If the volume of letters, packages the US Postal Service is handling is dropping daily thanks to texting, email and other ways to advertise / communicate on line instead of catalogs, letters and direct mail, the natural fit for any displaced, layed off mail carriers is make them REALTORS, real estate agents and brokers.
With Uncle
Sam taking over failing automakers, running a tight control on banks, the college loan program and wrestling with health care, the economy, defending democracy and engaged in nation building around the globe, what's one more nationalization of a sector of society like real estate?
Think about it, if shutting down for extra full day a week means keeping the postage stamps affordable and level of service high quality, maybe those displaced letter carriers could continue to canvass neighborhoods for property listings. Using government issue Blackberries, IPhones and Droids to beam images, details to their email buyers lists about potential new listings or property they just put on line out in the field.
Faster than the MLS dog and pony show and direct linked with satellite, the same birds the Air Force uses for national defense purposes. That's high tech. That's quick, on the ground selling, marketing, efficiency.
These guys and gals march no matter what day in and day out thru pouring sleet, freezing and blowing snow. Or blistering sun and torrential rains. They are seasoned, rock tough and would be super REALTORS.
They already know neighborhoods where the property is like the back of their hand.
Who lives where, which lawn is not mowed signaling something's up involving needing an agent to list that dwelling. Access to forwarding addresses instantly. You and I as already practicing real estate professionals think we know the streets, highways and byways like no buddy's business. But we don't deliver mail to each and every one of these property taxpayers every day but Sunday. All without need of GPS. Or any wasted foot traffic steps. Postal workers out in the field ground pound the property farming areas daily. In the course of stuffing those postal boxes with bills, tax refunds, catalogs and junk mail, they get to know the people that live in those neighborhoods too. And the door to door aspect of mail delivery means we hear about Mrs. Smith that is toying with a move down state to be with her kids now that Mr. Smith is no 
longer around. We know the Jones are having marital problems and sounds like in the neighborhood grape vine, they have to plant a real estate sign on the front lawn soon. And see the Fisher Price toys piling up thinking that two bedroom ranch is not going to fit all of that family in to it much longer. And the addition on the place has been ruled out just this morning according to the neighbor on one side who coffees with the Mrs. so there is another listing for the real estate inventory.
The post man is not nosey but he or she notices the certified mail from creditors, banks and also knows a lot of about the property owners along his or her delivery area, the beat. They hear things, see trends after years of doing this route so they have a sense of history to draw from that a brand new agent does not. There is a connection with the home owner already that goes back for years. The postman has been bit by their dog, watched their kids grow up, heck was the little league coach of little Hercules who's away at Maine Maritime Academy now. And taught sunday school to little Echo who is off off Broadway trying to make a name for her singing, dancing, acting skills that need 
serious honing, sharpening, developing.
Mail carriers are in great shape, healthy, full of fresh air daily. Walking and carrying large sacks of mail. Santa only has to do it once a year and he has elves, reindeer and that little twist twitch magic trick he does with his nose where he closes one eye to get the delivery down to the living room. I think if Uncle Sam and Congress decide to tinker with the US Postal Service with cut backs and potential layoffs, watch out.
We may all become GS 8's and maybe a little higher working our way up the civil service pay scale. Peddling property, wearing matching blue uniforms with eagles on them, listening to the Steve Miller Band rally song here at United States Real Estate.
Wonder which of us would be the real estate czar to the President? I nominate LT. Her daily music videos beamed to the realtors, troops out in the neighborhoods could keep them happy, productive, laughing to themselves. She'd cut through the red tape with the ease of a skilled pirate. Making short work of the beaucreacy of Washington, Congress and get the operation back in the black. Just like health care, everyone deserves a home in this country right?
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