Republicans Seek to End the U.S. Postal Service [View all]

[Galraedia]

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Thus is the quote from Herodotus Histories, referring to the ancient couriers of the Persian Empire, and commonly (erroneously) attributed to the U.S. Postal Service as its motto. Note, the passage does not say the Republican Party will not keep couriers from their appointed rounds. I wonder if even the Persian progenitors could have survived the modern GOP.

We routinely hear that the U.S. Postal Service is in trouble, and indeed it is. We hear how it is in debt and losing money. We hear how our federal mail service, once the pride of the civilized world, should slim down, cut services, and lay people off. If you listen closely you can even hear that whisper that rings like music to any Republican’s ears. Privatization.

Many might be surprised to learn that the U.S. Postal Service is not in financial trouble. It isn’t in debt or losing money. Some would probably be shocked to learn that it costs taxpayers exactly zero dollars, as it is and has always been a self sustaining enterprise. The trouble miring our beloved Postal Service is the disfavor of a pro-corporate anti-government (when it is convenient) political party. Indeed the Postal Service’s problems are rooted in purely political machinations.

In 2006, the lame duck Republican-controlled Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, requiring the U.S. Mail to pre-fund its retirement health care benefit account 75 years ahead of time. This is the only Federal Agency saddled with this requirement. Indeed the Postal Service is pre-funding retirement benefits for employees it hasn’t even hired yet. Why can’t the service simply raise its rates to pay for this burden? The Act also restricts the USPS from increasing its rates. How’s that for good business sense?

Read more: http://www.policymic.com/articles/6546/republicans-seek-to-end-the-u-s-postal-service