Obama admin silent as USPS lays off 35,000 workers...with more layoffs to come

[brentspeak]

Last edited Sun Feb 26, 2012, 03:10 PM - Edit history (2)

Postmaster General, Patrick Donahoe, just announced the closing and consolidation of over 200 mail processing centers around the country.

More layoffs are in the works, as are closings of more post offices from around the nation.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-13/obama-urges-end-to-u-s-postal-service-saturday-mail-delivery.html

The Postal Service has proposed each of the changes Obama advanced as well as reducing its workforce by firing as many as 220,000 employees and closing post offices and mail-processing plants.

Obama’s budget didn’t address the facility closings or job cuts.

“It’s a political hot potato for them,” Del Polito said. “They don’t want to tick off a key Democratic constituency going into a national election.”

And then there is the inevitable economy-killing effects that always accompanies the loss of local post offices which serve as small towns' only real business hub. Not to mention that small businesses around the nation which rely on speedy, low-cost USPS package delivery to stay competitive will be severely harmed by the almost-certain delays of a weakened postal service. Saturday delivery, too, might be eliminated (Obama has specifically requested this).

The major issue facing the USPS, of course, is the onerous pre-funding requirement that is eating the Service alive. This was a provision inserted into the 2006 Postal Reform Act legislation by Susan Collins (R-Maine). However, while Obama paid some lip-service to this all-important issue when he issued his call for Saturday delivery elimination the other week, he's also dawdled and been silent on it for the past three years, despite long-ongoing House Democratic-led efforts to remedy it -- probably purposefully, considering his past kabuki theater actions. It might be too late, which was likely the plan: Postmaster General Donohoe just delivered the first axe-blow at the exact same time as Obama submitted his own postal reform recommendations within a proposed federal budget plan, and once the closings are complete, there's no undoing them.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/164991/postal-service-plots-its-own-demise

John Nichols on December 6, 2011 - 11:28 AM ET

There are many appropriate targets for Occupy Wall Street protests. But the OWS protesters hit a bull’s-eye when they invaded a National Press Club briefing where Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe—who likes to make like a corporate executive and refer to himself as “Chief Operating Officer of the US Postal Service”—was giving a speech about the need to close local post offices, layoff workers and, though this was unspoken, take the steps that will lead to the privatization of the one of the country’s greatest public assets.

snip

“Stop closing post offices,” chanted the activists who occupied the press club. “Don’t privatize the post office. It’s a public service. It’s not a profit center for FedEx and UPS to rip off the people.”

Postmasters general do not usually become the targets of passionate opposition. But the protesters were chanting: “Hey, hey, ho, ho, Donahoe has got to go.”

And rightly so...

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/house/197187-house-dem-calls-for-firing-of-postmaster-general-blames-obama-gop-congress

House Dem calls for firing postmaster general; blames Obama, GOP Congress
By Pete Kasperowicz - 12/05/11 12:25 PM ET

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) on Monday afternoon called on the the Obama administration to fire Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in light of Donahoe's announced plan for drastic service reductions at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

"This guy, this so-called postmaster general, should be fired because of a lack of any imagination or initiative," an angry DeFazio said on the House floor. "He's proposing the death knell for the great United States Postal Service."

Donahoe announced the closure of more than 250 mail processing centers around the country and plans to slow the delivery of first class mail in order to help bring the USPS out of the red. DeFazio blamed the Obama administration for failing to help find a way out of the USPS's fiscal woes, and said Donahoe needs more help from the White House.

"The White House continues to be totally silent, absent from this debate," he said.

[teddy51]

1. Once again the Republican's have gotten to this Administration! n/t

[rhett o rick]

7. Once again it isnt R-cons vs. Democrats. It's the oligarchs vs. ThePeople.

The oligarchs own a lot of Democrats. They have enough money to buy both parties. Occupy something.

[teddy51]

8. Agreed, and I don't see that changing anytime soon. n/t

[stillwaiting]

57. It will not change until we change the system.

Even if we threw out all members of both the House and Senate.

The system corrupts, and will continue to corrupt an overwhelming majority of "our" Congresspersons.

When the majority is corrupt, the People will not be served.

All we can do right now is minimize the harm. Harm reduction is my current goal.

[TBF]

116. "Harm reduction is my current goal"

Same here ... having patience is difficult but things are moving faster than we would have thought 5 years ago.

[midnight]

52. Thanks for being awake.

[rhett o rick]

81. Now we must get busy awakening a few million Americans. nm

[TBF]

117. Only if you think waking up the bourgeoise is at all helpful ...

working folks know what is going on. The only question is how much they can take before they've had enough. Conditions will dictate that ...

[rhett o rick]

118. Who do you include in your definition of bourgeoise? I still think the working class needs a wakeup

A lot of working class should have been awake in 2004 but still voted for George the dumb son, Bush.

[TBF]

120. That's not the kind of wake-up call I was referring to. nt

[rhett o rick]

130. Sorry, I am totally lost. And yes I am sober. At least for the next half hour. nm

[TBF]

135. When you talked about oligarchs v. people you were definitely on the right track -

The more people we can get interested in Occupy the better off we are - people banding together to put pressure on the elite (and vote too while we are still able to but I don't think that is our greatest concern). In terms of waking them up I think we can continue to educate on boards like this (lord knows we have enough trolls despite our best efforts on MIRT), on facebook and twitter, etc... The hope is that we can do a peaceful transition to a more people-friendly economy if we put enough pressure on the ruling class.

There are many more of us than them, and withholding our labor is the other factor in that. If we don't succeed with groups like Occupy conditions are going to keep getting worse. At some point it will get to the point of no return and it will not be peaceful anymore. I'm not advocating that in any way - I just think it is the way things will end up. The 1% of this country should be thanking their lucky stars at night that Occupy came along - because it is a peaceful way to resist and encourage change.

Sadly the destruction of the postal service is just another bolt in the coffin ... I really wish they hadn't done that.

[rhett o rick]

150. Thank you for the clarification. Withholding our labor isnt an option at this

point as they have created a labor glut in the USofA. We could deny them our services as soldiers. But we desperately need to find ways to cause them financial pain. Stop buying their products made in China is a start.

[TBF]

151. They'll just sell them somewhere else -

that is why we've been talking in the Socialist Progressives group about the international focus of Capital, and why we need the resistance to be international too. They are going to bleed us all dry, country by country.

But I rarely step in Walmart - I certainly don't need cartfuls of plastic crap which is what I see coming out of there ... sad part is that we've lost so many small stores that folks are stuck shopping there. They don't really have a choice, especially with such low salaries.

[rhett o rick]

152. Collectively the American middle class still has a lot of capital. They want that capital.

If we stop buying, it will hurt them. I believe we are still their best market.

[PufPuf23]

44. No, once again bipartisan neoliberalism supports short sighted vested interests and upward transfers

of wealth, income, and social services

The Obama administration is neoliberal. So is the GOP only they are too crazy to be adult but the situation is so bad the crazies may control, our government after next election.

I live in the extremely rural area where I grew up and now live in old age. The town I live closest to will retain its post office. There is no home delivery, only PO Boxes but there is a Postmaster. My great Uncle was Post Master for 30 years and the PO was part of my parent's general store when I was a child. An actual Post office was built in the late 50s. The three closest "villages" will lose their "Post Office".

