Marlon Barkley
[email protected]
[email protected]
U.S. Postal Service Losses There has been a significant development for the privatization industry this past week. The United States Postal Service reported a quarterly loss of $2 Billion, despite higher prices and an increase in operating revenue.
Publications like the New York Times perfectly assist the illustration of how another government run business is a candidate for privatization. Using this headline, "Postal Service Quarterly Loss Was $2 Billion, Despite Higher Prices", is an intentional attempt to mislead. They further the assist by adding in the first sentence, despite an increase in revenue on almost every product the US Postal service is "mired in debt". When you dig deeper elsewhere, for even 10 seconds, you see the information necessary.
Those people with an ounce of curiosity and 10 seconds of time might wonder how this could possibly happen. USPS.gov has an explanation of this situation and cause posted right on their web site.
Publications like the New York Times perfectly assist the illustration of how another government run business is a candidate for privatization. Using this headline, "Postal Service Quarterly Loss Was $2 Billion, Despite Higher Prices", is an intentional attempt to mislead. They further the assist by adding in the first sentence, despite an increase in revenue on almost every product the US Postal service is "mired in debt". When you dig deeper elsewhere, for even 10 seconds, you see the information necessary.
Those people with an ounce of curiosity and 10 seconds of time might wonder how this could possibly happen. USPS.gov has an explanation of this situation and cause posted right on their web site.
Unlike any other public or private entity, under a 2006 law, the U.S. Postal Service must pre-fund retiree health benefits. -USPS.gov
Let's parse what the USPS is saying. The Republican controlled congress and Senate in 2006 passed a law to force the U.S. Postal service to pre-fund their health and retirement benefits to cover those expenses for 75 years.
This makes total sense when you think about it. John Smith who might be born tomorrow and work for the post office starting August 1, 2035 will need retirement benefits in the year 2079. Good thing his retirement plan will be funded this year!
Republicans manufactured a crisis for ideology or is it just to make a profit for their friends? You could easily argue the latter. Remember President George Bush's bank bailout? Republicans were unanimously behind it*.
When Republicans finally privatize the postal service, will that make them eligible for a Republican bailout? Not only would they support it, they would probably promote it with some populist patriotism bull shit one could see through if one looked. Wouldn't it be nice if Republicans were this financially responsible on a day-to-day basis?
Prepare to pay ten times what you do now for mailing a letter, if you even get service. On second thought, you probably will not have to worry about it since delivery will not be available in any rural area thanks to privatization.
*Fox News watchers may find this FACT a complete surprise. Look at the date it occurred.
This makes total sense when you think about it. John Smith who might be born tomorrow and work for the post office starting August 1, 2035 will need retirement benefits in the year 2079. Good thing his retirement plan will be funded this year!
Republicans manufactured a crisis for ideology or is it just to make a profit for their friends? You could easily argue the latter. Remember President George Bush's bank bailout? Republicans were unanimously behind it*.
When Republicans finally privatize the postal service, will that make them eligible for a Republican bailout? Not only would they support it, they would probably promote it with some populist patriotism bull shit one could see through if one looked. Wouldn't it be nice if Republicans were this financially responsible on a day-to-day basis?
Prepare to pay ten times what you do now for mailing a letter, if you even get service. On second thought, you probably will not have to worry about it since delivery will not be available in any rural area thanks to privatization.
*Fox News watchers may find this FACT a complete surprise. Look at the date it occurred.
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