[Expatriot]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('massymoxieman', ' ')They are not paid out of taxpayer funds, either, as, contrary to what some may believe, the Postal Service is an independent agency that has not received a dime of taxpayer funds since the early 1980's.

[Heineken]

The decline and coming demise of the Postal Service is another example of what I'm saying in my signature about all things getting relentlessly worse. The USPS used to be a remarkably well-run system. Now it's becoming crapola, and in time it will be gone. I will miss it and its absence will hurt. For example, I don't like the idea of being dependent on computers to pay all my bills. Private services will replace the USPS but they will charge much more and be less convenient.

Morale is very low among postal workers, since they know they're an endangered species. This results in even worse service.

[Lore]

Hi there Heineken ole buddy!

I have to agree... the failure of the postal system is just one more arrow in the back of the average citizen and a real scalping to those who live in rural America. Internet connections are barely existent out here in the hinterland along with decent cell phone service, (watch for land lines next to be cut). You have a whole group of people who will essentially be cut off from essential and reliable communication and any chance at all of keeping up with more metropolitan areas.

[dinopello]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Expatriot', ' ')If there's a package, he won't come up the driveway. He leaves a shitty little note in my mailbox and I have to drive to the PO to get it.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lore', 'H')i there Heineken ole buddy!

I have to agree... the failure of the postal system is just one more arrow in the back of the average citizen and a real scalping to those who live in rural America. Internet connections are barely existent out here in the hinterland along with decent cell phone service, (watch for land lines next to be cut). You have a whole group of people who will essentially be cut off from essential and reliable communication and any chance at all of keeping up with more metropolitan areas.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lore', 'H')i there Heineken ole buddy!

I have to agree... the failure of the postal system is just one more arrow in the back of the average citizen and a real scalping to those who live in rural America. Internet connections are barely existent out here in the hinterland along with decent cell phone service, (watch for land lines next to be cut). You have a whole group of people who will essentially be cut off from essential and reliable communication and any chance at all of keeping up with more metropolitan areas.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdmartin', 'I') The junk mail was ridiculous and non-stop. They ought to jack the hell out of prices on that crap to make up the difference.

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jdmartin', 'I') The junk mail was ridiculous and non-stop. They ought to jack the hell out of prices on that crap to make up the difference.

[Cog]

I get about five bills a month which I choose to pay the snail mail way. I could pay them the on-line way but I am stubborn not to relinquish that control.

Once a week mail delivery would be fine with me.

[Heineken]

Same here. As few bills as possible, paid in the slow, low-tech way---that's me.

[vision-master]

Try stop mail service to a deceased relative, can't do it.

[AgentR11]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lore', 'I')nternet connections are barely existent out here in the hinterland along with decent cell phone service, (watch for land lines next to be cut). You have a whole group of people who will essentially be cut off from essential and reliable communication and any chance at all of keeping up with more metropolitan areas.

[Heineken]

I don't know, AgentR---for me, paying bills by computer would be a hassle. You know, accounts, passwords, logging in, all that junk. I get tired of it.

The disappearance of the Postal Service will hit older people especially hard. Millions of old folks don't even own a computer and wouldn't know what to do with one if they did.

[Heineken]

Some significant cuts in service announced today. It begins.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?sectio ... id=8454647

I'm often thinking of what we could have done with the money we've shipped off to AFGHANISTAN in huge sacks on C-5A transports. Saving the USPS could have been one thing, out of many.

[Pops]

On the news last night I heard the 1st class stamp cost needed to break even would be 68¢, not bad compared to $9 for FEx 2nd day. They also said that since any increase needs to be approved by congress (even though the PO gets no taxpayer money) it would not be forthcoming - don't want to appear to raise taxes and all. So, 3-4 day first class by default and 30k layoffs I think.

The real culprit is the Manufactured ‘Crisis’: Congress Can Let The Post Office Save Itself Without Mass Layoffs Or Service Reductions. Basically forcing the PO to pre-fund retirement for all employees (even those not yet hired or even born ) for the next 75 years - and do it within 10 years.

[Lore]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Pops', 'T')he real culprit is the Manufactured ‘Crisis’: Congress Can Let The Post Office Save Itself Without Mass Layoffs Or Service Reductions. Basically forcing the PO to pre-fund retirement for all employees (even those not yet hired or even born ) for the next 75 years - and do it within 10 years.

[Heineken]

Lore, I absolutely agree that the ultimate goal of "them" is to get rid of the USPS and privatize what's left. Congress has been doing precious little to save it.

A good national mail service is one of the few institutions I believe belongs in the hands of government (or quasi-government).

[AgentR11]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lore', 'W')here modern capitalism can prevail and send $10 a letter mail over what should be 70 cents. Where granny Hawkins in Arkansas looses and corporate executives can extend their vacations in Provence.

[Lore]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AgentR11', '
')Letter? What's that? Americans haven't written real letters in almost a century. Those died with the telephone.

Granny needs to join the rest of her compatriots and learn how to send email and skype like a pro grand ma.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AgentR11', '
')Letter? What's that? Americans haven't written real letters in almost a century. Those died with the telephone.