Am I really the only one who happens to be of the opinion that removing any and all involvement by the federal government in the delivering of our mail is now something that has become long overdue? I mean, let’s face it, these days, because of more efficient ways to communicate with one another, fewer and fewer of us are choosing to take advantage of this rather archaic method of communication which has slowly, but steadily, been going the way of smoke signals and the telegraph for some time now. Anyway, the only reason I even bring this up is because it’s now be made official that it will soon becoming a bit more expensive just to mail a letter.
Regulators for the Postal Service, on Tuesday, approved what’s being referred to as being a temporary price hike of 3 cents for a first-class stamp, bringing the cost for mailing a letter up to 49 cents. Supposedly this is all in an effort to help the Postal Service recover from severe mail decreases brought on by the 2008 economic downturn. So I guess this is sort of a delayed reaction, or what? And we’re also told that many consumers won't feel the price increase immediately. Forever stamps, good for first-class postage whatever the future rate, can be purchased at the lower price until the new rate becomes effective on Jan. 26.
Now if you can believe it, which I personally do not, buy you can if you wish, this higher rate is supposed to last no more than two years. This or so we’re also told, will be sufficient time to allow the Postal Service to recoup $2.8 Billion in losses. And it was by a 2-1 vote, the independent Postal Regulatory Commission rejected a request to make the price hike permanent, though inflation over the next 24 months may require that anyway. The surcharge "will last just long enough to recover the loss," Commission Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway said. Now look, I may be been born at night, but it most certainly wasn’t last night.
However, bulk mail, including such things as periodicals and package service rates will actually rise 6 percent, which was a decision that drew immediate consternation from the mail industry. Its groups have opposed any price increase beyond the current 1.7 percent rate of inflation, saying charities using mass mailings and bookstores competing with online retailer Amazon would be among those who suffer. Greeting card companies also have criticized the plans. "This is a counterproductive decision," said Mary G. Berner, president of the Association of Magazine Media. But let’s face it, such users are considered as being nothing more than a captive audience.
The service says it lost $5 Billion in the last fiscal year alone and has been trying to get Congress to pass legislation to help with its financial woes, including an end to Saturday mail delivery and reduced payments on retiree health benefits. The figures through Sept. 30 were actually an improvement for the agency from the $15.9 Billion loss in 2012. The post office has struggled for years with declining mail volume as a result of growing Internet use and a 2006 congressional requirement that it make annual $5.6 Billion payments to cover expected health care costs for future retirees. It has defaulted on three of those payments.
To say that the Postal Service has now officially outlived its usefulness would, I think, be a very obvious understatement. Here in the 21st century there are now any number of more efficient and less costly ways to accomplish that which the Postal Service appears to be no longer capable of providing. And were it not for its union, I’m sure Congress would have long ago been willing to make such a decommissioning take place. But with postal service union members come Democrat Party voters, hence it’s the Democrats who remain the substantial speed bump in simply making it go away. But I think few people would argue in favor of keeping it going.
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