by:
Allison Kilkenny, Truthout | News Analysis
The recent attacks against the United States Postal Service (USPS) are
more than signs of desperate times - a natural sunset moment for a
service rendered archaic by FedEx and UPS. Rather, the Postal Service
has been under constant, vicious assault for years from the right, who
views this as an epic battle with the goal of finally taking down the
strongest union in the country, the second largest employer in the
United States (second only to Wal-Mart,) and a means to roll the country
ever closer toward the abyss of privatization.
The Postal Service, which is older than the Constitution itself, stands
at a precipice. If this great institution, which provides one of the
oldest, most reliable services in the country, is permitted to fall and
Congress kills its great union, then truly no collective bargaining
rights, no worker contract, no union will be safe within the United
States.
As the USPS spirals toward default, the historically uncontroversial
mail service system has suddenly become a hot-button issue. It's an
unlikely organization to inspire such hysteria. The Postal Service isn't
paid for by taxpayer dollars, but rather fully funded by the sale of
stamps. It's easy to forget what a marvel this is - that today, in 2011,
one can still mail a letter clear across the country for less than 50
cents. And if the impressiveness of that feat still hasn't sunk in,
attempt this brain exercise: consider what else you can buy for $0.44.
It was only a few years ago that the USPS was considered not only
stable, but thriving. The biggest volume in pieces of mail handled by
the Postal Service in its 236-year history was in 2006. The second and
third busiest years were in 2005 and 2007, respectively. But it was two
events: one crafted during the Bush years and another supervised by
House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, that would cripple this
once great institution.
Perhaps it was its booming history that first drew Congress' attention
to the Postal Service in 2006 when it passed the Postal Accountability
Enhancement Act (PAEA), which mandated that the Postal Service would
have to fully fund retiree health benefits for future retirees. That's
right. Congress was demanding universal health care coverage.
But it even went beyond that. Congress was mandating coverage for future human beings.
"It's almost hard to comprehend what they're talking about, but
basically they said that the Postal Service would have to fully fund
future retirees' health benefits for the next 75 years and they would
have to do it within a ten-year window," says Chuck Zlatkin, political
director of the New York Metro Area Postal Union.
continue reading here
14 comments:
Oh, yes...force the USPS to FULLY FUND their retirees pension fund.........and tell everybody else (especially unions) that they shouldn't even HAVE retirement or pension funds.
Bush and his cronies, and now Boehner, Canter and Mc Connell ( I'm not going to even MENTION the current crop of RWNJs running for Prez) have done a marvelous job of brainwashing their "constituents" into voting AGAINST themselves, and spouting "It's the American Way."
Judi the more times I read over this article the sicker and madder I get!! What the hell is wrong with our people?? If it doesn't affect them directly then they don't give two shits....What a pathetic country of morons, they don't look beyond their own front doors to what is going on with the fascist party..
This thing with the Postal Service has been planned for a long time and it is devious, outrageous and infuriating. There are a lot of businesses and private citizens who obviously depend on it. Because of that, we can only hope and pray that Congress comes to the rescue.
L, as infuriating as it is, I don't believe those thugs will get away with their plans to kill the USPS. Highlighting their Nazi tendencies is our job, we must never stop showing America how dangerous today's GOP is.
Doing what they do best -- diverting attention from the real problems. Another fascist tactic.
yup, fascism on the march...right here in the good 'ole USA
Gads, Sue. This is so underhanded and such a deliberate attack on unions, with such impossible mandates...my God.
Sorry I haven't been by more often lately. The A World of Progress Radio show I've been doing with Kim G. (@awop from twitter) has been taking up much of my time and I've been remiss with my blog pals. Hope you'll forgive me, m'Dear.
Great post, as always. Thanks for this - will stumble and tweet it along.
Reality is, with modern technology, the internet, ability to pay bills online, e-mails that take seconds, etc. the USPS is rapidly becoming irrelevant. Irrespective of the issue you put forth here.
But I do love a good conspiracy theory now and again.
Thanks for the hate mail
God you are a sick bitch
RN: You're right that the Postal Service isn't as relevant as it used to be. However, I have not, as yet, been able to figure out how to send someone a package through the Internet. Believe it or not, there are still millions of people who don't use the Internet and many of them don't trust it to use for banking, shopping or paying bills. As usual, it will be the disabled, poor and seniors who will be hit hardest by this. And military personnel, who while using the Net in larger numbers,I can almost guarantee still relish those letters and packages from home.
Rural people will also be hard hit by this.
There are many professions who refuse to use the Internet -- such as doctors. For example, diabetics cannot get the results of those all important blood tests via email. And what are those dear companies going to do now that they can't reach people through their junk mail?!
I've never been one for conspiracy theories -- until there's enough evidence to support it. In this case, as in so many others over the last few years, there's plenty of it available. Of course, this means one has to have been following it very closely and really looking at it objectively. There are many, many people far smarter and much more knowledgeable than I am who have reached the same conclusion.
I agree with Sue and Leslie Parsley... this is a Republican conspiracy to privatize the post office.
I use the post office a lot. Congress better act on this ASAP and there damn well better not be any interruption in service or I'm going to be mightily PO'd.
Why not just blame everything and more on the evil minded, devious, underhanded conservatives and republicans.
Oh yeah, that's right, you already have.
Talk about gilded and sterling partisanship. Progressives have it in abundance. That and more...
RN: I really don't understand why Sue tolerates you. You contribute nothing. Nothing. Nothing but constant criticism, non-ending, non-nonsensical insults and criticism of liberals and their views. You're a POS kind of troll - no better than Lisa.
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