With historic losses looming, Postal Service launches new ad campaign

[The Northerner]

On the verge of reporting historic losses, the U.S. Postal Service is launching a new TV advertising campaign designed to slow the migration away from snail mail.

Americans watching college football games and news broadcasts in the next week may notice new ads from the agency — long known for its campy messages promoting Priority Mail shipping services. Now, the “If it fits, it ships” campaign will share airtime with two 30-second spots designed to remind customers that paper mail, unlike e-mail, can’t be hacked, and that letter carriers are still providing reliable and safe deliveries to doorsteps.

“A refrigerator has never been hacked,” an announcer says in the first message as an actress pins a paper bill to her fridge.

In the other ad, a smiling letter carrier is seen walking her route while an announcer reminds viewers that hand-delivered messages ensure that “important letters and information don’t get lost in thin air, or disappear with a click.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/with-historic-losses-looming-postal-service-launches-new-ad-campaign/2011/09/29/gIQAO0hL8K_print.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. National postal service shouldn't even be a question in a developed nation.

It shouldn't be in danger at all. Ridiculous that it is coming to this.

[tosh]

2. Truth.

They are taking us down to third world level. I believe that is the goal.

[RKP5637]

6. Yep, and stone tablets last longer, right to third world level nation. n/t

[Auggie]

3. No, but products/services do and will change as technology progresses

I don't know what the answer is for the P.S., but I do know it needs to think "outside-the-box" if it wants to survive. I'm not thrilled by the thinking behind this ad campaign.

[RC]

5. The real problem is the republican mandated front loaded retirement plan

75 years worth in 10 years. Another bu$h legacy that keeps on giving.
Without that, the USPS would be making a profit.

[former9thward]

12. The bill was introduced by Henry Waxman and Danny Davis.

Not one Democrat voted against it. The American Postal Workers Union supported it.

[blm]

15. Lured into thinking they were doing good, but, actually doing what the fascists needed to TAKEOVER

the entire organization after it faced certain collapse.

Yes, the Democrats ARE the Charlie Browns of politics. That doesn't excuse how all of this came about, and how the ultimate goal just HAPPENS to coincide with the fascist agenda of corporate control of ALL services.

[msongs]

4. raise rates on all that unwanted trash they put in my mailbox EVERY day nt

[RKP5637]

7. +1000 +++ n/t

[jwirr]

8. I talked with one of our local delivers and he said it is nothing, Named

3 tiny little offices that might be closed and said Saturday delivery would probably end. Which I am surprised wasn't done years ago.

I personally know about all three little post offices and am surprised they are still open. I lived in the area of one and did not even know it existed (located in a private home)? Another is on a reservation (located in a small store) and just has boxes. I do not know what services the third offers. Daily mail delivery for all of these areas is through a larger office that is central to them all.

I would like to see the law pertaining to the pension changed but I am not sure that these three post offices should not be closed.

Why would the people working for the post office know more about this?

[blm]

9. Another 'crisis' manufactured by Bush and GOP congress in 2006 with an unprecedented law MANDATING

the USPS to fully fund its health and retiree benefit accounts to support 75years into future. NO private sector business was ever forced to fulfill an obligation like this.

BushInc and the RepubLibertarians wanted to implode the USPS so their corporate cronies could takeover the USPS and the hefty account which is now over 50billion dollars.

They care NOTHING that the Constitution called for a national postal service. The ReubLibertarians support ONLY the Fascist agenda and won't rest till the corporations are in FULL control of the nation.

[ThomWV]

10. +1

What he said.

[former9thward]

13. Except it just isn't true.

The bill was introduced by Henry Waxman and Danny Davis. I don't think they are libertarians. Not one Democrat voted against it. The Postal Workers Union supported it at the time.

[blm]

14. The GOP snookered the Dems into getting rid of independent prosecutor law after they

abused it during Clinton years. They always have a way of getting what they want through bogus moves like this. The GOP are the ones who didn't WANT independent prosecutors so they abused it to the point that Dems became eager to do away with the role, too.

I've paid attention to GOP tactics for a long time, and I know when they snooker Dems, especially with a faux desire to look out for the future of postal workers. Dems are the Charlie Browns of politics.

[dtexdem]

11. No, with historic underfunding a basic service looming, ...

that basic, and constitutionally specifically-allowed, service is launching a PR campaign that includes ads for its services.

Watch the framing, whether from the Post or elsewhere.