the oblate spheroid explains the post office to us

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022328830

Oh my.

nadinbrzezinski (115,863 posts)    Thu Feb 7, 2013, 11:45 AM

Some things about the USPS

Might help connect dots for some.

They are the second largest employer in the US, with the largest unionized workforce
 
Vets and minorities are a large part of the work force. In fact, African Americans found work at the post office when there was no other employer.
 
It is one of the few middle class jobs still remaining for people without a college degree.
 
They service rural areas that are out of reach for both UPS and FedEx. In fact, they carry the burden for those two through last mile delivery. Yes, by contract. Funny shit, at times last mile includes very urbanized downtown urban cities.
 
Small businesses depend on the USPS. Their rates are reasonable. In fact, Netflix was built around the USPS.
 
Zero dollars of your tax money go to the postal service. It is funded through the sale of mail services, yet...any mail rate increases, first, second or third, fourth et al, have to be approved by Congress. It might com as a surprise, but getting that authorization is like pulling teeth...never mind higher operational costs due to fuel...did I mention they got one of the largest vehicle fleets in the country? They take turns with Walmart.
 
UPS has contributing with quite a bit of quid to Daryl Issa's campaign...did I mention he's the Chairman of the committee and he won't let any bill out of committee? Last year the Senate passed such a necessary bill, Issa did not allow it to be heard in committee in the House. This is not a conspiracy, this is reality.
 
But, but...email....bullshit. If the postal service did not have this poison pill...it would be in the black right ****ing now.

nadinbrzezinski (115,863 posts)    Thu Feb 7, 2013, 11:49 AM

2. Most Americans, hell, most DU'ers, are ignorant of these

Facts. The media don't help.

sad-cafe (354 posts)    Thu Feb 7, 2013, 02:37 PM

27. I am not ignorant and this "attitude" is why people get irritated

^^^

nadinbrzezinski (115,863 posts)    Thu Feb 7, 2013, 11:54 AM

4. It is getting Congress to authorize this [in response to a primitive who wouldn't mind paying a buck]

I would not mind either, and raising it to .75 cents would be reasonable. And lord knows I use it. One buck would be a nice cushion not to raise them for a couple years.

nadinbrzezinski (115,863 posts)    Thu Feb 7, 2013, 12:10 PM

9. You know truly shocking???

Postal workers still voting GOP.

nadinbrzezinski (115,863 posts)    Thu Feb 7, 2013, 11:57 AM

6. Hubby works at the plant

I will be the first to say it, the Union has issues, but better than no union.

kudzu22 (665 posts)    Thu Feb 7, 2013, 01:55 PM

17. Can someone explain to me why union benefits should not be funded?

This is the thing that's puzzling me about this whole affair. If your employer promises you healthcare through your retirement, but doesn't put any money away for it, that seems bad. In the private sector it would be called raiding the pension fund. Why is it bad if the USPS is required to do it?
 
I'm not being snarky or sarcastic here. I honestly don't know and want someone to explain it for me.

nadinbrzezinski (115,863 posts)    Thu Feb 7, 2013, 02:10 PM

20. They were like any other employer

With contributions. This pre funding is on top of regular pension contributions. That you swallowed whole is a GOP talking point.

[Wineslob]

Why is USPS going broke? (for Gnads the ignorant slut)


Won't let go of the millions of un-needed/un-fireable union workers when their mail deliveries dropped, considerably.

Has, as is typical, union pension plans that are untenable with the loss of revenue (see above).

Has a 11 BILLION dollar shortfall, answer, cut costs by 2 billion....................ya, that makes sense......

[Rebel]

Taverner (52,073 posts)
11. I am all for (re)subsidizing the USPS

It is part of our national transportation infrastructure, and if we didn't have the USPS, the hole would be felt, no matter what FedEx says. The cost of goods would go up dramatically, as there would be no low cost shipping option.

E-Mail, Fax, Phone calls, FedEx, UPS, Text, Skype, Western Union, Moneygram, Line, Kakao, Kik, etc., etc., etc. All of those private institutions can do a part of what the USPS does without taxpayer subsidies. To use an argument you fools make all the time, "they're outdated. The horse and buggy used to be popular as well." Isn't that what you fools say about the Constitution? Two can play this game, Prog.

[Traveshamockery]

nadinbrzezinski (115,863 posts)    Thu Feb 7, 2013, 11:54 AM

4. It is getting Congress to authorize this.

I would not mind either, and raising it to .75 cents would be reasonable. And lord knows I use it. One buck would be a nice cushion not to raise them for a couple years.

You could increase the cost of a stamp to $5.00 each, and the USPS would find a way to waste it and come back for more in less than a year. 

That's what liberals and DUmmies don't seem to get -- give them more money and subsidies they haven't earned themselves and they will find a way to overspend and waste it.

[Celtic Rose]

I really like the shipping rates at the post office.  When I was moving I shipped a bunch of boxes and they had the lowest rates.  I take shameless advantage of their media shipping rates to swap books.  However, they have used an unfair advantage to stay the primary shipper of mail.  They are the only service allowed to use the mailbox.  Neither UPS or FedEx are allowed to put items in the mail box, or pick up from the mailbox.  It would be really interesting to see what would happen if UPS or FedEx were allowed to submit bids on delivering mail for various cities.  FedEx does some great discounts for businesses, how low would their prices drop if they knew they would be handling mail for an entire city?  I would be interested in knowing what actual competition could do.

