U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored • Hacker News Board

Re: U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored

#61

Post by cactus2093 » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 9:16 PM UTC

eranima wrote: post #47

sio8ohPi wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's weird to me to hear comments like this. To me the postal service just seems like a slow email service with no spam filtering. (Sure they can delivery packages, but they're not unique in that regard). I get the utility of certified mail and associated services, but I don't really understand why we need first-class/marketing mail service in the 21st century. I agree it was important infrastructure 250 years ago.

Because not everyone can afford internet access?

It's harder to afford stable housing with a stable mailing address than it is to afford internet access.

And those without internet access can go to public libraries or even get free public wifi in many cities. Even some homeless shelters provide wifi now, which is much easier for them than providing mail service. Technically, I think those without a permanent address can register to still receive mail at a post office, but that seems more difficult to manage and more limiting than finding internet access.

Re: U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored

#62

Post by voz_ » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 9:16 PM UTC

curiousgeorgio wrote: post #18

cjsawyer wrote: post #2

Unrelated to this specific article: The USPS is a crucial part of the US infrastructure. The thought that we could loose it over mail in ballot voting is a sick joke.

> The USPS is a crucial part of the US infrastructure. Mail delivery and shipping are crucial, not the USPS. There are plenty of other private companies that can and do show the ability to do what the USPS does - only more efficiently (and without consistently losing money). At this point in history, there's no need for us to continue supporting the tax-subsidized[1] money pit that is the USPS. Yet another piece of e…

[flagged]

Re: U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored

#63

Post by eranima » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 9:17 PM UTC

fasteddie31003 wrote: post #37

toomuchtodo wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Congress controls USPS rate setting, as well as mandates the rate of healthcare and pension benefit contributions.

I didn't know that. That seems to be the root of the issue then. Let the USPS set their own rates.

That's not the issue. The issue is the Postal Service was required to prefund its pension plan 75 years in the future, a requirement no other government corporation has: https://ips-dc.org/how-congress-manufactured-a-postal-crisis...

Re: U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored

#64

Post by chrisseaton » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 9:17 PM UTC

SolaceQuantum wrote: post #49

curiousgeorgio wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> No one else does what the USPS does They certainly could if it weren't for laws preventing them from delivering to people's mailboxes.

What are the laws preventing UPS from delivering to extremely rural areas?

> What are the laws preventing UPS from delivering to extremely rural areas?

Apparently it's literally illegal for anyone but USPS to put something in your mailbox https://blog.oup.com/2017/07/mailboxes-us-mail/.

Re: U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored

#65

Post by crocodiletears » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 9:17 PM UTC

learc83 wrote: post #5

TechBro8615 wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nobody in power has suggested this as a possibility. It’s fearmongering by the democratic media.

There was a bipartisan plan to include 30 billion in funding for the Post Office in the 2 trillion dollar stimulus bill. But the administration said they wouldn't sign anything that included emergency funding for the USPS. That doesn't prove what the administration's motives are, but they certainly seem hostile towards the USPS.

Iirc, there was a lot of arbitrary funding allocated in that bill. For once in its existence, Congress seemingly (as I understand it, I could be wrong) passed a bill which largely affected only what it was supposed to, with a minimal amount of dead weight.

The USPS needs to be preserved, it's essential. The stimulus wasn't the place to do it.

Re: U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored

#66

Post by voz_ » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 9:18 PM UTC

_curious_ wrote: post #48

Why does this institution still exist? Or, what is so vital to America about paper mail/communications that it cannot be delivered once each week? Seems like the primary beneficiary in this era is the direct mail marketing & advertising industries.

Anyone in the country can send information to anyone else in the country for almost nothing. Is there any other infrastructure that provides this service today?

This kind of unfettered, nearly free (should be entirely free, but I digress) communication is the cornerstone of a healthy society.

Re: U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored

#67

Post by jellicle » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 9:18 PM UTC

kauffj wrote: post #43

bytematic wrote: post #6

Wonder what happens when soldiers can't send/receive mail from their families

An uninhibited free market would absolutely produce a price for that service. If no mail is sent, it's because the market is inhibited or both of the parties (government and families) are unwilling to pay the price.

Pricing would likely be similar to the free market pricing for prison phone calls. What, $50 per letter, something like that?

Re: U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored

#68

Post by WalterBright » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 9:18 PM UTC

cjsawyer wrote: post #24

curiousgeorgio wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The USPS is a crucial part of the US infrastructure. Mail delivery and shipping are crucial, not the USPS. There are plenty of other private companies that can and do show the ability to do what the USPS does - only more efficiently (and without consistently losing money). At this point in history, there's no need for us to continue supporting the tax-subsidized[1] money pit that is the USPS. Yet another piece of e…

“The Postal Service receives NO tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.” https://facts.usps.com/top-facts/

The PS also relies on having a legal monopoly on the delivery of first class mail.

Re: U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored

#69

Post by curiousgeorgio » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 9:18 PM UTC

lawfulcactus wrote: post #50

curiousgeorgio wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> ...for operating expenses Weasel words. See https://fortune.com/2015/03/27/us-postal-service/

> Laws that bar any other shipping service from delivering mail and packages directly to residential and business mailboxes. Shapiro estimates that this gives the Post Office a $14 billion annual boost, more than three times what the Postal Regulatory Commission estimates it to be. > Tax breaks. The Post Office is exempt from state and local property and real estate taxes, along with other burdens like tolls, vehicle…

Literal or not, it amounts to being the same for their bottom line, and we all pay for it through taxes.

Re: U.S. Postal Workers Were on the Front Lines Before. They Were Ignored

#70

Post by cjsawyer » Mon, Apr 13, 2020, 9:18 PM UTC

curiousgeorgio wrote: post #31

cjsawyer wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“The Postal Service receives NO tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.” https://facts.usps.com/top-facts/

> ...for operating expenses Weasel words. See https://fortune.com/2015/03/27/us-postal-service/

Okay, the article’s point is that their position as a semi government agency gives them an unfair advantage vs their private competitors. Of course it does.