Each of the 3 communities were once larger and had actual post offices. The "post offices" closing comprise PO Boxes and stamp machines serviced by contract mail carriers with no actual PO employees. The plan is for the contract mail carriers to drive past the existing PO Boxes and stamp machines and the People will have to drive from 8 to over 35 miles to get their mail. Many of these people already do not have cell, landline, or grid electricity. Ironically, a main internet "tube" is buried under the road of homes that have no grid electricity, cell, internet, or landline access unless by expensive satelite and now their mail will be more distant.

[SunsetDreams]

62. You are right it's the Republicans, but not what you think

USPS Board of Governors Appointed Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe(MORE)

The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service is an eleven-member board comparable to a board of directors of a private corporation, except in service of the American postal system. Nine members are appointed by the President of the United States, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The nine presidentially appointed Governors choose the Postmaster General, who also serves as a member of the Board. These 10, in turn, choose a Deputy Postmaster General, who becomes the 11th member of the Board. The Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General serve at the pleasure of the Governors.

The Board directs the exercise of the powers of the Postal Service, directs and controls its expenditures, reviews its practices, conducts long-range planning and sets policies on all postal matters. The Board takes up matters such as service standards, capital investments and facilities projects exceeding $25 million. It also approves officer compensation.

Now for the really eye-opening part: Which President appointed most of the Governors?

Thurgood Marshall Jr. Chairman appointed by George W. Bush
Mickey D. Barnett, Vice-Chairman, appointed by George W. Bush
Louis J. Giuliano, Member, appointed by George W. Bush
James H. Bilbray, Member, appointed by George W. Bush
Ellen C. Williams, Member, appointed by George W. Bush
Dennis J. Toner, Member, appointed by Barack Obama
Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General and CEO, appointed by Board Of Governors
Ronald A. Stroman, Deputy Postmaster General, appointed by Board Of Governors

James C. Miller III, Member, appointed by George W. Bush
Note: I'm not sure if James C. Miller III is still on the Board of Governors, Wiki list him, but USPS site
Members of the Board of Governors does not.

More on Patrick R. Donahoe here

Is there something wrong with that picture? Patrick R. Donahoe, was appointed by the Board of Governors whom all except one were GWB appointees?? YIKES!!! I'm seeing an ugly picture here which may be the bigger picture of what is currently happening with USPS.

all and more found here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002350291

[proverbialwisdom]

128. Thanks for all those details.

[xchrom]

2. Du rec. Nt

[RKP5637]

3. It's a continuing downward spiral for many, but if the markets go up too many think this is

great. It just means some rich F'ers are doing great.

These layoffs contribute to the domino theory as the businesses downstream lose out too, the downward ripple effect.

And the piss-poor pay for many jobs now - while the numbers say more are employed.

As usual, Americans constantly settle for less and say thank you. Just another WTF in the oligarchy. And in the propagandized nation.

[The Genealogist]

4. Springfield, MO, where I live, is losing its processing center

and I think Cape Girardeau, MO is losing theirs as well. Lots of people are going to be left without jobs. Then there is the small post offices that will be closed. This is going to hurt small towns and rural Americans. The situation with the USPS is disgusting. All this apparently goes back to that damned pension funding requirement that was implemented a few years ago. No doubt this came about as the result of some lobbying and good-ole-boy back slapping between legislators and their buds at private shipping companies. I've even seen people on DU act smug about post offices closing, saying or implying that maybe now everyone will be drug into the 21st century. Well, just wait and see what it will cost to send mail through those private shipping companies. People everywhere will be crying to have the USPS back, once the RW has finished killing it off.

[RKP5637]

10. The funding requirement was done to force USPS into bankruptcy so the

private outfits could take over. It's yet another outrageous example of privatization goals by the greedy capitalists that will sell this country out for any profit. Frankly the US would more appropriately be named United Corruption. The crooks have figured out how to have a legal job while still raping and robbing.

[FarCenter]

26. USPS will be gone in ten years, so what happens if they don't fund retiree benefits now?

[RKP5637]

27. Why would they be gone in 10 years, they can be competitive in similar things to

FedEx and UPS. Already FedEx and USPS, for example, work together for cross coverage.

[FarCenter]

28. They are unlikely to compete with FedEx and UPS

They'd be much smaller if they were. USPS has about 670K employees. UPS has 400K and FedEx has 245K, but they have employees working in international package freight, air freight, logistics, etc., that USPS doesn't do.

If USPS were to compete with them, USPS would have to be much smaller as a US ground delivery service.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/performers/companies/biggest/employees.htmlT

[RKP5637]

29. I had read at one time that another problem USPS has is having to deliver to every

zip code wherein UPS and FedEx can refuse to deliver to rural locations if they want. I don't know if that's factual or not, but it seems plausible. Often USPS reminds me of the US car manufacturers when they just couldn't comprehend that non-US manufacturers were taking their business ... any why.

[FarCenter]

56. It is an unworkable hybrid of a government service and a private enterprise

[brentspeak]

141. USPS delivers many packages on behalf of both UPS and FedEx

UPS and FedEx have been using USPS carriers for years.

Advice: When not knowing what one is talking about, it's best to keep one's mouth firmly shut.

[New Yawker]

127. Let's see. 75/10 = 7.5 years per year.

7.5 x 6 = 45.

To date, they have paid in advance 45 years worth of pension.

Enough.

[The Wielding Truth]

54. This is what I thought was the real reason that UPS is going bankrupt.It happened before Pres..

[Celebration]

5. Internet killed usps

Not Obama. Unfortunately it has to downsize. Stupid rule about the pension pre funding. It just isn't on his radar.

[JNathanK]

17. Its not that he isn't aware. He helped sponsor the bill in 2006.

[ProSense]

46. You

"Its not that he isn't aware. He helped sponsor the bill in 2006."

...are mixing up two different bills. The one you cited is not the postal funding bill.

"In addition to Coburn, Obama, and McCain, there were 43 other Senators who co-sponsored this bill: Lamar Alexander, George Allen, Max Baucus, Evan Bayh, Jeff Bingaman, Barbara Boxer, Sam Brownback, Richard Burr, Maria Cantwell, Saxby Chambliss, Hillary Clinton, Norm Coleman, Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Larry Craig, Jim DeMint, Mike DeWine, Chris Dodd, Elizabeth Dole, Dick Durbin, Mike Enzi, Russ Feingold, Bill Frist, Chuck Grassley, Chuck Hagel, Johnny Isakson, John Kerry, Jon Kyl, Mary Landrieu, Joe Lieberman, Mitch McConnell, Bob Menendez, Bill Nelson, Harry Reid, Ken Salazar, Rick Santorum, Jeff Sessions, Olympia Snowe, John Sununu, Jim Talent, Craig Thomas, John Thune, David Vitter, and George Voinovich."

That's a reference to the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (Public Law No: 109-282, signed in September 2006)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Funding_Accountability_and_Transparency_Act_of_2006

http://www.congress.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:S.2590:

The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 is a separate law (Public Law No: 109-435, signed in December 2006)

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN00662:

Obama was not among the 26 co-sponsors.

