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It seems that certain factions within Congress are actively trying to kill the USPS, hence the pension requirement. Eliminating Saturday delivery reduces the se

by glesica 14y ago

It seems that certain factions within Congress are actively trying to kill the USPS, hence the pension requirement. Eliminating Saturday delivery reduces the services that USPS offers, so perhaps it has a better chance of passing...

freehunter 14y ago
I'm getting that feeling too. From not letting them cut Saturday delivery to needing to pay $5.5b upfront every year, someone in Congress wants the USPS to fail, and they're willing to play the long game (USPS has been struggling for a while). The question is who, why, and what is supposed to replace them? Is UPS or FedEx going to start delivering my mail? Again, Congress won't let them. The nation would shut down without the USPS.
- newbie12 14y ago
  The USPS is a zombie. It going to collapse in 10-15 years and stick taxpayers with $40 billion in unfunded retirement health benefits, among other costs. Congress is trying to get ahead of the problem with the pre-funding requirement.
  - freehunter 14y ago
    Trying to get ahead of that problem by causing it to happen sooner? The USPS is taking out loans to "pay" this requirement. They're not allowed to go out of business. They're not allowed to cut costs. They're not allowed to receive federal money. They're forced further into debt every year. The USPS is the whipping boy of Congress. If Congress really wanted the USPS to be around long term, they would actually help them rather than making them pay this retirement fund with loans.
  - glesica 14y ago
    So sticking the taxpayers with a huge load of debt they incurred to fund the pensions is better? Also, I see no evidence that USPS will ever cease to exist. Perhaps shrink in size and scope, but not cease to exist. At some point people need physical things to be moved from point A to point B, and USPS is one organization that does just that. Calling it a zombie without explaining yourself is just ignorant.

by glesica 14y ago

freehunter 14y ago

I'm getting that feeling too. From not letting them cut Saturday delivery to needing to pay $5.5b upfront every year, someone in Congress wants the USPS to fail, and they're willing to play the long game (USPS has been struggling for a while). The question is who, why, and what is supposed to replace them? Is UPS or FedEx going to start delivering my mail? Again, Congress won't let them. The nation would shut down without the USPS.

newbie12 14y ago
The USPS is a zombie. It going to collapse in 10-15 years and stick taxpayers with $40 billion in unfunded retirement health benefits, among other costs. Congress is trying to get ahead of the problem with the pre-funding requirement.
- freehunter 14y ago
  Trying to get ahead of that problem by causing it to happen sooner? The USPS is taking out loans to "pay" this requirement. They're not allowed to go out of business. They're not allowed to cut costs. They're not allowed to receive federal money. They're forced further into debt every year. The USPS is the whipping boy of Congress. If Congress really wanted the USPS to be around long term, they would actually help them rather than making them pay this retirement fund with loans.
- glesica 14y ago
  So sticking the taxpayers with a huge load of debt they incurred to fund the pensions is better? Also, I see no evidence that USPS will ever cease to exist. Perhaps shrink in size and scope, but not cease to exist. At some point people need physical things to be moved from point A to point B, and USPS is one organization that does just that. Calling it a zombie without explaining yourself is just ignorant.