I really don't disagree with this. USPS is a last-mile delivery service, if the sweatshirt I ordered online is going to take another day or 2 to get to me for the same low(ish) price, I'm fine...
I really don't disagree with this. USPS is a last-mile delivery service, if the sweatshirt I ordered online is going to take another day or 2 to get to me for the same low(ish) price, I'm fine with that.
But I'd also fully support suspending delivery another day of the week. If no one got mail on Wednesday the world wouldn't stop.
Edit: What happened to the vote on this comment? From what I can tell it doesn't look like anyone can vote for it even if they wanted to. My response has a vote showing when I log out but not this comment. Was it removed for some reason?
USPS is a last-mile delivery service if you live in a major actually urban (don't get me started on what the census is defining as "urban" now) area. Private delivery services (UPS, FedEx, etc)...
I really don't disagree with this. USPS is a last-mile delivery service, if the sweatshirt I ordered online is going to take another day or 2 to get to me for the same low(ish) price, I'm fine with that. But I'd also fully support suspending delivery another day of the week. If no one got mail on Wednesday the world wouldn't stop.
USPS is a last-mile delivery service if you live in a major actually urban (don't get me started on what the census is defining as "urban" now) area. Private delivery services (UPS, FedEx, etc) get to choose where to deliver, the USPS serves everyone, making it the single most accessible service in the entire country. Add to it that private shipping companies don't even compare to the USPS. Your sweatshirt taking another day or two is someone else's prescription medication, welfare/child support/paycheck, small business supplies, baby chicks, mail-in-vote or any number of critical items that would stop someone's world if mail didn't arrive on a Wednesday.
Last, but certainly not least, the USPS doesn't need to be profitable. No other government institution does and the USPS is the only one that receives no direct taxpayer funds. The government needs to either take a completely hands off approach and let them manage themselves completely with the single onus of universal service (and taxpayer money to subsidize it) or roll it back into a government department (and constitutional amendment to protect it) to remove this whole problem of only the USPS magically needing to be in the black while no one bats an eye at everything else being far into the red.
AkShUaLlY
If anyone's argument involves "USPS isn't a government entity" go ahead and keep it to yourself as there isn't a single other entity that is so controlled by the government while "technically not being a part of the government" than the USPS.
Except perhaps for the baby chicks, couldn't they just be sent two days earlier? As long as it can be planned earlier and delivery times are consistent I can't see a significant issue with most of...
prescription medication, welfare/child support/paycheck, small business supplies, baby chicks, mail-in-vote or any number of critical items that would stop someone's world if mail didn't arrive on a Wednesday.
Except perhaps for the baby chicks, couldn't they just be sent two days earlier? As long as it can be planned earlier and delivery times are consistent I can't see a significant issue with most of what you have listed.
Just to add some other potentials here just for fun: What if something happens that means they need an immediate refill (like if a perishable medicine was accidentally left out) What if the...
Just to add some other potentials here just for fun:
What if something happens that means they need an immediate refill (like if a perishable medicine was accidentally left out)
What if the delivery gets delayed?
What happens when UPS and FedEx decide not to deliver there anymore because it’s too costly
Admittedly, I'm starting to get into more convoluted cases here but: What if I order a medication that expires in transit? Do I hope that I can ration my medicine long enough to avoid a non-delivery day so I can stay home and have my life-saving medicine not perish?
If you require life saving medicene that expires very quickly so you can't have more than a weeks worth at once and expires even quicker when it's accidentally left out you shouldn't rely on USPS...
If you require life saving medicene that expires very quickly so you can't have more than a weeks worth at once and expires even quicker when it's accidentally left out you shouldn't rely on USPS now or ever.
What if the delivery gets delayed?
How is this relevant to the changes? Deliveries are often delayed now, and have never always been on time.
Yes, if you package is time sensitive spend the extra money on one of the other companies. I know people get prescriptions through the mail, but how many are needing it that day? If that's the...
Add to it that private shipping companies don't even compare to the USPS. Your sweatshirt taking another day or two is someone else's prescription medication, welfare/child support/paycheck, small business supplies, baby chicks, mail-in-vote or any number of critical items that would stop someone's world if mail didn't arrive on a Wednesday.
Yes, if you package is time sensitive spend the extra money on one of the other companies. I know people get prescriptions through the mail, but how many are needing it that day? If that's the case they probably either need better planning (reorder sooner) or change to one of the competitors.
As for mail in ballots, in theory they should go by the post mark date since they were entered into the system that date and most are sent to and from similar Zip codes so in theory shouldn't take long to deliver.
Checks and payments can be done electronically much faster and reliable than checks in the mail.
Any other time sensitive items can go to other companies. IMO, there is room for both USPS and private companies in this space.
Your contribution belies the size of your bubble There are still many for whom electronic delivery is not an option, as they have no bank account. One reason why sanders and others have called for...
Your contribution belies the size of your bubble
There are still many for whom electronic delivery is not an option, as they have no bank account. One reason why sanders and others have called for usps to providr basic banking services.