[former9thward]

60. The vote on the Postal Bill was unanimous.

So Obama voted for it.

[bahrbearian]

64. Up is down, and Obama is never wrong.

[ProSense]

67. Well

"Up is down, and Obama is never wrong."

...silly is silly. The claim is that Obama did this, and now citing a bill that passed by unanimous consent. Well, that means every member of the Democratic caucus did this.

[ProSense]

65. It was

"The vote on the Postal Bill was unanimous. So Obama voted for it."

...unanimous (an unrecorded voice vote) on the other bill too, and so did every other member of the Democratic caucus.

That still doesn't make them the same bill.

[uranus is my home]

103. OMG! You're kidding me!

WHY?! Can you tell me the logic in this, other than the determined effort to DESTROY the Post Office?! This is right in line with NCLB!

[FarCenter]

22. Paper mail is obsolete.

Most of the remaining stuff is junk mail that goes directly into the trash.

[RBInMaine]

70. It should go directly into the recycling bin. That's what I do.

[They_Live]

75. Well, no it isn't

An e-mail from grandparents to a grandson will NEVER be the same as a handwritten letter (with newspaper clippings and drawings placed inside the envelope). Birthday cards. Christmas cards. Packages. etc.

Writing a real letter is an Art which should not be allowed to die.

I still receive and pay all my bills through the USPS. I go to the post office at least once a week. I don't really get that much junk mail, as I took steps to remove myself from the lists.

Just because it's obsolete for you doesn't make it so for everyone else.

[Tarheel_Dem]

107. "Just because it's obsolete for you doesn't make it so for everyone else."

How about "most of us"? I realize that for some folks this is more about nostalgia than practicality. I, for instance, have resisted going to e-statement only. But, I never pay by mail, I use online bill pay. Like most Americans, I don't "write letters", I use email, and the couple of cards that I & many others send at Christmas hardly justify funding an institution that can no longer support itself.

The USPS is a dying institution, and technology is largely to blame for that. Many new technologies have displaced workers, in many professions. What makes the USPS any different? What do we do about it? Stop innovating?

I'm sure there was much wailing & gnashing of teeth when the Pony Express died, but we adapted. Anyway, as I understand it, many of the workers who will be affected will be those who are aging out of the system anyway.

[brentspeak]

139. Is is possible to email a package?

Didn't think so.

Somehow, you don't strike me as someone who could be lumped in with "most of us".

[Tarheel_Dem]

144. And you don't particularly strike me as someone who can be lumped in with "any" of "us".

I'll let you draw your own inferences from that. For one, in the face of evidence to the contrary, you have opted not to edit your misleading headline. But I don't think anyone really expected you to, because your agenda has been crystal clear from Day One.

You can fool some of the people, some of the time, but fool me once.....? You know the rest.

[FarCenter]

109. With email you can also send photos, clippings, drawings, as attachments

And you don't have to pay for photo printing, paper newspapers and magazines, etc.

It is far more cost effective to create and send, and the recipient can more easily save and organize the email and attachments.

Writing a letter on paper or on a terminal is essentially the same. In fact, I've typed all my letters since around the mid '60s.

Admittedly, you have to send physical packages using one of the carriers. But packages are often sent from an on-line merchant to the grandkids, and they offer multiple shipping options.

[annabanana]

6. This is NOT the way out of recession!. . . n/t

[EFerrari]

23. Juan Gonzalez's research on the early US media showed

that nearly 90% of USPS traffic in those early years was delivering NEWSPAPERS, not letters, let alone bills and junk mail.

That was amazing. The privatizing vultures have taken everything that was decent in this country and ruined it.

[former9thward]

74. They lost newspapers because of the market.

People who read newspapers want them in the morning. That is why they are delivered before the sun is even up. The postal service could not do that.

[ProSense]

9. Sanders: Postal Service Plan ‘Deeply Flawed'

Sanders: Postal Service Plan ‘Deeply Flawed'

The U.S. Postal Service announced plans on Thursday to close or consolidate 223 mail processing centers. Up to 35,000 jobs could be eliminated. The decisions are not final. No closings will occur before May 15. Postmaster General Patrick Donahue agreed to that timetable under moratorium proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders to give Congress time to act. "The plan announced today by the U.S. Postal Service is deeply flawed and Congress must change it. I expect comprehensive postal reform legislation to be on the floor of the Senate within the next few weeks," Sanders added.

"At a time when the Postal Service is competing against the instantaneous delivery of information from email and the Internet, slowing down mail delivery service will result in less business and less revenue, and will bring about a death spiral for this institution which is so vitally important for all Americans," Sanders said.

"A critical weakness of the current Postal Service plan is that it ignores the onerous financial burden being placed on the Postal Service by $5.5 billion a year in pre-payments for future retiree health benefits. According to the Postal Service inspector general, those payments are no longer necessary because of the $45 billion which that account already has accumulated," Sanders added. "The Postal Service needs to be reformed not by massive cuts, but by a new entrepreneurial business model which expands the products and services the post office can sell in the 21st century digital age."

Read more about an effort by a group of 27 senators calling for "significant improvements" in a bill to modernize the U.S. Postal Service »

Read the letter to Sanders from the Postal Service inspector general saying a big funding cushion already has been built into the mail service's health benefit funds »

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=5cf53264-d899-4040-9897-cc7a2793058b

Maybe Congress will act!

[proverbialwisdom]

129. K&R

[ProSense]

11. Senators Support Saving the Postal Service

Senators Support Saving the Postal Service

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 - A group of 27 senators called today for "significant improvements" in a bill to modernize the U.S. Postal Service.

In a letter to a Senate panel that oversees the Postal Service, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and 26 other senators suggested specific measures to preserve first-class and Saturday mail delivery, stop wholesale closings of rural post offices and mail processing centers, and spare many of the 220,000 jobs that the Postal Service wants to cut.

"Everyone understands that the Postal Service is in the midst of a serious financial crisis that must be addressed," the senators wrote. "But we believe that this financial crisis can be solved in a way that does not substantially slow down the delivery of mail and harm rural America."

The 27 senators, a majority of the Democratic caucus, said they looked forward to working with Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Thomas Carper (D-Del.), who chairs a subcommittee that deals with the Postal Service.

Sanders and others said the Postal Service should be prohibited from slowing down first-class mail delivery, which would result if Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe carries out a plan to shutter 252 mail processing centers. The shutdowns would leave the Postal Service with fewer than half of the 508 mail sorting facilities that are in operation today. "If USPS becomes inconvenient and slow, many of its most loyal customers - from home delivery medication companies to newspaper publishers - will turn to private mailing options. Once those customers leave, they are most likely not coming back, and the Postal Service's financial woes will continue to spiral," the letter said.

The letter writers also said the Senate bill should prevent the closure of many rural post offices that are the "heart and soul" of their communities, many of them serving areas that lack Internet and cell phone service.

They want stronger language in the bill to maintain six-day mail delivery. The Postal Service should have to hold off for at least four years before it could take steps to end Saturday deliveries, and then only under very limited circumstances.

The senators also said the Postal Service should be allowed to recover more than $10 billion in overpayments in a pension fund and no longer be forced to put $5.5 billion a year into a retiree health care account that is already flush with funds.