[GOBUCKS]

I really like the shipping rates at the post office.  When I was moving I shipped a bunch of boxes and they had the lowest rates.  I take shameless advantage of their media shipping rates to swap books.  However, they have used an unfair advantage to stay the primary shipper of mail.  They are the only service allowed to use the mailbox.  Neither UPS or FedEx are allowed to put items in the mail box, or pick up from the mailbox.  It would be really interesting to see what would happen if UPS or FedEx were allowed to submit bids on delivering mail for various cities.  FedEx does some great discounts for businesses, how low would their prices drop if they knew they would be handling mail for an entire city?  I would be interested in knowing what actual competition could do.

UPS or FedEx would do fine, as would USPS, without having to handle an avalanche of third-class trash for nearly free every day.

Charge first-class rates for every piece of mail. Refuse any piece of mail addressed to "occupant". Problem solved.

[USA4ME]

They're just looking to end Saturday mail delivery, primitives.

Holy Mackerel! You'd think the world was coming to an end.

.

[formerlurker]

They service rural areas that are out of reach for both UPS and FedEx. In fact, they carry the burden for those two through last mile delivery. Yes, by contract. Funny shit, at times last mile includes very urbanized downtown urban cities.

Nads, you do know that no one delivers to the outer rural areas.  There is a centralized post office the resident must travel to in order to pick up their mail.   UPS and FedEx deliver to that post office.

Mmmmkay?

[DumbAss Tanker]

The first post was far too well-written and articulate to be her own work, I wonder where she got it.  There actually is a lot of truth in it, which is even more surprising. 

Still, the biggest problem the USPS has isn't so much the union issues.  Federal employee unions have very restricted bargaining rights, unlike State, municipal, education, and private sector unions...having worked in Federal labor law for many years, the unions are the least of a manager's problems after EEO complaints, Congressional inquiries, and just a natural disinclination to do the dirty work necessary to document enough misconduct or inefficiency to fire someone (Which is just as difficult whether the employee is union or nonunion).

No, the biggest problem the USPS has is the fact that Congress maintains a death grip on it that distorts its accounting and deprives it of the freedom to act in a rational businesslike way.  Both the Congressional Ds and Rs are to blame because each has particular reasons keep it messed up.  The actual agency is left in a situation where they are accountable for the results without being entrusted with the authority and responsibility to change them.

[J P Sousa]

I once worked for the post office. I can tell you the pay was great, the benefits outstanding, and exersize included.  

Out of 60 employees at least 12 were college graduates, so that tells you the pay was better than most jobs. Like almost everything else unions demands out stripped the ability to pay those demands.  
.

[franksolich]

Nads, you do know that no one delivers to the outer rural areas.  There is a centralized post office the resident must travel to in order to pick up their mail.   UPS and FedEx deliver to that post office.

Mmmmkay?

That's sort of true.

The USPS has dropped quite a lot of rural delivery, and in many small towns, one has to have a post office box at the post office, as there's no home delivery either.

<<lives this.

On the other hand, UPS and Federal Express have delivered to this door-step, although that might be only because I live two miles off a main highway.  I dunno.

[ColonelCarrots]

I need the USPS! How can I wooh the ladies with love letters if they're gone?

[J P Sousa]

I need the USPS! How can I wooh the ladies with love letters if they're gone?

Sexting ?   
.

[BEG]

I need the USPS! How can I wooh the ladies with love letters if they're gone?

Email

[ColonelCarrots]

Email

That's not as romantic.

[Karin]

<<lives this.

Me too, and I thought I was the only one.  It's odd.  Everybody around us gets their mail delivered as per normal, and just in our village, we don't.  We have to go to the post office (during their banker's hours).  Every other little village dotting the landscape gets it at home.  I just understand how this came about, and nobody seems to know.  

I bet this self-service will be a trend.  Gas ain't coming down anytime soon.  

I can't believe the DUmp wailing over the Saturday deal.  So what?  My reaction has been Meh.  It's just junk and bills anymore.  Those can't wait for Monday?  

[GOBUCKS]

I can't believe the DUmp wailing over the Saturday deal.  So what?  My reaction has been Meh.  It's just junk and bills anymore.  Those can't wait for Monday?

I'd be happy to pay double for the two or three first class stamps I use each month if they'd stop delivering junk mail.

 

[J P Sousa]

Me too, and I thought I was the only one.  It's odd.  Everybody around us gets their mail delivered as per normal, and just in our village, we don't.  We have to go to the post office (during their banker's hours).  Every other little village dotting the landscape gets it at home.  I just understand how this came about, and nobody seems to know.  

I bet this self-service will be a trend.  Gas ain't coming down anytime soon.  

I can't believe the DUmp wailing over the Saturday deal.  So what?  My reaction has been Meh.  It's just junk and bills anymore.  Those can't wait for Monday?  

I know there was a suggestion at one time that everyone get their mail at a 7-11, Wawa, or other convenience store.
.

[franksolich]

Well, what I could never understand is why small places--including this place--have free-standing full-service post offices to begin with.

In pioneer days, circa 1880-1910 around here, the local grocer or hardware man had a corner in his store, from which were dispensed postal services, both incoming and outgoing.

No permanent highly-paid unionized postal workers, and the commission kept many a business going during tough times.  They should've kept it that way. 

[Tucker]

They are the second largest employer in the US, with the largest unionized workforce

Now what was the reason that they were having financial problems again?

[GOBUCKS]

In an earlier thread about the non-existent gunman in San Diego, the crazy bald dwarf said Mr. nadin was following events closely on a scanner at his job, and they were staying in close touch by text.

Mr. nadin, due to the brain damage from a low-oxygen submerged tour of duty, does some Goodwill-type work at the post office.

As he kills time listening to a police scanner and texting with the nutcase, Mr. nadin is pulling down a much higher wage than most DUmmies, and accumulating a lucrative pension.