What would it be like without the US Postal Service?
My news comment/critique for this week takes a look at the troubles pestering the United States Postal Service.
A lot has been made of the financial troubles facing our nation’s postal service. Billions of dollars in the whole, the USPS is looking for ways to cut spending, but what would that mean for people like you and me? This article takes a look at the idea of a postal service-less America.
With the much more convenient and affordable internet just a click away, there are people on both sides of the issue. Several people interviewed in this article say they wouldn’t miss the USPS at all, citing the internet and companies like FedEx or UPS as being all they really need. Others say that receiving handwritten cards from friends and family can’t be replaced by complete reliance on the internet. Others may not have internet at all and may rely on the postal service to talk with loved ones. This is an article that strikes close to home for many people, including many rural communities that are already feeling the effects of post offices that already closed. Post office closures aren’t happening only in small towns, but even at least one of Sioux City’s post offices is on the virtual chopping block.
Along with closing post offices, the price of stamps continues to increase, and there is even talk of cutting back mail delivery days to five or less days a week. With the decline in mail flow with the popularity of e-mail and online bill paying especially, I think six-day delivery is a bit of overkill in today’s age. In 2011, companies have had to adapt to the current economic climate and the postal service is obviously way behind, as their debts show. Cutting back on delivery days would be a wise decision to save money, especially if it means not having to shut down the entire United States Postal Service. Of course, cutting back on work hours would come as upsetting news to employees of the USPS, but trust me, less hours is much better than a pink slip.
If you would like to find more information on the US Postal Service and the services they offer that you are not taking advantage of, check out their website here.
September 7th, 2011 at 5:12 am
Was watching Conan tonight, and there was a joke in his monologue that fit this story very well. “A new reports show that the US Postal Service may go out of business this winter. On the bright side, the Postal Service won’t receive this report for another 2 years.”
September 8th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
You may be overlooking the fact that not everyone has internet, at home or at work. Do we just cut those people off, or is it tough noogies?
A good discussion, Nick. An addition I’m considering to this assignment is to add a link of your own. Where would you “point” someone who wanted additional insight into this story?