Under a key proposal, the senators called for a Blue-Ribbon Entrepreneurial Commission to develop a new business model for the Postal Service. The committee bill would let the Postal Service offer some new services like issuing state hunting and fishing licenses, for example. The Senate bill should go farther, Sanders and the others said, by implementing innovative ideas for new services recommended by the commission of entrepreneurs, innovators, postmasters, postal workers and others.

In addition to Sanders, the letter was signed by Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) Mark Begich (D-Alaska) Mike Bennet (D-Colo.) Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) Ben Cardin (D-Md.) Robert Casey Jr., (D-Pa.) Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) Al Franken (D-Minn.) Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y) Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) Tim Johnson (D-N.D.) Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) Mary Landrieu (D-La.) Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) John Tester (D-Mont.) Mark Udall (D-Colo.) Tom Udall (N.M.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).

To read the letter, click here.

http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=5cfb95e0-af73-4824-a8ed-47a970c25b39

[MrSlayer]

12. Being that it was Democrats who helped make this happen...

Why are we surprised that no one is doing anything to stop it?

Thanks Mr. Waxman and Mr. Davis for co-sponsoring the piece of shit 2006 EAPA Bill.

The two parties are two sides of the same coin, two leaves on the same branch.

We have to stop pretending otherwise.

[brentspeak]

16. Waxman and Davis are not the ones responsible for the prefunding requirement

Susan Collins (R-Maine) was. She was the one who included the prefunding requirement in a Senate version of the 2006 bill, which then got shuttled back to the House and incorporated in the final compromise House legislation. Waxman and Davis, as minority panel members, used their co-sponsorship roles to strip the original legislation of specific union-busting and privatization language which would have otherwise been made law back in 2006. There have been some attempts since to get rid of the prefunding requirement, but all have been stymied by GOP leadership and/or Tea Party House members and even some Wall St. Democrats (especially Tom Carper, who's been Collin's right-hand man in the Senate in keeping the prefunding requirement in place).

You are correct, however, that, in general (progressive Dems, excepted), the two parties are working towards the same goals.

[JNathanK]

18. I guess I can't blame every one of them.

However, I'd like to know who is specifically responsible for the pre-funding portion of it. I really dislike them.

[JNathanK]

13. Well, this should all be a nice boon the private sector. I bet UPS and Fedex is funding Darrel Issa.

Yay, we get to look forward to more joblessness and high postage rates. Fuck them.

[bhikkhu]

15. They closed distribution centers - consolidating sorting - not post offices

If you read the article you linked to its not clear that even they understood what they were talking about, but no post offices were closed. This was more of a cost-saving and efficiency measure which will perhaps head off post office closures.

[brentspeak]

20. Post office closings

Many, if not all, of the following will be closed in the next few years:

http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/statelist.htm

[SunsetDreams]

24. What you linked to is post offices involved in a study

Expanded Access Study, and not necessarily closing.


Postal Service Takes Next Step in Optimizing Retail Network
WASHINGTON — As more customers choose to conduct their postal business online, on their smart phones and at their favorite shopping destinations, the need for the U.S. Postal Service to maintain its nearly 32,000 retail offices — the largest retail network in the country — diminishes. To that end, the U.S. Postal Service announced today that it will be taking the next step in right-sizing its expansive retail network by conducting studies of approximately 3,700 retail offices to determine customer needs. As part of this effort, the Postal Service also introduced a retail-replacement option for affected communities around the nation.

“Today, more than 35 percent of the Postal Service’s retail revenue comes from expanded access locations such as grocery stores, drug stores, office supply stores, retail chains, self-service kiosks, ATMs and usps.com, open 24/7,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. “Our customer’s habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business.”

For communities currently without a postal retail office and for communities affected by these retail optimization efforts, the Postal Service introduced the Village Post Office as a potential replacement option. Village Post Offices would be operated by local businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers, and would offer popular postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging.

“By working with third-party retailers, we’re creating easier, more convenient access to our products and services when and where our customers want them,” Donahoe said. “The Village Post Office will offer another way for us to meet our customers’ needs.”

Expanded Access newsroom

[bhikkhu]

25. Many, if not all, are tring to avoid closure through cost cutting and efficiency measures

such as the one discussed in the OP.

I believe the list of possible closures was originally 677 post offices, and later reports say that the list of those that could practically be closed is more like 200, and that number could be further decreased in a number of ways.

[A HERETIC I AM]

19. Out of curiosity....

when was the last time any of the folks on this thread complaining abut this situation actually wrote and sent a letter to someone?

Email and on-line bill paying killed the Post Office, not some other nefarious plot.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. Every month I still use the USPS for my bills

Oh and letter... I sent one to Poland oh in December, another one in January.

Also there are cards I sent to family for Christmas.

I could go on

By the way, email is not what killed it... and it is not even the majority of it's traffic...

but hey, if you want to believe that, whatever.

2006 bill, if they did not have to do that, they'd be TURNING A PROFIT RIGHT NOW.

[SunsetDreams]

35. "2006 bill, if they did not have to do that, they'd be TURNING A PROFIT RIGHT NOW."

The USPS disagrees with you that it's just due to that 2006 bill.

The Postal Service is in the midst of a financial crisis due to the combined effects of the economic recession, increased use of electronic communications, and an obligation to prefund retiree health benefits. First-Class Mail volume has deteriorated, leading to significant revenue declines, and the obligation to prefund these retiree health benefits on an accelerated basis remains unresolved. To date, legislative proposals to address the financial crisis remain pending, leaving the Postal Service and the mailing industry it supports in an increasingly precarious position.

I haven't sent a letter in years by mail. With the information age, we now have emails, skype for international calls, which lowers your chance of sending a letter overseas. They needed us to utilize it more, and not just during Christmas, birthdays, or other holidays. Now instead of mailing bills, a lot of people have turned to paying it online..ie check routing number or credit card, or you can pay it over the phone in the same manner. The information/technology age has helped cause this as well no doubt about it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. Actually the post service agrees with me

the folks at the TOP do not... and it has been a fight, But every independent review has found that indeed they'd be turning a profit otherwise.

You should ask why Donehue, a BUSH appointee, is keeping this war going.

By the way, he does this, and you think UPS and FedEx, who contract with the USPS for last mile delivery will well, deliver in rural areas?

Oh and I will give you the answer, this is about breaking the largest public union in the US.

[SunsetDreams]

38. Do the people at the post office who agree with you

have anything to do with operating budgets/costs for the USPS?

[nadinbrzezinski]

39. As I said independent groups

Here

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/22/business/lawmakers-prepare-to-overhaul-postal-service.html?pagewanted=all

http://www.washingtonwatch.com/bills/show/112_HR_2309.html

http://about.usps.com/future-business-model/kamarck.pdf

http://www.prc.gov/PRC-DOCS/library/USO%20Appendices/Appendix%20D.pdf

I could go on.

The reality is that technology is killing it is a cannard. The USPS can and IS competing with UPS and Fed Ex effectively. Not only that Fed Ex contracts the USPS for last mile delivery

Here
http://blog.uspsoig.gov/index.php/tag/last-mile-strategy/

This last mile explains why many a times you order through UPS or Fed Ex and it is delivered by your postal worker. In fact, I have gone out of my way to explain to shippers that I prefer to get it from USPS than either of the two shippers and we both can save a little quid.

