Before there was a USA – before our Constitution was adopted, and even before our 1776 Declaration of Independence – one of America’s best democratic institutions was already delivering for the people: The Post Office.
The post office in my neighborhood has been very good and very important but since DeJoy (how and why is he still in charge?) took over there are many fewer mailboxes and higher and higher prices! It is obvious that he is destroying our USPS. In the book, The Privatization of Everything, all the ways privatization raises prices for consumers are documented. It’s a must read for all Americans.
I couldnt agree with you more. They do a fine job. Like medicare does. Like Social Security. These thugs need to leave the big 3 alone, or the USA will truly become a 3rd world country. There is a place for public purpose on these 3,, even though the brainwashed confuse it with communism.
If you haven't already, be sure to watch MR. BATES VS THE POST OFFICE on PBS ... same story (fictionalized and dramatized) but the private interests in this case attempt a takeover of the British Post Office.
Thanks for alerting us to this postal site. I grew up working in a retail pharmacy in the 50’s. We had a postal substation in the store ( a thing of the past). It was a great idea and it was used widely by the community in Chicago where the store was located.
People were able to pay utility bills, get money orders, and send mail/parcel post all over the country and the world. It was especially fun to watch the volume of parcel post packages pick up during Christmas.
I hope this idea moves forward quickly and that others will sign the petition to support it. So many people will benefit with postal banking that have no access now to the kinds of services banks offer to those of us that are privileged to have these services available through our branch banking facilities. Hopefully with the support of President Biden’s administration and Congress (big if at this point getting anything done with the current congress) we can make this happen. This is a long overdue addition to our wonderful USPS. Thanks.
Oh,and yes,we need to replace the current postmaster General from the former administration. He is no friend of our post office!
The US Postal Service is an independent agency of the executive branch of the US Federal government. Congress exercised its powers with the passage of The Post Office Act of 1792, which made the Postal Service a permanent fixture of the Federal Government. It is generally self-funded and means that no tax dollars are used to keep the lights on at its many facilities. It relies on the revenue it generates from the sal of stamps, products and services to fund operations. ThePostal Regulatory Commission is responsible for oversight, including oversight of rates and services. The US Postal Service Board of Governors had sole authority to hire and fire the postmaster general, the highest position in the organization. The Board is made up of nine governors who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. No more than five governors at any one time may be from the same political party. There is no fixed term for the US Postmaster General. While the President can fire other high-ranking executive officials at will, federal law bars the president from terminating the postmaster general under any circumstances. Unless the president is willing to take a significant legal risk, DeJoy will remain in control for months or years to come. DeJoy is an unqualified Trump doner who seems to have done everything in his power to ruin the Postal Service.
I have long been worried (Very worried. And sad!) about the direction the in which post office is going. Little alone the awful new postmaster! Thank you so much for bringing attention to this issue!!
You make such wonderful points and are so eloquent, as always, and help put my thoughts into words – and action!
This is the MO of the uber-wealthy Aristocratic Overlords: Defund an essential government service then privatize it. And after they control it, use it for their own purposes and increase prices/lower wages to make obscene profits. Another dirty trick they are doing now is "pay" the Republican Congress to defund the IRS so that the rich tax cheats can get away with it because the IRS doesn't have the personnel to prosecute them. Since the Republicans couldn't get away with more tax breaks for the rich, they are crippling the IRS to give defacto tax breaks to the rich.
I completely agree with your assessment, but I see the big problem is younger generations don't use the post office. They get everything online, so don't appreciate what the US mail brings. My son is 28 and when we snowbird south for the winter I text him when he gets mail he should pay attention to. I get informed delivery so see what is being delivered every day. If I didn't text him, he would NEVER even look at the mail. Not in his wheelhouse. And I suspect that is true for others his age. Not sure how to fix that problem....
Let's not forget about the golden egg of privitization, access to a fully funded for 75 years out retirement fund that a private equity firm can turn into debt while paying themselves 80% of the value of the fund. That's what Bain & Co, Mitt Romney's old company, did to Medford, OR based mail order company Harry & David. Bain acquired debt-free Harry & David for about $110 million, and then promptly borrowed $85 million to pay themselves a dividend; saddling the mail order company with $85 million in debt, and cutting employee size in half. Harry & David was one of the biggest employers in Medford before Bain bought the company.
What happened to the Tuesday night get-together? I used the link and got a 404 code....
NOW, as to the USPS-- at the last reading, there are 2 vacancies-- Lew Moak, who seemed promising, has rather stepped aside, but might get reappointed (perhaps for the much overrated "balance" or to get GOP senators to approve SOMEBODY ANYBODY). Biden could appoint one Dem and one Republican. Getting at least one Dem on could seal DeJoy's fate. CONTACT YOUR SENATORS!!!
Republicans complain that government doesn't ever work. They provide the proof every time they're elected. Democrats are only marginally better. I can only hope that RFK JR takes more votes away from Trump than Biden. Is this any way to run a country?
We really need to get rid of that Trump Trash Postmaster General!
