Tag Archives: postmaster

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

Voter Incompetence: Obama supporter blind to Obama’s stance on shutting down the U.S. Postal Service

At a recent Obama rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, a blind faith Obama supporter asked the President about stopping postal processing center closings, because the closings would have drastic affects on local economies.

The response: “Let me look into it.”-Barack Obama, President of the United States

This is not a case of Obama not knowing the issue, rather it’s a case of Obama blowing off a blind faith supporter who doesn’t realize that Obama is all for the closings!

Back in September Obama issued his official suggestions for how to deal with the U.S. Postal Service (a self supporting service, does not rely on taxpayer funding).  Amazingly Obama’s suggestions are in line with what the Postmaster General, Patrick Donahoe, wants; things like ending Saturday delivery and closing down post offices and processing centers across the country.

Here’s how the blind faith supporter of Obama reacted to the President’s response: “…just his willingness to look into it spoke volumes to me. I could definitely tell he cared.”-Corey O’Brian, Lackawanna County Commissioner and blind faith supporter of Barack Obama

Here in southeastern Idaho the only processing center on this side of the state, in Pocatello, is targeted for closing.  Local postal workers explained to me that if I wanted to send a letter to Idaho Falls (just an hour’s drive from where I live) it would end up going to Salt Lake City, Utah, to be sent back into Idaho before getting to Idaho Falls!

The problem, for us ‘customers’ of the USPS, and for our local economies, is that whether Obama and the Postmaster General get their way, or the U.S. Congress actually comes up with their own plan, or, the U.S. Congress allows the USPS to default, the results are going to be severe: Thousands of postal workers laid off, post offices closed down, processing centers closed down, etc.  As I’ve said before, what economic recovery?  And stop being so blind to what ‘our’ elected officials are doing!!!

Business/Economics, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Postmaster General says Draconian cuts needed for self supporting U.S. Postal Service

“Both bills have elements that delay tough decisions and impose greater constraints on our business model.”-Patrick Donahoe, Postmaster General of the United States

The Postmaster General was referring to bills proposed by the U.S. Congress.  He’s still pushing for the more drastic changes he wants, like ended Saturday deliveries, and laying off more employees than proposed by the Congressional bills.

The biggest postal union, the National Association of Letter Carriers, says it’s close to a cost cutting deal with the Postmaster General.

The USPS is dealing with a 20% drop in letter business, just for this year.  Also, Congress created rules that forced the self supporting USPS to pay into Federal retirement programs.  The payments stolen by Congress, I mean, paid in advance, amounted to a decade’s worth of retirement fund payments.  So far Congress has refused to refund the over payments, although their proposed bills would give some money back, but only for use to buy out thousands of Postal workers.

When Postmaster General Donahoe talks about a “business model” he’s referring to the fact that in the 1980s Congress forced the USPS to become self supporting, meaning no more tax payer support.  The plan meant for the USPS to operate as a private business, so far Congress has actually interfered with that.

Whether Congress gets its way, or the Postmaster General, the result will be thousands more people unemployed.

The United States Postal Service does not make money off taxpayers, they are solely funded by the postage they charge (prices are controlled by U.S. Congress, not the USPS), and other products they sell.  The cuts being made to the USPS will have no affect on U.S. government debt!

 

Business/Economics, Idaho, U.S.

What Economic Recovery? Government Incompetence: Confusing & conflicting plans to “save” United States Postal Service, thousands will still lose their jobs

On November 2 the U.S. Senate presented a plan to “save” the USPS.

That plan would pay back U.S.$7 billion of the funds Congress stole, I mean, that Congress forced the USPS to overpay in retirement funds.  However, the $7 billion is to be used to buy out employees (a nice way of laying people off, as many as 100,000 employees will lose their jobs in the buy out).  It would also require a two year study before ending Saturday deliveries. The draconian retirement fund payment schedule would be ended as well (it’s the main reason the USPS is in financial trouble).

Then on November 7, the U.S. Postmaster General announced that he will officially present plans to “save” the USPS on November 21!

His plan will include laying off thousands of workers, closing offices and sorting facilities, and ending Saturday deliveries.  He’ll make his official announcement at the November 21, National Press Club Speakers luncheon in Washington DC.

Local Idaho postal workers told me what ever plan is official announced that it’s basically a sham, what’s going down with the USPS is a “done deal”.