Post office to only deliver 5 days a week?

[traderx]

When private companies face a slowdown such as now or an operating deficit, what do they do? They lay off employees, cut benefits, stop contributing to 401-k's, coffee cups, tighten up on office supplies, etc. You never hear a company say to a customer: times are tough. We are cutting back on our service to you. It would be a death knell.

What does government do? Cut back on services.

Therein lies the difference between the two and why the government can never operate at a profit or breakeven. Look at everything run by the government from Amtrak to mass transit to the postal service: they all lose money.

 

[scooterbug44]

Part of their solution to reduce their deficit was to increase the price of a regular stamp again (to 42), my counter proposal is that we increase the rate for the mail that is already much cheaper and unwanted by many.

Either they earn more $ with the bulk/junk rates or they have less bulk/junk clogging the system so they can improve their customer service and efficiency - win-win.

 

[frank1971]

Who cares!! We do everything electronically

 

[idlewind]

The fact is that the advances in technology will make the Postal Service more and more irelevant. Hopefully it will not become another subsidized dinosaur like AmTrack.

 

[Matt J]

As much as I'm all for just getting rid of the USPS, isn't that tens even hundreds of thousands of jobs that would cease to exist? It doesn't just stop at jobs. The airlines rely heavily on the USPS in terms of cargo. Once again I'm sure I'll be beaten for not just taking the easy route and saying oh well let it fail and see what happens.

 

[idlewind]

As much as I'm all for just getting rid of the USPS, isn't that tens even hundreds of thousands of jobs that would cease to exist? It doesn't just stop at jobs. The airlines rely heavily on the USPS in terms of cargo. Once again I'm sure I'll be beaten for not just taking the easy route and saying oh well let it fail and see what happens.

I don't think anyone wants it to fail, however, you cannot stick your head in the sand and think that advances in technology will not continue. The management should begin immediately to formulate a business plan that takes technology into account and leads the organization to relevance in the coming years.

 

[Minnie]

There are many people who do not own a computer. So there has to be some option for these to pay their bills and recieve mail.

I for one, would miss our mail carrier, he is the best neighborhood watch we have.

I enjoy my computer as much as anyone, but I truly enjoy receiving beautiful cards and a hand written letter on a nice stationery.

I have cards and letters from my Grandparents that mean so much to me, due to being handwritten. Emails would just not be the same.

 

[Matt J]

I don't think anyone wants it to fail, however, you cannot stick your head in the sand and think that advances in technology will not continue. The management should begin immediately to formulate a business plan that takes technology into account and leads the organization to relevance in the coming years.

True, unfortunately that committee will be highly paid, I'm sure, to come up with a solution like raising postage rates. :roll:

 

[scooterbug44]

New technology like email cuts the use of the postal service, but it also greatly increases use with new ideas like Netflix.

Emails and e-cards will never take the place of a handwritten card or letter.

 

[highwayjunkie]

I think letting them take an extra day off makes since. It will give them a day to get their s$#% together. Here are a few words for the Santa Rosa PO.

U so slow, You make snails feel respected

U so slow you were stranded in a grocery store for two weeks and died of starvation.

U so slow it takes you two hours to watch 60 minutes.

U so slow that if you were a train engine, the caboose would be leading.

Thank you, Thank You, I'll be here all night!

Next week I'll start my MediaCom "you suck so bad...." thread