Particularly dumb column today in the Denver Post

[donco6]

Here's the article reprinted from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
http://tinyurl.com/yclt66l

Here's my reply (and keep in mind they only print 250 words):

Dear Editor,



In his TothePoint article on Saturday September 26, Professor William Shughart stated, "UPS and FedEx are doing fine because they are privately owned." He juxtaposed these for-profit firms with the US Postal Service, which he says is not doing fine because it is publicly-owned. Evidently, for Professor Shughart, EVERYTHING'S better with a lil' profit motive on it.



As most of us know, that's pure baloney. FedEx and UPS do well, as they themselves admit, because they determine what they carry, where they carry it to, and how much you pay for it. The cost of anything from a postcard to a 1 lb block of cheese is the same - around $4.50 for one zone residential delivery. If you want it to get to Hawaii - that's about $6.00. I wonder how much the USPS could make if they charged $6.00 per piece?



The point is, lots of public entities don't "make money." I doubt the fire department makes a profit. Or the police department. Or the National Weather Service. But they provide a service that's valuable. We can put a stamp on a regular letter for less than 50 cents and it will get to grandma in Bangor for the same price as our electric bill gets downtown. We subsidize that because we value that.



You want to talk about the benefits of profit motive, Professor? Let's talk about our subsidy of AIG. This private, for-profit company chased profit down the block and around the corner and handed us a bill for hundreds of billions! And they left us with absolutely NOTHING in return. At least with the USPS, grandma gets a nice Christmas card.


Edit to fix link.

[Bandit]

1. Pretty much the difference between Democrats and Republicans

Both spend lots of Government money but Democrats want something to show for it. A Service or Infrastructure. Something everyone can participate in. Republicans spend on WAR and War Profiteering which result in Huge kickbacks for Republicans...The American people get nothing except screwed.

[donco6]

2. I'm looking forward to Moore's Capitalism movie.

I hope it will open some eyes.

[skygazer]

3. Very nice letter, donco6

Clear, concise and to the point. I hope they print it.

[Greyhound]

4. He also left out the billion$ they get through Congressional subsidies through the USPS.

Neither company could exist within their current model without the USPS and the USPS wouldn't be "losing money".

[donco6]

6. There was so much more to write.

Holy cow - and how off-base that numbskull was from the get-go. I can't believe he's a professor of economics.

[branders seine]

5. good on you!

We need to end this "greed is good" crap for once and for all. Reagan ruined this country.

[Ineeda]

7. k&r

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. I'm sure they are afraid that the bathrooms in hospitals will look like

this when the profit margins of the inscos are clipped.

[Jim__]

9. Good response!

That was my exact thought when this jackass complained because "unprofitable" post offices in rural areas remained open.

[bertman]

10. EXCELLENT. Thank you, donco6.

[Thickasabrick]

11. Fantastic Response!! nt