You apparently also missed the part about how there are many citizens to whom private carriers will not deliver at any reasonable price. I suppose you could hire a courier, but that would probably cost a month’s income for a delivery. The post office goes there.
And have you tried to mail an envelope via private carrier? It’s at least an order of magnitude higher price.
It doesn't really matter if you don't mind the cuts, the major counterpoint is none of these service degradations need to happen at all. Give USPS proper funding and normal rules for funding its...
It doesn't really matter if you don't mind the cuts, the major counterpoint is none of these service degradations need to happen at all. Give USPS proper funding and normal rules for funding its retirement benefits, or give it free reign to add more profitable services, and USPS could continue offering the same level of service.
Why hasn't he been fired yet?
Glad that it's in process, anyway. Thanks for the info.
I really don't disagree with this. USPS is a last-mile delivery service, if the sweatshirt I ordered online is going to take another day or 2 to get to me for the same low(ish) price, I'm fine with that.
But I'd also fully support suspending delivery another day of the week. If no one got mail on Wednesday the world wouldn't stop.
Edit: What happened to the vote on this comment? From what I can tell it doesn't look like anyone can vote for it even if they wanted to. My response has a vote showing when I log out but not this comment. Was it removed for some reason?
USPS is a last-mile delivery service if you live in a major actually urban (don't get me started on what the census is defining as "urban" now) area. Private delivery services (UPS, FedEx, etc) get to choose where to deliver, the USPS serves everyone, making it the single most accessible service in the entire country. Add to it that private shipping companies don't even compare to the USPS. Your sweatshirt taking another day or two is someone else's prescription medication, welfare/child support/paycheck, small business supplies, baby chicks, mail-in-vote or any number of critical items that would stop someone's world if mail didn't arrive on a Wednesday.
The USPS has been purposefully prevented from being able to handle it's own financial affairs for decades and prevented from multiple avenues where they could compete and increase solvency. Let alone the fact that the USPS ships more packages than any other carrier, even multiple carriers combined, and if you take into account letter mail volume the private companies don't move as much material in a year as the USPS does in a month.
Last, but certainly not least, the USPS doesn't need to be profitable. No other government institution does and the USPS is the only one that receives no direct taxpayer funds. The government needs to either take a completely hands off approach and let them manage themselves completely with the single onus of universal service (and taxpayer money to subsidize it) or roll it back into a government department (and constitutional amendment to protect it) to remove this whole problem of only the USPS magically needing to be in the black while no one bats an eye at everything else being far into the red.
AkShUaLlY
If anyone's argument involves "USPS isn't a government entity" go ahead and keep it to yourself as there isn't a single other entity that is so controlled by the government while "technically not being a part of the government" than the USPS.
Edited for grammar.
Except perhaps for the baby chicks, couldn't they just be sent two days earlier? As long as it can be planned earlier and delivery times are consistent I can't see a significant issue with most of what you have listed.
Just to add some other potentials here just for fun:
What if something happens that means they need an immediate refill (like if a perishable medicine was accidentally left out)
What if the delivery gets delayed?
What happens when UPS and FedEx decide not to deliver there anymore because it’s too costly
Admittedly, I'm starting to get into more convoluted cases here but: What if I order a medication that expires in transit? Do I hope that I can ration my medicine long enough to avoid a non-delivery day so I can stay home and have my life-saving medicine not perish?
If you require life saving medicene that expires very quickly so you can't have more than a weeks worth at once and expires even quicker when it's accidentally left out you shouldn't rely on USPS now or ever.
How is this relevant to the changes? Deliveries are often delayed now, and have never always been on time.
You are ignoring this relevant comment from above
"the USPS serves everyone, making it the single most accessible service in the entire country"
How is that any different from if you're medicine doesn't arrive on your day off currently?
Yes, if you package is time sensitive spend the extra money on one of the other companies. I know people get prescriptions through the mail, but how many are needing it that day? If that's the case they probably either need better planning (reorder sooner) or change to one of the competitors.
As for mail in ballots, in theory they should go by the post mark date since they were entered into the system that date and most are sent to and from similar Zip codes so in theory shouldn't take long to deliver.
Checks and payments can be done electronically much faster and reliable than checks in the mail.
Any other time sensitive items can go to other companies. IMO, there is room for both USPS and private companies in this space.
Your contribution belies the size of your bubble
There are still many for whom electronic delivery is not an option, as they have no bank account. One reason why sanders and others have called for usps to providr basic banking services.
You apparently also missed the part about how there are many citizens to whom private carriers will not deliver at any reasonable price. I suppose you could hire a courier, but that would probably cost a month’s income for a delivery. The post office goes there.
And have you tried to mail an envelope via private carrier? It’s at least an order of magnitude higher price.
It doesn't really matter if you don't mind the cuts, the major counterpoint is none of these service degradations need to happen at all. Give USPS proper funding and normal rules for funding its retirement benefits, or give it free reign to add more profitable services, and USPS could continue offering the same level of service.