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The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

inthepublicinterest.org

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Re: The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

#61

Post by justin66 »

InTheArena wrote: post #13

The USPS's primary revenue source is as a Spam delivery service. That basic problem is why it has refused to modernize. Anything with any significant value is already sent via Amazon, FedEx, DHL or UPS, or hand-delivered (in the case of really valuable stuff). See: https://www.insidesources.com/outbox-vs-usps-how-the-post-of... The USPS has to be reformed and it needs a new purpose in life, other then stable governme…

> That basic problem is why it has refused to modernize. Anything with any significant value is already sent via Amazon, FedEx, DHL or UPS, or hand-delivered (in the case of really valuable stuff).

Hundreds of millions of people use first class mail to pay their bills, rent, etc. and for all sorts of other things where those other delivery services would be needlessly expensive. The "basic problem" is that the post office is not permitted to set prices for first class mail or vary them where they lose money with every delivery, and yet they're expected by some to be run profitably "like a business."

> The USPS has to be reformed and it needs a new purpose in life, other then stable government job for people.

Because what the country really needs right now is a greater number of unstable jobs.

Re: The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

#62

Post by mumbisChungo »

InTheArena wrote: post #13

The USPS's primary revenue source is as a Spam delivery service. That basic problem is why it has refused to modernize. Anything with any significant value is already sent via Amazon, FedEx, DHL or UPS, or hand-delivered (in the case of really valuable stuff). See: https://www.insidesources.com/outbox-vs-usps-how-the-post-of... The USPS has to be reformed and it needs a new purpose in life, other then stable governme…

USPS is actually an extremely effective lightweight parcel courier. Their rates aren't great for big, heavy stuff, but for typical ecommerce volume their rates are very competitive. They're also the only major courier who is anywhere close to maintaining their pre-covid delivery times. Outbound UPS delivery times from my area, for example, have more than doubled since March (from avg 5 bus days, to two weeks), while USPS volume is maybe a day slower on average. (avg 2.5 days up to avg 3.5)

Re: The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

#63

Post by loeg »

Matticus_Rex wrote: post #7
_emacsomancer_ wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All of the other major delivery services in the US (UPS, FedEx, DHL, Ontrac) are horrible and far worse than the USPS. And without the USPS to compete against, they'd be even worse.

Worse in what way? I've always had better experiences with every one of their competitors.

USPS has locked mailboxes at the curb (in cities). In apartment buildings, the boxes may even be inside the building. The other deliverers don't do that. I've never had a USPS package stolen, because they either deliver it to the lockbox or to you.

UPS/Fedex/FBA/DHL just drop it in front of my house and don't even bother ringing the doorbell. It rains here a good amount and if you don't notice your ghost package fast, maybe it gets soaked through.

Fedex has lied to me multiple times about attempting delivery on days they never did.

Re: The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

#64

Post by variaga »

_emacsomancer_ wrote: post #5
armitron wrote: post #2

Having lived in four different US states and in a number of European countries (currently resident in Germany), all I can say is good riddance. USPS is by far the worst mail service I have ever encountered. It's so bad that there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that one can do a lot better, assuming one is allowed to compete. And even though they proudly say they receive NO money from the federal government, they do…

All of the other major delivery services in the US (UPS, FedEx, DHL, Ontrac) are horrible and far worse than the USPS. And without the USPS to compete against, they'd be even worse.

Anecdotally, I lived in one place where I never got a _single_ FedEx package correctly delivered of the dozens that were sent to me.

This was a normal apartment, in a normal apartment building, in a fairly nice part of town. The only way I ever got a Fedex package (several were sent back as "undeliverable") was if I knew it was coming in advance, to go online with the tracking # and instruct them to hold the delivery for me at the local Fedex office. Then I could pick it up in person.

Fortunately, the local Fedex office was only 2 blocks away from my apartment on the same street.

USPS delivered 100% of my letters and packages on time.

