5 ms·

Trump expected to take control of USPS and fire postal board

68 points by andygcook 2y ago

brutal_chaos_ 2y ago
I wonder if this will hinder vote by mail somehow.
- c0balt 2y ago
  As a non US citizen, based on how aggressively the the republican party seems to play with voter suppression it wouldn't seem unlikely that there won't be vote by mail in the next election.
  - semiquaver 2y ago
    US elections are run entirely by state government, for precisely this reason.
    - SpicyLemonZest 2y ago
      They are, but what can a state government do if the administration directs USPS to refuse ballots? Even if they file a lawsuit and win an injunction, should voters or state election officials trust the administration to fully comply?
    - kccoder 2y ago
      At lot of things which are well-established norms and procedures are being thrown out at a record pace with this administration, why would this be any different?
- m463 2y ago
  I can't help but wonder if vote by mail is statistically favors one party over another.
  - brutal_chaos_ 2y ago
    Party? Probably not. However, it would favor the working class as not everyone can take a day to go to the polls. It also helps the elderly, medically fragile, and others who otherwise have trouble getting to the polls. Nevermind the voters who happen to be traveling abroad and want to cast their votes.
Zamaamiro 2y ago
As with plenty of other things he is doing, this is illegal. The President of the United States is engaging in flagrantly illegal behavior on a daily basis as 30% of the country cheers him on.
- anon373839 2y ago
  Since the administration has openly stated that it intends to flout the judicial branch, I'm honestly curious to see how long the Supreme Court's majority stays attached to the position they staked in Trump v. US. These are men (and woman) who have climbed the highest, most prestigious rung in the profession. Even if for purely egotistical reasons, it's hard to imagine they will have endless patience to watch the institution over which they preside become irrelevant.
  - jerlam 2y ago
    Unless they're corrupt and are only using their position to enrich themselves. What good is the institution if you can't make any money from it, especially when they see the other two branches doing the same?
    - anon373839 2y ago
      I may be wrong about this, but I don't think "grubby wealth accumulator" fits the psychological profile. I think these are people more interested in power and prestige, and to an extent ideology and legacy. As they weaken the institution, they weaken their own standing.
      - EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK 2y ago
        Yes, that's a tough one to solve. Will need to amend Constitution to allow President to appoint and fire judges at any time. As to the 3/4 of states requirement, a creative solution will have to be found. For example, split Alabama into 20 small states.
  - sixothree 2y ago
zachwlewis 2y ago
https://archive.is/kJJcs https://archive.is/kJJcs
nout 2y ago
I really want to see if this will result in USPS being less bad.
water-data-dude 2y ago
The USPS is one of those institutions that disproportionately benefits the rural population. Part of the reason it’s cumbersome and unprofitable is that they deliver mail to pretty much everyone, including VERY out of the way places where it wouldn’t be profitable for a private company to offer service. Since so much of his voter base is rural I __hope__ he won’t absolutely wreck it out of self interest, but I’ve mistakenly expected him to face consequences enough times that I have no clue.
- m463 2y ago
  I believe that's not a valid line of reasoning. It might be like saying high state taxes benefit the cities.

68 points by andygcook 2y ago

brutal_chaos_ 2y ago

I wonder if this will hinder vote by mail somehow.

c0balt 2y ago
As a non US citizen, based on how aggressively the the republican party seems to play with voter suppression it wouldn't seem unlikely that there won't be vote by mail in the next election.
- semiquaver 2y ago
  US elections are run entirely by state government, for precisely this reason.
  - SpicyLemonZest 2y ago
    They are, but what can a state government do if the administration directs USPS to refuse ballots? Even if they file a lawsuit and win an injunction, should voters or state election officials trust the administration to fully comply?
  - kccoder 2y ago
    At lot of things which are well-established norms and procedures are being thrown out at a record pace with this administration, why would this be any different?
m463 2y ago
I can't help but wonder if vote by mail is statistically favors one party over another.
- brutal_chaos_ 2y ago
  Party? Probably not. However, it would favor the working class as not everyone can take a day to go to the polls. It also helps the elderly, medically fragile, and others who otherwise have trouble getting to the polls. Nevermind the voters who happen to be traveling abroad and want to cast their votes.

Zamaamiro 2y ago

As with plenty of other things he is doing, this is illegal. The President of the United States is engaging in flagrantly illegal behavior on a daily basis as 30% of the country cheers him on.

anon373839 2y ago
Since the administration has openly stated that it intends to flout the judicial branch, I'm honestly curious to see how long the Supreme Court's majority stays attached to the position they staked in Trump v. US. These are men (and woman) who have climbed the highest, most prestigious rung in the profession. Even if for purely egotistical reasons, it's hard to imagine they will have endless patience to watch the institution over which they preside become irrelevant.
- jerlam 2y ago
  Unless they're corrupt and are only using their position to enrich themselves. What good is the institution if you can't make any money from it, especially when they see the other two branches doing the same?
  - anon373839 2y ago
    I may be wrong about this, but I don't think "grubby wealth accumulator" fits the psychological profile. I think these are people more interested in power and prestige, and to an extent ideology and legacy. As they weaken the institution, they weaken their own standing.
    - EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK 2y ago
      Yes, that's a tough one to solve. Will need to amend Constitution to allow President to appoint and fire judges at any time. As to the 3/4 of states requirement, a creative solution will have to be found. For example, split Alabama into 20 small states.
- sixothree 2y ago

zachwlewis 2y ago

https://archive.is/kJJcs https://archive.is/kJJcs

nout 2y ago

I really want to see if this will result in USPS being less bad.

water-data-dude 2y ago

The USPS is one of those institutions that disproportionately benefits the rural population. Part of the reason it’s cumbersome and unprofitable is that they deliver mail to pretty much everyone, including VERY out of the way places where it wouldn’t be profitable for a private company to offer service. Since so much of his voter base is rural I __hope__ he won’t absolutely wreck it out of self interest, but I’ve mistakenly expected him to face consequences enough times that I have no clue.

m463 2y ago
I believe that's not a valid line of reasoning. It might be like saying high state taxes benefit the cities.