Sen. Sanders Holds Town Meeting On the Future of the Post Office

[cal04]

Run time: 02:58 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNhI-o3Dlns   Posted on YouTube: November 08, 2011 By YouTube Member: SenatorSanders Views on YouTube: 23   Posted on DU: November 08, 2011 By DU Member: cal04 Views on DU: 1072

 
More than 300 people jammed Sen. Bernie Sanders' town meeting at Montpelier High School Nov. 6 focused on how to save the U.S. Postal Service. Sanders (I-Vt.) said he will introduce legislation this week to address the Postal Service's financial woes without resorting to drastic cutbacks in service and massive layoffs. He blamed the Postal Service's money troubles largely on accounting issues, including a law requiring it to set aside retiree health and retirement benefits far in advance. Sanders criticized Postal Service management for not focusing on smarter ways to solve their financial problems. "Our goal must be to make the post office smarter and more competitive. We should not be engaged in a series of actions which could eventually lead to the destruction of the Postal Service," he said.

[SunSeeker]

1. Bernie rocks!

[Frustratedlady]

2. Isn't Congress the guilty party for screwing this up to begin with?

Then, let Congress straighten it out. Well, maybe that isn't a good idea, but at least back off the ruling on the prepaid retirement/health.

[midnight]

3. I think this mess is Bushs.

Well, that's true! What these dire facts don't tell us is that the revenue and cost squeeze is completely manufactured by Congress and the executive branch. In December 2006, then-President George W. Bush signed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA), which had the overwhelming support of both parties in both the House and Senate.

The act contains many restrictions on how the Postal Service can generate revenues--for example, even though it can't adjust prices (like Fed Ex or UPS can), "the USPS must compete with UPS and other private firms in the package delivery business."

While the act argues that the USPS must become more "businesslike," it is not allowed to compete like a business. Even though the Postal Service is mandated by the Constitution and has a "universal service obligation" to deliver mail to all Americans regardless of where they live (unlike private carriers), the Postal Service cannot exercise "unfair competition" with the private sector.

In effect, business says don't compete with us where it's profitable, only where it's unprofitable--but otherwise, act more like us.http://socialistworker.org/2011/09/15/a-manufactured-postal-crisis

[Doc_Technical]

4. Abolish the United States Postal Service!

This abomination was created during the Nixon administration
to repay political cronies with cushy jobs on
the Postal Service Board of Governors.
Return this government agency to where it belongs,
as a Cabinet Department not as a mutant quasi
government/private conglomeration.

It should be a government service and should not
be expected to pay for itself, especially now
with widespread instant communications.

I don't recall any federal agency that has
been required to pay for itself.

[lumpy]

5. Yes, the GOP dogs have been working for a long time to

dismantle the US postal service and privatize this essential service. Private industry must make a profit in every facit of US life, you know; that is what capitalism is all about. To privatize everything is the Republican prime goal.