4 ms·

isn't this something for border controls / customs rather than shipping companies??

ptah 7y ago
yes, it looks like fedex packages do not get checked by customs :-O
pbhjpbhj 7y ago
In theory, but in practice customs would achieve that by making demands of delivery companies. Like how ISP domain blocking works in the UK - in theory the government should be enforcing the ban on visiting certain domains (eg thepiratebay) but that's impractical and so ISPs are tasked with doing it. You'd basically have to crank up a customs operation about the size of Fedex to handle all their parcels, whilst the alternative is "lean on the company" (or force it through primary legislation).
- dsfyu404ed 7y ago
  You don't need to check every package or stop every speeder. This isn't 1984. You just need enough targeted enforcement to keep society happy with the level of compliance. The laws were not written with the expectation of 100% enforcement (or anything close to that).
kartan 7y ago
The problem that I see with this approach is that we are privatising profits while socializing costs. Customs should be dealing with it is akin to say that taxpayers should deal with the cost of FedEx businesses whenever they use it or not. I see the point of sharing health care or education expenses thru society. But, your new iPhone cost should be on you. Customs should still do random checks and things like that to assure that all companies follow the law, thou. But, it is not a strong opinion. I see the value of having customs doing it. I just get inclined for FedEx taking in the cost.
- kodz4 7y ago
  hmm...next up FB, Youtube and Twitter suing the Feds to pay their content monitoring bills. Just have to plant the seed in Zuckerberg's head and am sure it will take root.
- dsfyu404ed 7y ago
  >The problem that I see with this approach is that we are privatizing profits while socializing costs. This is becoming more and more the go-to complaint even when it's obviously not a fit. Dare I call it virtue signaling. The fact of the matter it that policing physical i/o of commerce is customs job and has been for the entire history of the US and beyond. Custom's continued existence is part of why we, and FedEx pay taxes. They don't get to just offload their job with the stroke of a pen.
- maxlybbert 7y ago
  > The problem that I see with this approach is that we are privatising profits while socializing costs. The costs in question are the costs of achieving a government goal. It’s not like FedEx expects the government to pay its shipping bill. But when a government mandate costs FedEx money, it wants to be compensated for complying.
  - TallGuyShort 7y ago
    Let's be clear that this is a "government" goal, and that isn't necessarily a goal of the people whom the government serves. The government doesn't have it's own money to serve it's own goals, so I'd appreciate it if it stopped using my money to ignore my goals for society, so that it can pursue it's own. See also: having to donate basic school supplies to the public school, but the state patrol has state-of-the-art weaponry and technology headquartered in my town that hasn't had a murder in 20 years.
  - kartan 7y ago
    > it wants to be compensated for complying. This will not scale. Next, industries will want to be compensated to add filters to not pollute rivers. Car makers will want to be compensated for doing safe cars. Supermarkets will want to be compensated for having to check customers age before selling alcohol or tobacco. Etc. To follow the law is part of doing business. If the law is unreasonable or it is a problem with the law or it is a problem with the business model.
balls187 7y ago
Export Control is a shared responsibility model between the government and exporters. The enforcement is for CBP, but in order for shipping companies to effectively perform their job (safely and securely ship packages in a timely manner), they assume some of the responsibility placed on the exporter. Total abdication of responsibility could result in CBP placing increased delays on FedEx packages as it ensures export control compliance. As noted in another post, the federal government does not mess around with regards to export control laws.

ptah 7y ago

yes, it looks like fedex packages do not get checked by customs :-O

In theory, but in practice customs would achieve that by making demands of delivery companies. Like how ISP domain blocking works in the UK - in theory the government should be enforcing the ban on visiting certain domains (eg thepiratebay) but that's impractical and so ISPs are tasked with doing it. You'd basically have to crank up a customs operation about the size of Fedex to handle all their parcels, whilst the alternative is "lean on the company" (or force it through primary legislation).

dsfyu404ed 7y ago
You don't need to check every package or stop every speeder. This isn't 1984. You just need enough targeted enforcement to keep society happy with the level of compliance. The laws were not written with the expectation of 100% enforcement (or anything close to that).

kartan 7y ago

The problem that I see with this approach is that we are privatising profits while socializing costs. Customs should be dealing with it is akin to say that taxpayers should deal with the cost of FedEx businesses whenever they use it or not. I see the point of sharing health care or education expenses thru society. But, your new iPhone cost should be on you. Customs should still do random checks and things like that to assure that all companies follow the law, thou. But, it is not a strong opinion. I see the value of having customs doing it. I just get inclined for FedEx taking in the cost.

kodz4 7y ago
hmm...next up FB, Youtube and Twitter suing the Feds to pay their content monitoring bills. Just have to plant the seed in Zuckerberg's head and am sure it will take root.
dsfyu404ed 7y ago
>The problem that I see with this approach is that we are privatizing profits while socializing costs. This is becoming more and more the go-to complaint even when it's obviously not a fit. Dare I call it virtue signaling. The fact of the matter it that policing physical i/o of commerce is customs job and has been for the entire history of the US and beyond. Custom's continued existence is part of why we, and FedEx pay taxes. They don't get to just offload their job with the stroke of a pen.
maxlybbert 7y ago
> The problem that I see with this approach is that we are privatising profits while socializing costs. The costs in question are the costs of achieving a government goal. It’s not like FedEx expects the government to pay its shipping bill. But when a government mandate costs FedEx money, it wants to be compensated for complying.
- TallGuyShort 7y ago
  Let's be clear that this is a "government" goal, and that isn't necessarily a goal of the people whom the government serves. The government doesn't have it's own money to serve it's own goals, so I'd appreciate it if it stopped using my money to ignore my goals for society, so that it can pursue it's own. See also: having to donate basic school supplies to the public school, but the state patrol has state-of-the-art weaponry and technology headquartered in my town that hasn't had a murder in 20 years.
- kartan 7y ago
  > it wants to be compensated for complying. This will not scale. Next, industries will want to be compensated to add filters to not pollute rivers. Car makers will want to be compensated for doing safe cars. Supermarkets will want to be compensated for having to check customers age before selling alcohol or tobacco. Etc. To follow the law is part of doing business. If the law is unreasonable or it is a problem with the law or it is a problem with the business model.

balls187 7y ago

Export Control is a shared responsibility model between the government and exporters. The enforcement is for CBP, but in order for shipping companies to effectively perform their job (safely and securely ship packages in a timely manner), they assume some of the responsibility placed on the exporter. Total abdication of responsibility could result in CBP placing increased delays on FedEx packages as it ensures export control compliance. As noted in another post, the federal government does not mess around with regards to export control laws.