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US Post Office.....what is really going on?

Heebie Jeebie said:
I don't get that either. Why pre-pay 75 years of pensions? Is working at the Post Office the equilivant of drinking from the Fountain of Youth? How many actually collect for 75 years?
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I haven't seen the 75 year number, but from what I have read, it seems the action was to keep taxpayers from having to cover unfunded portions of the pension plan.

If that would never have happened, why force the action? To destroy the USPS? That doesn't make sense.
 
ocean515 said:
I haven't seen the 75 year number, but from what I have read, it seems the action was to keep taxpayers from having to cover unfunded portions of the pension plan.

If that would never have happened, why force the action? To destroy the USPS? That doesn't make sense.
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It makes perfect sense. Some groups are so driven by the hate of government (based on ideology) they want to starve as many government programs as humanly possible and replace them with private programs because profit means real productivity. At least according to their dogma.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
It makes perfect sense. Some groups are so driven by the hate of government (based on ideology) they want to starve as many government programs as humanly possible and replace them with private programs because profit means real productivity. At least according to their dogma.
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USPS mail volume peaked in 2006. With internet communications and electronic payment options, first class mail volume will continue to decline, while USPS salaries will continue to rise. As USPS postage rates (stamp pricess) increase USPS volume will continue to drop.

Postal Service considers price hikes - May. 10, 2013
 
ttwtt78640 said:
USPS mail volume peaked in 2006. With internet communications and electronic payment options, first class mail volume will continue to decline, while USPS salaries will continue to rise. As USPS postage rates (stamp pricess) increase USPS volume will continue to drop.

Postal Service considers price hikes - May. 10, 2013
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So, the conservative answer is to eliminate the US postal service or privatize. I know the answer.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
So, the conservative answer is to eliminate the US postal service or privatize. I know the answer.
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Not necessarily, yet that is an option to consider. Consolidation of facilities is an option, but always shot down, just as with military bases - they all have local fans (and dependent gov't employees) to support keeping them open.

How many post offices does the country really need? | Save the Post Office

http://www.postalhistory.com/post_offices/index.htm

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R41950.pdf
 
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ttwtt78640 said:
Not necessarily, yet that is an option to consider. Consolidation of facilities is an option, but always shot down, just as with military bases - they all have local fans (and dependent gov't employees) to support keeping them open.

How many post offices does the country really need? | Save the Post Office

U.S. Post Offices
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Dependent government workers as opposed to dependent corporate workers? Aren't all workers dependent on a source of income? Only, we all know that once those USPW's are working for a private company, they will be making half the wages. It will no longer be considered a middle income job. It will be in the ranks with the worker insecurity group which many conservative politicians seem to rally. Race to the bottom policies!
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
Dependent government workers as opposed to dependent corporate workers? Aren't all workers dependent on a source of income? Only, we all know that once those USPW's are working for a private company, they will be making half the wages. It will no longer be considered a middle income job. It will be in the ranks with the worker insecurity group which many conservative politicians seem to rally. Race to the bottom policies!
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:lol: :doh So you admit that they are now getting paid far above their "fair market" wages but, since its only tax money due them from "the rich", it's no big deal. :roll:
 
ttwtt78640 said:
:lol: :doh So you admit that they are now getting paid far above their "fair market" wages but, since its only tax money due them from "the rich", it's no big deal. :roll:
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No, they get paid a good middle income which I've no problem with. Tax payers aren't supporting them so a moot point. They get paid through the purchase of stamps.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
So, the conservative answer is to eliminate the US postal service or privatize. I know the answer.
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I disagree. That would make it more expensive to run yet. The US postal service runs without paying taxes, and having to adhere to individual state laws. Can you imaging the extra burden having to change to compliance of 50 different states?
 
Lord of Planar said:
I disagree. That would make it more expensive to run yet. The US postal service runs without paying taxes, and having to adhere to individual state laws. Can you imaging the extra burden having to change to compliance of 50 different states?
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Oh, I never said privatizing it would make it less costly.
 
Does anyone here propose we privatize the postal system? If so, how would you transfer the money already paid over the decades into the pension system?
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
It makes perfect sense. Some groups are so driven by the hate of government (based on ideology) they want to starve as many government programs as humanly possible and replace them with private programs because profit means real productivity. At least according to their dogma.
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That's an interesting opinion.

