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Mail delays hit Philadelphia residents, short staffed USPS struggles to keep up

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Re: Mail delays hit Philadelphia residents, short staffed USPS struggles to keep up

#251
post #190

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish I hadn't mentioned the pension, because it takes away from the immediate and much worse problem that the governing party is trying to stay in power by preventing members of the other party from voting.

> by preventing members of the other party from voting This is so absurdly dramatic. Just about everything is back open and ppl agree that wearing a mask basically removes all risk. If ppl want to vote, they can get off their ass and go vote. And from a security standpoint, how can you say this with a straight face? Some of the hardest modern struggles in the tech industry revolve around security...and you're over he…

Several states have had mail-in voting for years. It only became a political issue a few months ago, and only amongst one party.

Meanwhile, rigged voting machines that flip votes have been caught on camera countless times. Zero effort has been made to do anything about that.

Re: Mail delays hit Philadelphia residents, short staffed USPS struggles to keep up

#252
post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The spam is what pays the bills so it will not get de-prioritized.

Maybe that's a sign of dysfunction. People like to rail against ad supported companies, why wouldn't we feel the same way here?

I think it is more about it being new or ideologically convenient and the ad support is a convenient excuse. They don't rail against TV or radio and they are also ad supported.

Re: Mail delays hit Philadelphia residents, short staffed USPS struggles to keep up

#253
post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Note that just because Republicans are wrong (and boy are they) does not make Democrats right. Democratic administrations, even with majorities to pass legislation, have done nothing to correct much of the anti-democratic processes in the US including elections being on a non-holiday Tuesday, absentee ballots being limited / restricted and operating state-by-state, the persistence of first past the post voting being…

> Democratic administrations, even with majorities to pass legislation, have done nothing to correct much of the anti-democratic processes in the US including elections being on a non-holiday Tuesday, absentee ballots being limited / restricted and operating state-by-state, the persistence of first past the post voting being the least representative form of election, the continued existence of the electoral college a…

Just from the list in my post:

> elections being on a non-holiday Tuesday

Simple majority legislation

> absentee ballots being limited / restricted and operating state-by-state

Really easy to correct with conditional budget funding on the basis of providing / enabling absentee / mail in voting, again a simple legislative majority on a budget bill

> the persistence of first past the post voting being the least representative form of election

First past the post isn't codified into the constitution. The only part that requires constitutional amendment is the electoral college but that can already be overriden with a combination of popular vote interstate compact and said statewide elections being held in an approval or score voting way.

This one requires policy change that is federal law currently mandating first past the post, but its not constitutional. Additionally this could be done in a way that removes federal simple majority requirements in federal elections and instead uses federal funding incentives to pressure states to adopt more democratic election systems because that would face a lot less blowback from anti-democracy interests.

> the continued existence of the electoral college and senate

This is the one that absolutely requires amendment. The electoral college can largely be made obsolete with the interstate compact but little can be done about how undemocratic the senate is. That is wholly intentional though - the senate was introduced to give less populated states more influence in government and to largely provide capital a numerically small wing of congress to control more easily monetarily.

> nothing to correct the loss of voting rights for felons

Felony voting rights are currently state by state, and again federal law or financial incentives could be used to pressure states to not deprive felons of their voting rights, or it could be codified as law with simple majority.

So of my stated points 4/5 can be done with just regular law, much of it done with just budgetary law requirements.

Re: Mail delays hit Philadelphia residents, short staffed USPS struggles to keep up

#254
post #113
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

its really bizarre that we allow this while in other countries you get fines for not voting

There's actually only a small minority of countries where voting is a duty, not a right. Cf. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compulsory_voting . Still, it's interesting to think about how that would change the dynamics in the US. I think there is a lot to be said for making voting compulsory.

What if everybody got $20 for voting? It would be mostly equivalent to a $20 fine for not voting, but different psychologically.

Re: Mail delays hit Philadelphia residents, short staffed USPS struggles to keep up

#255
post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You realize the polling places WILL BE OPEN. No one is taking away anyone's constitutional right , you're just playing the victim card. The left only cares about this bc they want the votes of the bottom-feeders of society, who are too lazy to vote. It's also why the left wants criminals in jails to be able to vote. Chasing those votes shows you right there the misguided mindset of the democratic party.

Right, the bottom feeders... The people slaving away at two minimum wage jobs trying to make ends meet? The criminals... The small time weed dealers who decided they didn't want to work two minimum wage jobs to make ends meet? Demeaning these people shows you right there the misguided mindset of the arrogant.

I don't have a problem with people like that, I have a problem with people like you acting like you're their friend until it actually costs you something. And I have a problem with the left painting a facade of caring, then implementing policies and taxes that eventually backsplatter all over those people, and leaves them holding the bag.

Your mindset is what lays the groundwork for systemic problems...see Joe Biden's political activity from years ago which laid the foundation for small-time drug dealers to do hard time. The harmful effects don't show up until about 10 levels down the line, but you're too entitled to see past the first few.

fyi done commenting on this thread since ppl downvote based on politics

Re: Mail delays hit Philadelphia residents, short staffed USPS struggles to keep up

#256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The simplest counterpoint to this is that government allows accountability. You will have those same people you don’t like running private enterprise, but CEOs have much longer terms than postmasters general.

I disagree that government allows accountability, exhibit one: TSA.

As a matter of fact, I cannot think of one organization in the country that has less accountability than the Federal Government

Re: Mail delays hit Philadelphia residents, short staffed USPS struggles to keep up

#257

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As long as you have term limits, you don’t have to move states/countries to get different leaders, you vote.

Voting is not a good way to get what you want. Your vote will have essentially no impact on the outcome of the election. My choice to go with this provider or that one has 100% of an impact on me. There is no creative destruction going on with the USPS.

>Voting is not a good way to get what you want. Your vote will have essentially no impact on the outcome of the election.

Voting is the most minimal way to participate democratically. Much more meaningful are advocating for your needs to elected representatives, speaking out publicly, and organizing/attending demonstrations.

But if you want to give up democracy to live under a dictatorship, certainly don't pretend that you actually speak for anyone other than yourself.

Re: Mail delays hit Philadelphia residents, short staffed USPS struggles to keep up

#259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish I hadn't mentioned the pension, because it takes away from the immediate and much worse problem that the governing party is trying to stay in power by preventing members of the other party from voting.

How are dems more likely to vote by mail? And what are the percentages for each party?

Most large urban areas are Democratic. In the time of COVID, would you rather vote by mail or wait in line at overcrowded voting locations?

Re: Mail delays hit Philadelphia residents, short staffed USPS struggles to keep up

#260
post #234

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You will need to find some evidence of voter fraud for mail in ballots. Many states have it as an option and it hasn't happened. The military regularly votes by mail and it hasn't happened. It's funny you open your reply about "absurdly dramatic" then lay an equally absurd claim about vote-by-mail having a problem with fraud. Your reply also conveniently ignores the historical pattern of voter suppression coming from…

You realize the polling places WILL BE OPEN. No one is taking away anyone's constitutional right , you're just playing the victim card. The left only cares about this bc they want the votes of the bottom-feeders of society, who are too lazy to vote. It's also why the left wants criminals in jails to be able to vote. Chasing those votes shows you right there the misguided mindset of the democratic party.

The right to vote applies equally to everyone; this includes access.
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