[78-L] who do these guys think they are? [fwd]

[Jeff Lichtman]

>. . . rather than be smart about it and raise the 1st class rate
>to $1.00 (a stamp) and avoid bankruptcy they raise it a penny, jack up
>the international shipping rates and still can't balance their budget.
>
>Mal on Maui

A big part of the problem is that the U.S. Postal Service is a 
semi-private business. They are required to be self-supporting, but 
at the same time their rates and services are regulated by Congress. 
For instance, they need permission from Congress to raise their rates 
faster than inflation. At this point the post office needs to 
thoroughly restructure their business, but they can't do it as long 
as Congress is in control.

One solution would be to turn the post office back into a government 
service that isn't required to turn a profit. Another would be to cut 
it loose and let it operate as a completely private business. As it 
is now, the post office is required to fulfill a mandate but isn't 
given the flexibility or the funding to do so.


                        -        Jeff Lichtman
                                 jeff at swazoo.com