For decades, small New York mail delivery companies tried unsuccessfully to deliver mail throughout downtown Manhattan. For decades, the companies were blocked from expanding. Nowhere could the U.S.P.S. compete with speedy delivery bicycles, where riders delivered mail within hours, something the post office could not do in days.
It is yet another example of inefficiency whenever the government is involved. The postal service is identical what ails the government,”not enough money coming in, but lots more going out.”
As the direct result of a unionized workforce, staff enjoy generous vacation, large pensions, is minority overstaffed, providing a secure environment without much education and oversight. In large cities, one mail delivery person encompasses a route of a few streets only, representing hardly any productivity at all.
Year over year, postal rates have increased. Despite, every year, the U.S. postal office accumulates only losses. Shut the entire post office down. While at it, shut down the Motor Vehicle Departments, another ineffective, inefficient department with huge overhead, generous benefits and pensions.
How can anyone allow, in an environment of a humongous national debt, huge budget deficits, billions of dollars pumped into an entity that will only show another loss the following year? The U.S. Post Office projects an unbelievable loss of$ 9 billion in current fiscal year, primarily needed to cover pension shortfalls. Will it not be best, to make a short but painful cut, and have it done and over with?
How can anyone within the legislature justify giving a single million to the postal service, knowing full well it is a waste of money? How can Congress even contemplate such an idea, in light of near 14 million unemployed Americans (August 2011)? and an additional 3 million American that gave up looking for a job some time ago?