Re: The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

#65

Post by ceejayoz »

DevKoala wrote: post #43
toiletfuneral wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

why should basic government services be profitable?

Like the parent mentioned, the service is exploited by companies to do their cheap spam advertising. Is it okay for taxes to cover this?

So, get rid of the “you have to make a profit” requirement, fund it via taxes, and charge the spammers normal rates.

Re: The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

#66

Post by aahhahahaaa »

InTheArena wrote: post #13

The USPS's primary revenue source is as a Spam delivery service. That basic problem is why it has refused to modernize. Anything with any significant value is already sent via Amazon, FedEx, DHL or UPS, or hand-delivered (in the case of really valuable stuff). See: https://www.insidesources.com/outbox-vs-usps-how-the-post-of... The USPS has to be reformed and it needs a new purpose in life, other then stable governme…

They're already a significant value that others cannot meet. That's why a billionaire wants to kill it and ingest the money elsewhere.

The elimination of money orders from the USPS alone would push more people to already-abusive payday lenders.

Re: The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

#67

Post by sparkling »

bmitc wrote: post #20

The amount of narcissism these people (the Koch's, for example) have is just astounding. If you're a billionaire, what could possibly be a reasonable explanation for why you even care about the post office? Why are these people so hell bent on hurting people to feed their own narcissism? The USPS could be improved but struggles primarily due to active efforts to kill it off. But it's a wonderful idea of a service tha…

Its easy to point at a greedy billionaire who wants to ruin [insert public service here] so that he can squeeze out another dollar for himself.

But have you considered that they _genuinely_ belive that minimal government and more privatization leads to overall better results? It might just be that they have good intensions, that they really wish for a better outcome for all.

I don't share that view, but i do think that there is a fraction of hardcore liberterians that truly believe we'd be better of without many of the government-founded services such as libraries, schools etc. - and while i do not agree with that, those people are still entitled to their opinion and are allowed to lobby for it.

Re: The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

#68

Post by CharlesW »

InTheArena wrote: post #13

The USPS's primary revenue source is as a Spam delivery service. That basic problem is why it has refused to modernize. Anything with any significant value is already sent via Amazon, FedEx, DHL or UPS, or hand-delivered (in the case of really valuable stuff). See: https://www.insidesources.com/outbox-vs-usps-how-the-post-of... The USPS has to be reformed and it needs a new purpose in life, other then stable governme…

> The USPS's primary revenue source is as a Spam delivery service.

I suggest doing some research before presenting guesses as fact.

Marketing email was 23% of USPS's revenue (53% of volume) in 2019.

Re: The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

#69

Post by ouid »

darawk wrote: post #26
bmitc wrote: post #20

The amount of narcissism these people (the Koch's, for example) have is just astounding. If you're a billionaire, what could possibly be a reasonable explanation for why you even care about the post office? Why are these people so hell bent on hurting people to feed their own narcissism? The USPS could be improved but struggles primarily due to active efforts to kill it off. But it's a wonderful idea of a service tha…

It's ideological. They believe that the government should not be in the postal business. They probably believe that it's harmful to competition in various ways, and they are probably right in certain narrow contexts.

I dont think the problem with the Kochs is their tunnel vision.

Re: The Billionaire Behind Efforts to Kill the U.S. Postal Service [pdf]

#70

Post by usaphp »

bmitc wrote: post #44
darawk wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's ideological. They believe that the government should not be in the postal business. They probably believe that it's harmful to competition in various ways, and they are probably right in certain narrow contexts.

The same argument of being harmful to competition could be extended to schools and libraries and . It's just mind blowing why we should care about companies more than people. So what if it's harmful to competition? What merit does that have? (These aren't questions for you. They're rhetorical.)

Probably because your tax money go to support a “broken” business model in their opinion; without asking you if you want to pay for those services.

Edit: I am not saying it’s a right thing to do, I am just trying to list a possible reason why billionaires might try to fight against it, per OP question

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