The they are going broke due to technology is coming straight from Congressman Darell Issa's office... who do you think is a good contributor to the good Congressman's campaign? OPen Secrets has that, nor has he made it a secret... he WANTS to destroy the Postal Unions and pay these workers minimum.

[SunsetDreams]

43. So it's not the USPS,

the ones who oversee the actual budget/expenditures, that agree with you.
It's independent groups.

"The they are going broke due to technology is coming straight from Congressman Darell Issa's office"

Really? I wasn't aware that he said that. I had my own opinion and experiences, as I stated above. Information/technology has played a role in it.

Here is my post from above

I haven't sent a letter in years by mail. With the information age, we now have emails, skype for international calls, which lowers your chance of sending a letter overseas. They needed us to utilize it more, and not just during Christmas, birthdays, or other holidays. Now instead of mailing bills, a lot of people have turned to paying it online..ie check routing number or credit card, or you can pay it over the phone in the same manner. The information/technology age has helped cause this as well no doubt about it.

I'll finish reading your links later from the independent groups(2 people, unless you have more) and the one from the New York Times. I've already read the bill. Your last link just takes me to a blog with a bunch of posts. Can you point me in the right direction of the last mile strategy post? Thanks for those links.

[nadinbrzezinski]

66. Last mile

The best people to explain it are postal workers...

Here in a nutshell

You buy a widget from acme, and ask it to be shipped through oh FedEx.

In theory FedEx does not deliver in out of the way rural...so they pay the postal service a small fee, your postal worker takes it in.

In practice, FedEx turns it over to USPS at the main Philly distribution center, to be delivered in down town San Diego. We were cracking jokes with Roger, our mailman, when he delivered something to us that way. Imagine the money FedEx makes this way.

Yes, I called the shipper and calmly explained this to them. It explained to them all the angry calls...I mean I paid FedEx. They also now offer USPS. Yes, it's cheaper.

[SunsetDreams]

78. I must thank you, you prompted my research

You really should read this, and feel free to reply to it.

USPS Board of Governors Appointed Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe(MORE)UPDATE


The GOP is destroying the USPS, and have been planning it for decades.

[nadinbrzezinski]

84. You welcome

And yes that has been the case.

These days the lead man on this is Darell Issa, he is from my county.

His war on the middle class, and women, is well known

Problem is the media (and these days I am one) is part of the problem.

What do you think would be the reaction of most Americans if these facts were presented?

Here is a funny story, the other day I covered the debate between the four leading candidates for California Congressional District 52. When I mentioned I had an afternoon of fact checking ahead of me, my fellow media critters looked shocked.

[haele]

33. I write letters and pay bills by mail all the time.

The kidlet occasionally sells beaded items via Etsy, small items that can fit in a padded envelope. Cheapest way for her to send them is via USPS - about $1.00 an item. Fed-Ex starts at $4.00; UPS starts at $2.00 for the same item - unless she has a business license and/or a business account with them. She can't afford either right now; I don't even think she makes a 50 cent profit on any of the items yet.
For holidays and birthdays, I sometimes send hand-made gifts- USPS is less than half the cost to send via FedEx or UPS - and since several relatives and friends live in rural areas, USPS is the only mail service that will deliver to their door.
You know, many small online vendors use USPS because they can't afford to use UPS and FedEx. Getting rid of USPS will kill many small businesses that are just starting up or holding on.

Try sending two large FedEx boxes full of holiday gifts to, say, 3443 County Road 74, BFE, Alabama where your husband's favorite Uncle, his wife and say, 7 kids live on a small farm. If the local post office has been so cut that the mail carrier can't get them to the family you sent those packages to, they will get a notice delivered to them via USPS from the nearest FedEx drop, which could be 25 to 30 miles away telling them "come and get your boxes". Oh, and only between the hours of 9am - 4pm, Tuesday through Thursday.

Haele

[RKP5637]

37. We do a lot of eBay and we ship just about everything USPS, except for some large and

heavy items wherein UPS is cheaper. If we had to charge our buyers UPS and FedEx rates our business would be a lot less. Also, many items are small items that ship just First Class in a padded envelop or media mail.

[Fumesucker]

40. I send and receive mail on a consistent basis..

And I almost always pay far more than it costs to mail a mere letter, usually about ten times the amount, sometimes considerably more.

[bvar22]

58. I still use snail mail.

Especially to politicians.
They can and do delete millions of E-Mails with a single keystroke,
but they open every single letter,
because it might have MONEY inside.

I also use hand written Snail Mail when communicating with Loved Ones.
Nothing says "LOVE" and "I CARE" more than a hand written note.

[girl gone mad]

105. One of my businesses..

buys well over 2K in postage per day. We do a lot of international shipments. If we had to use UPS or FedEx our costs would triple, and business would suffer dramatically. Clients would go without the product or would buy from a competitor in a country with affordable postal rates, like Canada.

[boppers]

123. If you paid market rates, your shipping costs would triple?

Wait, the USPS is subsidizing your business by running at a loss?

[brentspeak]

146. No, the USPS is running at a major loss because of the prefunding requirement

And would otherwise need only modest cuts and consolidation to at worst break even year-to-year.

[unapatriciated]

155. I pay all my bills via the usps

I did pay on line a few times and because of that had to deal with Id theft not once but three times. Too many companies use firms in India and elsewhere to handle their accounts. Not fun to find your checking and savings account wiped out right after being paid or have charges on credit cards in cities you have never been.

[gateley]

21. Bernie's got a bill "that's getting support and interest" to do away

with that insane pay-for-the-future thing that has burdened the USPS. He said it is the ONLY organization, public or private, in the entire country that has such a whack policy.

I don't know, if the bill does somehow miraculously pass, that would save jobs or not.

Bernie DID say that with the BILLIONS in the pot now, the retirement program is safely funded for years and years.

*Does anybody know why -- HOW -- they were able to pass this piece of crap in the first place?

[RKP5637]

30. Here's a link that talks about it ...

"In 2006 Bush and Congress dictated to the postal service to set aside 5.5 billion dollars of their profits every year to fund several future decades of their retirement funds within 10 years (which no other Government agency or US Corporation has to do), and now they won’t give them the roughly 70 billion dollars they owe them. Instead congressman Darrel Issa introduced HR 2309, which will, if passed, close a bunch of facilities around the country, end Saturday delivery, end collective bargaining for postal unions, etc."

http://truedemocracyparty.net/2012/02/us-congre-attack-us-postal-service/

[gateley]

99. Thank you! nt

[high density]

32. Rural America and its many teabaggers do want to pay for maintaining this service level

And as a member of urban America, I'm not sure I give a shit about saving it.

[brentspeak]

34. Where's the connection between rural areas and the Tea Party?

We've got Tea Party groups all over the suburbs here in the North East. And your urban neighborhood will die a slow economic death when low-cost delivery is made unavailable.

In any case, the Tea Party is mostly dead-set against the Postal Service, not for it.

[MadHound]

50. Lots of libs live in rural America

Nice to see you don't give a shit about us either.

Perhaps if we cut off your precious organic, heirloom food, then you would care. No farms, no food, what do you think?