I haven't seen anything that indicates any group is seeking to destroy the USPS. According to the GAO, that isn't the case. Perhaps you have something non partisan to offer that proves your point?
 
ocean515 said:
I can see the Cato Institute has an opinion, as do you. I'm not so certain that proves anything.

It would appear the opposition to the action requiring people to be held responsible for their own pension plans is based on ideoligical opinion, rather than fact.
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Now let's put this into perspective. My voice compared to the voice of well funded think tanks. Who here has more influence on policy???? The post office does fund its own pensions. That's not the position.
 
Lord of Planar said:
Does anyone here propose we privatize the postal system? If so, how would you transfer the money already paid over the decades into the pension system?
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Well you could just pump it into wall street that would make the wealthy even more so.
 
Henrin said:
Why should I have to pay for postal service when all I get is nothing but junk mail? I have go out there to the ****ing mailbox everyday just to clear it out of crap that will end up in the trash. The only thing they offer me is wasted time and money.
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Take it down. I get mail returned to me regularly because people gave me their address and failed to tell me that they have no mailbox. It is not uncommon in the rural areas around my city.
 
Fisher said:
Take it down. I get mail returned to me regularly because people gave me their address and failed to tell me that they have no mailbox. It is not uncommon in the rural areas around my city.
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Maybe you should doing the 18th century version of SPAM But hey at least it cost you something.
 
winston53660 said:
Maybe you should doing the 18th century version of SPAM But hey at least it cost you something.
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Not really. I don't advertise. The conversation often goes something like this:

*Ring Ring*
Me: Hello
Them: You told me three weeks ago you were sending X to me and I still have not received it.
Me: Yep. I mailed it to your house but the Post Office sent it back.
Them: Well I don't know why they would do something like that.
Me: Well they said you have no mailbox
Them: Well I don't
Me: Then why did you give me your address to mail you X?
Them: Well I forgot. I should have given you my PO Box. You can just send it again.

At which point it just depends on what it is. If it cost more than a buck the Answer is: Sorry you will need to come get it.
 
ocean515 said:
My reference to "union busting" wasn't directed at you, just a general observation.

If the taxpayer has zero to do with this action, as you have suggested, then what was the reason for requiring the Pension Plan to be front loaded?
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That's a question you'd have to ask your Congressman.

Since it won't be rectified until 2056, and since the only people "covered" by the Fed are the people who worked with the POD pre-1971, people would have to be over 100 years old to be any concern at all to the Fed. Even if a few lone people survive that long it sure isn't going to be a strain on any budget and certainly not to the tune of $55 billion.
 
rabbitcaebannog said:
Dependent government workers as opposed to dependent corporate workers? Aren't all workers dependent on a source of income? Only, we all know that once those USPW's are working for a private company, they will be making half the wages. It will no longer be considered a middle income job. It will be in the ranks with the worker insecurity group which many conservative politicians seem to rally. Race to the bottom policies!
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In the late 90's there were almost 800,00 postal employees. Now there about 525,000. So there did seem to be a problem with the number of employees since mail service didn't go into a big decline with all those positions eliminated. The remaining employees could have gotten a 30% raise simply due to the cut in the number of employees.
 
Heebie Jeebie said:
In the late 90's there were almost 800,00 postal employees. Now there about 525,000. So there did seem to be a problem with the number of employees since mail service didn't go into a big decline with all those positions eliminated. The remaining employees could have gotten a 30% raise simply due to the cut in the number of employees.
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Robots and automation took over for a lot of the manpower that was needed in the past just as they have replaced many of workers in other jobs. Think processing , sorting , centers.
Many years ago each letter had to hand processed.
I remember when I was a small child in the 50 s going to the local post office and seeing the local post master putting the postmark on the stamp of each piece of mail by hand with a rubber stamper.

More automated machines means less workers.
 
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Lord of Planar said:
LOL...

That junk mail provides the majority of their revenue. All you pay is postage when you send something.
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That was the intent, yet now general funds are used to "supplement" postage stamp revenue. Mail volume peaked in 2006 yet the USPS wants to remain the same size or grow. Snail mail will go the way of the 8-Track, cassette, VHS and BetaMax. Keeping the USPS "as is" makes no sense.

Postal Service loss narrows to $1.3 billion in October-December | Reuters
 
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