"Facing $7b loss, Postal Service looks for new rate hike; Revives push to end delivery on Saturdays" by Randolph E. Schmid, Associated Press | March 3, 2010
Ready for ANOTHER BAILOUT, America!?
Don't fret; this fraud won't cost you the trillions Wall Street did; this will "only cost" a few billion.
WASHINGTON - The US Postal Service is renewing its drive to drop Saturday delivery - and plans a rate increase - in an effort to fend off a projected $7 billion loss this year.
Where the hell is all that $$$ going?
They raise fees and rates every year, blah, blah, blah.
Without drastic action the agency could face a cumulative loss of $238 billion over 10 years, Postmaster General John Potter said in releasing a series of consultant reports on agency operations and its outlook.
Ooooh!
That is NOT SO SMALL a BAILOUT, is it, America?
“The projections going forward are not bright,’’ Potter told reporters in a briefing. But, he added, “all is not lost . . . we can right this ship.’’
Senator Thomas R. Carper, a Delaware Democrat who is chairman of the Senate subcommittee with oversight authority over the Postal Service, called on Congress to give the agency the flexibility to deal with its future needs.
Frederic V. Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, also urged Congress to provide the Postal Service with “financial breathing room,’’ but he opposed eliminating one day of delivery.
Read: BAILOUT, taxpayers!
Yeah, screw it, just BORROW MORE (at interest) from BANKS, 'eh?
“I do not believe that weakening our commitment of six-day service to the public will enhance the long-term position of the Postal Service as a critical element in our nation’s economic infrastructure,’’ Rolando said.’’
Why rob the dog of an extra day of barking?
As Americans turn more and more from paper to electronic communications, the number of items the Postal Service handled fell from 213 billion in 2006 to 177 billion last year. Volume is expected to shrink to 150 billion by 2020. Meanwhile, the type of material sent is shifting from first-class mail to the less lucrative standard mail, such as advertising. And as people set up new homes and businesses, the number of places mail must be delivered is constantly increasing....
Yeah, I'm really feeling sorry for the service considering how lousy it is out here.
Under the law, the agency is not supposed to raise rates more than the amount of inflation, but there is a loophole allowing for higher increases in extraordinary situations such as the current recession and drop in mail volume. “We intend to use that tool,’’ Potter said.
(Blog editor just sighs at the sins of government)
He said the Postal Service’s governing board is engaged in lively discussions of rate increases, though he declined to speculate on a new price. Currently, first-class stamps cost 44 cents. Rates for other classes vary. “We need to walk slowly and very, very careful,’’ Potter said, noting that increases can drive business away.
But SLAP 'EM ON anyway! That is what the STATE DOES!
A proposal before the Postal Regulatory Commission has estimated that increases of 3 percent this year and 10 percent next year would be needed to get the agency to break-even.
So when do TAXPAYERS and CITIZENS BREAK EVEN, huh?
While suggestions to close local post offices always draw complaints, Potter said, the current system could be improved by opening more postal facilities in places like convenience stores and supermarkets.
After the Dunkin' Donuts couldn't make it?
A few
The average post office has 600 patrons a week, Potter said, while the average supermarket brings in 20,000 people each week and is open longer hours and more days. Only after such facilities were available would a local post office close, he said. Another possibility would be to ask Congress for a subsidy, but noting the current financial conditions, Potter said “we do not plan to pursue that.’’
Yeah, the Post Office -- if anyone in this government -- would be best positioned to know how angry we are. They get an earful every time.
The Postal Service has not received taxpayer subsidies for its operations since the early 1980s.
But they have received them, huh?
Get ready for another one.
The agency has cut its workforce from a peak of 800,000 career employees to currently about 600,000, and Potter said it wants to use more part-time people. Over the next 10 years some 300,000 postal workers will become eligible to retire and that will offer an opportunity to make this change, he said. A major problem for the agency is a new requirement for an annual allotment of $5.5 billion to prepay expected medical benefits for retirees.
Yup, THERE YOU GO!
The "public servants" getting GREAT HEALTH PLANS at TAXPAYER EXPENSE while they get a s*** health tax.
See: The Massachusetts Model: Municipal Health Mess
A Healthy Insult For the American People
I'm just wondering when they start "pitching in."
Of course, if this government ENDED the WARS, BANK LOOTING, and CORPORATE WELFARE we would have PLENTY of MONEY for the P.O. WORKER!!
Potter said he is seeking congressional approval for the Postal Service to go back to a pay-as-you-go standard.
That seems to be SOUND BUDGETARY REASONING that WE STOO-PID MASSES are ADVISED to handle our finances.
Government is -- to borrow a phrase -- an exception.
--more--"
Update:
"Postal Service moves toward 5-day delivery" by Associated Press | March 25, 2010]
WASHINGTON — The Postal Service took the first formal step yesterday toward cutting mail delivery to five days a week.... dropping Saturday delivery.
Gee, that national lead above made me think they were going the opposite way, sigh.
The Postal Service says the delivery change would save more than $3 billion annually. It is a major part of a decade-long plan to eliminate losses and restore the agency to stability in the face of shrinking business as Americans turned more and more from paper to electronic communications....
There is a newspaper man at the end of the bar crying in his beer; perhaps you may want to join him, P.O.?
The post office lost $3.8 billion last year and is facing projected losses of as much as $7 billion this year.
Yeah, that is a RISING TAB, all right!
Going to reach about $250 BILLION at least!!!
Ah, good old AmeriKan taxpayers!
--more--"
Post Office Box Closed
Speaking of which, I need to get over there this morning.