The post office in my neighborhood has been very good and very important but since DeJoy (how and why is he still in charge?) took over there are many fewer mailboxes and higher and higher prices! It is obvious that he is destroying our USPS. In the book, The Privatization of Everything, all the ways privatization raises prices for consumers are documented. It’s a must read for all Americans.
I couldnt agree with you more. They do a fine job. Like medicare does. Like Social Security. These thugs need to leave the big 3 alone, or the USA will truly become a 3rd world country. There is a place for public purpose on these 3,, even though the brainwashed confuse it with communism.
If you haven't already, be sure to watch MR. BATES VS THE POST OFFICE on PBS ... same story (fictionalized and dramatized) but the private interests in this case attempt a takeover of the British Post Office.
Agreed-Our US Postal Service is a fine institution worth protecting and preserving...even strenghtening over private corporate takeovers.
Thanks for alerting us to this postal site. I grew up working in a retail pharmacy in the 50’s. We had a postal substation in the store ( a thing of the past). It was a great idea and it was used widely by the community in Chicago where the store was located.
People were able to pay utility bills, get money orders, and send mail/parcel post all over the country and the world. It was especially fun to watch the volume of parcel post packages pick up during Christmas.
I hope this idea moves forward quickly and that others will sign the petition to support it. So many people will benefit with postal banking that have no access now to the kinds of services banks offer to those of us that are privileged to have these services available through our branch banking facilities. Hopefully with the support of President Biden’s administration and Congress (big if at this point getting anything done with the current congress) we can make this happen. This is a long overdue addition to our wonderful USPS. Thanks.
Oh,and yes,we need to replace the current postmaster General from the former administration. He is no friend of our post office!
The US Postal Service is an independent agency of the executive branch of the US Federal government. Congress exercised its powers with the passage of The Post Office Act of 1792, which made the Postal Service a permanent fixture of the Federal Government. It is generally self-funded and means that no tax dollars are used to keep the lights on at its many facilities. It relies on the revenue it generates from the sal of stamps, products and services to fund operations. ThePostal Regulatory Commission is responsible for oversight, including oversight of rates and services. The US Postal Service Board of Governors had sole authority to hire and fire the postmaster general, the highest position in the organization. The Board is made up of nine governors who are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. No more than five governors at any one time may be from the same political party. There is no fixed term for the US Postmaster General. While the President can fire other high-ranking executive officials at will, federal law bars the president from terminating the postmaster general under any circumstances. Unless the president is willing to take a significant legal risk, DeJoy will remain in control for months or years to come. DeJoy is an unqualified Trump doner who seems to have done everything in his power to ruin the Postal Service.
Thank you SO much, Mr. Hightower!!!
I have long been worried (Very worried. And sad!) about the direction the in which post office is going. Little alone the awful new postmaster! Thank you so much for bringing attention to this issue!!
You make such wonderful points and are so eloquent, as always, and help put my thoughts into words – and action!
This is the MO of the uber-wealthy Aristocratic Overlords: Defund an essential government service then privatize it. And after they control it, use it for their own purposes and increase prices/lower wages to make obscene profits. Another dirty trick they are doing now is "pay" the Republican Congress to defund the IRS so that the rich tax cheats can get away with it because the IRS doesn't have the personnel to prosecute them. Since the Republicans couldn't get away with more tax breaks for the rich, they are crippling the IRS to give defacto tax breaks to the rich.
I completely agree with your assessment, but I see the big problem is younger generations don't use the post office. They get everything online, so don't appreciate what the US mail brings. My son is 28 and when we snowbird south for the winter I text him when he gets mail he should pay attention to. I get informed delivery so see what is being delivered every day. If I didn't text him, he would NEVER even look at the mail. Not in his wheelhouse. And I suspect that is true for others his age. Not sure how to fix that problem....
Let's not forget about the golden egg of privitization, access to a fully funded for 75 years out retirement fund that a private equity firm can turn into debt while paying themselves 80% of the value of the fund. That's what Bain & Co, Mitt Romney's old company, did to Medford, OR based mail order company Harry & David. Bain acquired debt-free Harry & David for about $110 million, and then promptly borrowed $85 million to pay themselves a dividend; saddling the mail order company with $85 million in debt, and cutting employee size in half. Harry & David was one of the biggest employers in Medford before Bain bought the company.
What happened to the Tuesday night get-together? I used the link and got a 404 code....
NOW, as to the USPS-- at the last reading, there are 2 vacancies-- Lew Moak, who seemed promising, has rather stepped aside, but might get reappointed (perhaps for the much overrated "balance" or to get GOP senators to approve SOMEBODY ANYBODY). Biden could appoint one Dem and one Republican. Getting at least one Dem on could seal DeJoy's fate. CONTACT YOUR SENATORS!!!
Standard MO -- set it up to fail and then kill it because it's failing.
BTW the Postal Service is actually in the Constitution.
Also -- support NALC as well as APWU.
Republicans complain that government doesn't ever work. They provide the proof every time they're elected. Democrats are only marginally better. I can only hope that RFK JR takes more votes away from Trump than Biden. Is this any way to run a country?
I thought our President had the chance to appoint enough new board members to get rid of the Trump postal service killer. What happened?
I thought our President was going to gain control of the Postal Board and fire the Trump incumbent. What happened to that plan?