It is attitudes like yours that make it far more difficult to deal with conservatives. This isn't war, it's politics, learn the difference.

[Oasis_]

41. This is insanity

Stop believing the propaganda!!

A few posters here get it, but some parrot the BS.

No corporation on Earth is saddled with the costs of pre-funding years and years and years of retirement. The USPS is, however.

The internet has been a net positive, as parcel deliveries have significantly increased and have been a major source of revenue.

The private carriers would like nothing more than a complete privatization of the Postal Service so they can ultimately destroy it and pick off the very profitable portions of their operations like vultures.

Believe me, it would be the end of inner city and rural delivery (as they're viewed as wholly unprofitable) and service levels would significantly decline overall.

[Zoeisright]

42. Wrong. The repukes did this.

Get your facts straight.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/166103/post-office-not-broke

At the behest of the Republican-controlled Congress of the Bush-Cheney era, the USPS has been forced since 2006 to pre-fund future retiree health benefits. As the American Postal Workers Union notes, “This mandate is the primary cause of the agency’s financial crisis. No other government agency or private company bears this burden, which costs the USPS approximately $5.5 billion annually.”

Now, however, we learn that the pre-funding requirements have taken so much money from the USPS that—according to the postal service’s own inspector general—it has “significantly exceeded” the level of reserved money that the federal government or private corporations divert to meet future pension and retiree healthcare demands. “Using ratepayer funds, it has built a war chest of over $326 billion to address its future liabilities,” acknowledges Postal Service Inspector General David C. Williams.

[dionysus]

45. now now, don't bring fact into brent's campaign against obama...

[Major Hogwash]

55. ^Post of the Day^ Cutting through the lies about the situation with the USPS.

It's amazing how much crap the Republicans did when they were in control of Congress.
Never again!!

[brentspeak]

59. That's correct, but all you did was repeat my own link

I already linked to that article in my opener. Now read the other Nichols' column I linked to in my opener:

http://www.thenation.com/blog/164991/postal-service-plots-its-own-demise

Obama didn't address the prefunding problem until it was too late. Peter DeFazio makes it clear that Donohoe is simply finishing what the Republicans started.

[former9thward]

63. You should get your facts straight.

The Postal Union did not say one word about the pre-funding in 2006. Henry Waxman and Danny Davis were co-sponsors of the bill.

This is what the union said about the financial impact on the post office after the bill was passed in 2006:

Financial Relief

There is some good news with significant financial impact on the USPS: The new law releases from an escrow account billions of dollars that the USPS has saved by ending overpayments to the Civil Service Retirement System; and it returns to the Treasury responsibility for paying about $27 billion in military service-related retirement benefits for postal workers. (No other federal agency has been required to pay these costs.)

The USPS was saddled with these financial burdens by provisions contained in the Postal Civil Service Retirement System Funding Reform Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-18). The provisions were supposed to be temporary, but the Bush administration insisted they remain in force to make the federal budget deficit appear smaller. Ultimately, the White House relented on its demand.

http://www.apwu.org/dept/legis/legmagart010107-reform.htm

[uponit7771]

148. WOW! Fudders are working new DU hard too

[DCBob]

47. The USPS isnt a jobs program... its a business.

If they have excess capacity, which I suspect they do, then they need to trim the fat to be competitive.

[jpgray]

48. It's not a business, it's a public service necessary for a functioning society.

What business competitor do you imagine would ever send grandma's birthday card from FL to AK for less than fifty cents? Even in relatively small countries in Europe, the post, like transit, tends to be dominated by public sector monopolies. What would be your model nation for postal service? Why should it need to be run like a business and turn a profit? (Recall the UK's experiment with private transit).

[DCBob]

51. It still needs to be run like a business to survive.

If there is excess capacity it needs to shrink.

[Ikonoklast]

53. Funny no one complains about military RIF's throwing thousands out of work.

Right-sizing the government is done all the time; the Post Office is NOT a jobs program.

[nadinbrzezinski]

68. Tell me would you be able to pay your thirty year loan in two?

This is what the postal service is currently required to do. If they did not, they'd be turning a profit.

Learn about this before pontificating and repeating talking points that come straight of Darell Issa's office.

[DCBob]

71. Dumb comment.

[nadinbrzezinski]

76. Really? How so?

How many companies, or government services are required to prefund retirement for people NOT YET BORN?

[DCBob]

86. The Issa comment. for one thing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

87. As chairman for ways and means

He has refused a certain bill that would solve the problem from even getting a hearing in committee.

Oh and yes, he's made those comments both in committee hearings and pressers...next.

[DCBob]

90. I dont closely follow the activities of that idiot.

Your suggesting my comments come from him is dumb. Many pragmatic Democrats feel as I do.

[nadinbrzezinski]

92. You mean center right corporatist dems

He is in my beat..so I gotta keep with him.

But you are a ok that he keeps women out of hearings pertaining women, and prevents bills from even coming to committee? You think this is pragmatic?

I am also willing to bet you feel the way you do since the media has been a good stenographer and not gone into all the nuts and bolts of this. Dcbob this is a classic case of shock doctrine and manufactured crisis.

By the way Issa gets quite a bit if quid from both ups and FedEx.

[DCBob]

94. never mind..

sorry to have troubled you.

[SunsetDreams]

96. Darrell Issa is a Republican, not a Democrat

The way your post reads, which probably wasn't your intent implies that he is a "center right corporatist Dem".

Just wanted to clear up any confusion to be had.

[nadinbrzezinski]

98. I think most people here know who Issa is

But corporatist dems, otherwise known as blue dogs, actually agree the USPS should be privatized as well...

I mean bad, bad union.

[brentspeak]

61. What other businesses are artificially burdened with a bankrupting prefunding requirement?

You claim to know something about how businesses are run...

[DCBob]

72. Regardless they are still a bloated obsolete operation.

If not for junk mail they would have gone bankrupt long ago.

[nadinbrzezinski]

77. Again you have no clue what you speak off

They are highly competitive in the package industry...and the "bloat" comes from union paid wages.

UPS and FedEx want this competition gone, and peope like Issa want the union gone and privatized.

When your dream comes true, I wan you to send a letter, people still use them, to back country lane, for less than ten.

[DCBob]

89. no clue??.. mail volume has dropped dramatically over the past 10 years.

why would they need the same number of employees and offices to service that??

[nadinbrzezinski]

91. And package handling has gone up

That is the part of the equation those who want to destroy and privatize Te service usually keep quiet about.

Shh. It is a big secret.

[DCBob]

93. Package handling volume is tiny compared to 1st class mail.

and it werent for junk mail mail volume would probably be about half fo what it is now. The USPS needs to change.

[nadinbrzezinski]

95. Code for privatized.

Sorry in this environment that is what it means.

Never mind, you are correct.

[girl gone mad]

108. The USPS is not a business..

it's a vital piece of our national infrastructure. The post office was Constitutionally mandated and there was no requirement for it to turn a profit before the neoliberals started digging their claws into it.

You certainly are good at parroting far right narratives.

What other government institutions should be competitive? How about the White House? They are absolutely bleeding money. Let's put the President out on the lecture circuit now, so he can start returning some money back to the Treasury, okay? Air Force One doesn't pay for itself. He can fly commercial. Sound good? We need to trim that fat!

