It has been said that the most important responsibility of our government is to protect the citizenry from being attacked by enemies, be they foreign or domestic, and to operate a system for delivering mail. So it was with interest that I read about the recent difficulties the USPS is having with deficits. As a Realtor, I have come to rely on this service and find it to be a good bang for the buck. For less than half a dollar I can send mail across town or across the country. This includes bills, advertising mailers, thank you notes and the myriad of other stuff, and it usually gets there in a day or so.
While they are not in the business of turning a profit, many of their revenue sources have dried up. The package delivery services (FedEx, UPS, etc) skim the cream, but won't deliver to far flung outposts. Folks pay their bills online and email each other instead of using 'snail mail.' So when the Post Office announces that they are running at a substantial (for them) deficit it becomes big news. To me, they are doing the best that they can with what they have, and I will be forever grateful for it. The real news should be that a cheapskate like myself says that we should cover the debt.
Let's just say that they are about $3 Billion short this year. So far during that period, the Government of the United States has lifted about $30 Billion, give or take a few, from the pockets of the taxpayers and invested it with the louts who run our automobile industry. If I had any say in the matter, which apparently I don't, it would be pointed out that I can buy a better car for less money from a Japanese company, but that they will not deliver a birthday card to my Aunt Tillie out in Hooterville. I'll need to use the Post Office for that. They will even deliver a 'Get Well' card while they are out there and still give me change for a buck.
As American taxpayers we have lots to be angry about these days, but the Post Office isn't one of them. They also employ many veterans who have fought to protect our freedom, and you never hear about them getting any ridiculous bonuses. There are some things in this life that you just have to pay for and the mail is one of them.
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