me patient/foolhardy enough to give it another go is the constant background music. Always "Mo"town -always loud enough to sing along because I can hear that as well.That and the creepy feeling there is someone -or creature-behind the security viewing lens on the door.Next time I'll try a change in "tactics" and use some shineola on my face before ringing the buzzer.

John of DE 5:25AM March 04, 2010

USPS has one management person for every eight union workers. calling it bloated may be an understatement. nothing is said about it.

mark grossman of MN 8:46PM March 03, 2010

Not enough work? Are you kidding? I just started with USPS as a relief carrier, and you have no idea what work is until you become a USPS employee. FYI: Carriers only get paid for the number of hours it is evaluated a route should take to do every day, regardless of how long it actually takes. I just started in a rurual location, and it is hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry...and 11 hours later I wonder where the time went. There's no time for breaks, to even eat or go to the bathroom. You had better have a bladder made of steel if you want to be a carrier, and willingly. IN short, don't comment until you truly know what it is to work for the postal service, doing all you can to be prompt, reliable, conscientious in carrying out your duty and because people count on you to get their mail to them regardless of flat tires, hazardous rural road conditions that make driving like trying to roller skate down a snake's back, getting stuck repeatedly in mud, snow, sliding on ice, delivering in the dark, etc...I assure you, there's plenty to do and to overcome in the name of delivering the mail. There is plenty of work and mental acrobatics trying to keep 400-600 names, addresses and hundreds of miles on a rurual route straight and on time!!! and at a break neck pace, while trying to stay safe, with a smile and a how do ya do. People take for granted what has always been until it is gone.

Edified Newbie of KS 6:44PM March 03, 2010

I knew that she was an employee with the Bush Administration.Throughout his 8 years it was evident that the PO was not to his liking.Roughly 16% of the career employees(including upper mgmt) could lose their jobs too with the closing of one delivery day per week.Im hoping the rest of America will help offset that financial loss.Also Im hoping that the consumer wont mind if other private companies will have access to your mail receptacle because it may be profitable for a private company to deliver your mail for cheaper rate twice a week.AND also, thank you US News and World Reports for letting us serve you throughout these years and make sure that we get your product to your/our customers in the future.

Derrick Silensky of FL 5:39PM March 03, 2010

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Mary Kate Cary

Mary Kate Cary

Mary Kate Cary is a former White House speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush. She currently writes speeches for political and business leaders.

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