[FarCenter]

114. The post office is not mandated by the US Constitution

"The Congress shall have Power To establish Post Offices and post Roads;"

The Congress could choose to not exercise its power, regardless of how uncongressional that may seem.

[Sea-Dog]

49. shame

the last thing small places need

[RBInMaine]

69. With the internet and their pension costs, their cashflow is in a world of hurt. Something needs to

to be done. Yes, we should raise taxes on the rich and cut the bloated military to offset some of the cuts, agreed, but we also must admit that with paper mail so reduced by the internet and their huge pension and other costs, something had to give somewhere. I do wish they could offset some of this and get more imaginative in their cost reductions, but some amount of downsizing was inevitable regardless of administration. This has been on the radar for a long time, well before Obama. The USPS is in the red BIGTIME. Like the Big Three automakers, they need new operations and benefits models and greater efficiency. They just can't continually raise rates. Also, we have no dire need for weekend mail delivery. It needs to become a leaner, more cost efficient operation just as the military does and others we could name. Hopefully some workers can take early retirement.

[nadinbrzezinski]

80. Again, if they were not tp required to fund pensions

For people yet not born, the bloated service would be turning a profit.

[ProSense]

73. Wait

"That is because Obama's hand-selected Postmaster General, Patrick Donahoe"

...it appears this is entirely wrong.

USPS Board of Governors Appointed Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe(MORE)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002350291


In fact, DeFazio's statement is completely misinformed.

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) on Monday afternoon called on the the Obama administration to fire Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in light of Donahoe's announced plan for drastic service reductions at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

The President cannot fire the Postmaster General.

In 1971, the Post Office Department was re-organized into the United States Postal Service, a special agency independent of the executive branch. Thus, the Postmaster General is no longer a member of the Cabinet and is no longer in Presidential succession.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postmaster_General

The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 abolished the United States Post Office Department, a part of the cabinet, and created the United States Postal Service, a corporation-like independent agency with an official monopoly on the delivery of mail in the United States. Pub.L. 91-375 was signed by President Richard Nixon on August 12, 1970.[1]

The legislation was a direct outcome of the U.S. postal strike of 1970.

The first paragraph of the Act reads:

“The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Reorganization_Act

[SunsetDreams]

83. Obama Didn't Hand-Select Him And Can't Fire Him Either, By Law?

Wow thank you, I totally missed that one in my research. It seems I'm not the only one.

[ProSense]

85. Well,

who cares if the OP title and premise is completely inaccurate?

"Obama admin just laid off 35,000 workers...with more to come"

The USPS is a completely independent agency. The administration had nothing to do with the layoffs.

The OP point is irrelevant and not based in reality.

[grantcart]

106. Classic misinformation from the OP.

Inflammatory headline with a complete misunderstanding how the agency is required to work by law,

and then poof the OP is gone.

[geek tragedy]

122. Oh, he understands. The intent is to

both inflame and deceive.

[Pisces]

126. Bingo, like to call this one a shit stirrer.

[geek tragedy]

149. As opposed to publishing blatant lies like claiming that Donahoe

was "hand picked" by Obama.

A person with even marginal integrity would retract that claim.

[Pisces]

153. Are you insane??? I have not had hundreds of posts deleted and have not accused but maybe 2 people

of obvious racism. One for calling President Obama an experiment. No one but you was telling me to shut up. I feel privileged that
you take my post as a compliment, that way I know I was right on point.

[girl gone mad]

110. Obama has the power to stop postal closures

http://bdtonline.com/letters/x741509739/Obama-has-the-power-to-stop-postal-closures

Why isn’t President Obama using his power of executive order to stop Post Master General Patrick Donahoe from destroying the infrastructure of the largest and most efficient postal service in the world? If the number of mail processing centers is cut in half and rural post offices are closed, the ability for rapid delivery and overnight service to all communities will be impossible and executive order 13527 is useless.

The president could, with the stroke of his pen put a stop to these closings, which the Postal Regulatory Commission said was based on flawed information. Then Congress could use its investigative and oversight powers to get to the facts of why flawed information is being used to dismantle our vital and necessary postal service. These closings will hurt the economy of not only rural communities, but, also the nation.

The delivery of mail and medicine to out of the way areas will stop and those citizens will have to find a way to the nearest post office, because a lot of the elderly don’t or can’t drive. The loss of jobs will be in the thousands at a time when our country has a shortage of jobs, and based on executive order 13527 the life of our citizens will be in jeopardy.

If these aren’t good enough reasons for our elected officials to use their constitutionally given powers to protect the health, economy, and jobs of the American people and their communities, what is? How can Congress investigate private enterprises for wrongdoings and at the same time allow the appointed official of a government agency to destroy the infrastructure of a constitutionally provided service using faulty numbers? Don’t forget, the postal service is a service and not a business. It was intended to provide cheap and rapid delivery to all citizens even at a loss. Unlike phones and emails, which can be tapped and hacked into, letter mail has to be physically opened to read. If our elected officials in Washington would have us believe that they with their constitutionally given powers (oversight hearings, investigative hearings, executive order, etc…) can’t stop one appointed government official from destroying our postal service, I thank it’s time to get new elected officials. Don’t you?

[SunsetDreams]

112. No he doesn't and that is a law

In 1971, the Post Office Department was re-organized into the United States Postal Service, a special agency independent of the executive branch. Thus, the Postmaster General is no longer a member of the Cabinet and is no longer in Presidential succession.

The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 abolished the United States Post Office Department, a part of the cabinet, and created the United States Postal Service, a corporation-like independent agency with an official monopoly on the delivery of mail in the United States. Pub.L. 91-375 was signed by President Richard Nixon on August 12, 1970.

The legislation was a direct outcome of the U.S. postal strike of 1970.

The first paragraph of the Act reads:

“The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people.

USPS Board of Governors Appointed Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe(MORE)UPDATE

[girl gone mad]

131. You're wrong.

Executive orders can be applied to the Postal Service. This authority is given to the Executive by no less than the Constitution of the United States of America. Obama has already done this at least once:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/ethics-commitments-executive-branch-personnel

Sec. 2. Definitions. As used herein and in the pledge set forth in section 1 of this order:
(a)"Executive agency" shall include each "executive agency" as defined by section 105 of title 5, United States Code, and shall include the Executive Office of the President; provided, however, that for purposes of this order "executive agency" shall include the United States Postal Service and Postal Regulatory Commission, but shall exclude the Government Accountability Office.

[SunsetDreams]

132. Absolutely not wrong, that is talking about Appointees by the President

The President of the United States appoints the Board of Governors who oversee the USPS.

The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service is an eleven-member board comparable to a board of directors of a private corporation, except in service of the American postal system. Nine members are appointed by the President of the United States, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The nine presidentially appointed Governors choose the Postmaster General, who also serves as a member of the Board. These 10, in turn, choose a Deputy Postmaster General, who becomes the 11th member of the Board. The Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General serve at the pleasure of the Governors.

The Board directs the exercise of the powers of the Postal Service, directs and controls its expenditures, reviews its practices, conducts long-range planning and sets policies on all postal matters. The Board takes up matters such as service standards, capital investments and facilities projects exceeding $25 million. It also approves officer compensation.

The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 abolished the United States Post Office Department, a part of the cabinet, and created the United States Postal Service, a corporation-like independent agency with an official monopoly on the delivery of mail in the United States. Pub.L. 91-375 was signed by President Richard Nixon on August 12, 1970.

The legislation was a direct outcome of the U.S. postal strike of 1970.

The first paragraph of the Act reads:

“The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people.

The President Cannot Fire The U.S. Postmaster General

In 1971, the Post Office Department was re-organized into the United States Postal Service, a special agency independent of the executive branch. Thus, the Postmaster General is no longer a member of the Cabinet and is no longer in Presidential succession.

[Swede]

147. Crickets

[Tarheel_Dem]

115. This quote calls the whole basis of the o.p. into doubt. I'm so glad you're here.

"In 1971, the Post Office Department was re-organized into the United States Postal Service, a special agency independent of the executive branch. Thus, the Postmaster General is no longer a member of the Cabinet and is no longer in Presidential succession."

You'd think Peter DeFazio would know this, unless he's playing to a certain audience, right? Does this mean that the Board of Governors who appointed Mr. Donahoe, are the only ones who can remove him?

I find it amusing that another "journalist" whose own "journalistic integrity" has recently been called into question is here on this thread cheering on the o.p. as factual. Does truth not matter anymore where this administration is concerned?

It seems that the agenda to denigrate this president has displaced any need for actual truth from those who seek to do the denigrating, and that's a shame.

[Rex]

79. I am happy it was not 350,000.

And why do people always dogpile the situation (easier) then working something out? Some of these politicians are so lazy!!!

[Honeycombe8]

82. I hate that this has happened. But people don't use the USPS much anymore, do they?

It happens to all businesses...they go out of favor or come into favor.

I hope they got plenty of notice, though, and at least the fed govt has a nice retirement or pension plan or something, right? I'm about to be laid off, I think. There will be no notice, if I am, and no benefits, and I'm older and may never be able to get another job.

I wish I'd gone to work for the fed. govt. years ago.

[geek tragedy]

88. Who needs Republicans when we have Democrats willing to lie about Obama.

As noted in the comments, this guy was appointed by a bunch of people who were themselves appointed.

This dishonest post should be locked.

[ProSense]

101. Well,

"This dishonest post should be locked."

...some people thrive on dishonesty, especially when it comes Obama.

It is what it is.

[DevonRex]

97. This is serious misinformation.

Those of us who pay attention know that the Republicans did this. Nice try to blame it on Obama tho. But you'll have to try a LOT harder if you're gonna get actual informed people to believe this swill.

[ProSense]

100. I find

it hard to believe people are still giving this recs after the information has been completely debunked.

Oh well.

[Number23]

154. It's the same old crowd that will rec anything (and I seriously mean ANYTHING)

that paints this president in a negative light.

Accuracy, fairness, context are immaterial. SSDD

[great white snark]

102. Will brentspeak amend the OP?

There is always a first.

[brentspeak]

137. The Republicans appointed Donohoe?

Wow, who knew?

[SunsetDreams]

140. Obama did not appoint Donohoe, your OP is wrong

The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service is an eleven-member board comparable to a board of directors of a private corporation, except in service of the American postal system. Nine members are appointed by the President of the United States, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The nine presidentially appointed Governors choose the Postmaster General, who also serves as a member of the Board. These 10, in turn, choose a Deputy Postmaster General, who becomes the 11th member of the Board. The Postmaster General and Deputy Postmaster General serve at the pleasure of the Governors.

Each Governor is appointed to a nine-year term or to the remainder of an unexpired term created by the death or resignation of a sitting Governor. Terms of the Governors are staggered to expire each year on December 8. A Governor whose term has expired may continue to sit on the Board for up to one year until a successor has been appointed. No more than five of the nine Governors may be of the same political party. On December 20, 2006, President George W. Bush signed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, P.L. 109-435, which changed the terms of subsequently appointed Governors from nine to seven years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_Governors_of_the_United_States_Postal_Service

In 1970, when the Board was established by the Postal Reorganization Act, the governors of the Postal Service were appointed for terms of nine years. The first nine appointments were for staggered terms of one to nine years. Subsequent appointments were made for the full nine years. On December 20, 2006, President George W. Bush signed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, P.L. 109-435, which changed the terms of subsequently appointed governors from nine to seven years. The Act also added some professional qualifications for the governors. The governors are chosen to represent the public interest generally and cannot be representatives of special interests. Not more than five of the nine may belong to the same political party. They shall be chosen solely on the basis of their experience in the field of public service, law or accounting or on their demonstrated ability in managing organizations or corporations (in either the public or private sector) of substantial size, except that at least four of the governors shall be chosen solely on the basis of their demonstrated ability in managing organizations or corporations (in either the public or private sector) that employ at least 50,000 employees.

Appointments are made when vacancies occur or for the remainder of unexpired terms. Each governor’s term expires on December 8 of a given year. Governors may continue to serve following expiration of their term or until a successor is appointed but not for more than one year. No person may serve more than two terms as a governor.

The Board directs the exercise of the powers of the Postal Service, directs and controls its expenditures, reviews its practices, conducts long-range planning and sets policies on all postal matters. The Board takes up matters such as service standards, capital investments and facilities projects exceeding $25 million. It also approves officer compensation.

http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/leadership/board-governors.htm

Now for the really eye-opening part: Which President appointed most of the Governors?

Thurgood Marshall Jr. Chairman appointed by George W. Bush
Mickey D. Barnett, Vice-Chairman, appointed by George W. Bush
Louis J. Giuliano, Member, appointed by George W. Bush
James H. Bilbray, Member, appointed by George W. Bush
Ellen C. Williams, Member, appointed by George W. Bush
Dennis J. Toner, Member, appointed by Barack Obama
Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General and CEO, appointed by Board Of Governors
Ronald A. Stroman, Deputy Postmaster General, appointed by Board Of Governors

James C. Miller III, Member, appointed by George W. Bush
Note: I'm not sure if James C. Miller III is still on the Board of Governors, Wiki list him, but USPS site
Members of the Board of Governors does not.

More on Patrick R. Donahoe here

Is there something wrong with that picture? Patrick R. Donahoe, was appointed by the Board of Governors whom all except one were GWB appointees?? YIKES!!! I'm seeing an ugly picture here which may be the bigger picture of what is currently happening with USPS.

http://www.thenation.com/blog/166103/post-office-not-broke

At the behest of the Republican-controlled Congress of the Bush-Cheney era, the USPS has been forced since 2006 to pre-fund future retiree health benefits. As the American Postal Workers Union notes, “This mandate is the primary cause of the agency’s financial crisis. No other government agency or private company bears this burden, which costs the USPS approximately $5.5 billion annually.”

Now, however, we learn that the pre-funding requirements have taken so much money from the USPS that—according to the postal service’s own inspector general—it has “significantly exceeded” the level of reserved money that the federal government or private corporations divert to meet future pension and retiree healthcare demands. “Using ratepayer funds, it has built a war chest of over $326 billion to address its future liabilities,” acknowledges Postal Service Inspector General David C. Williams.

USPS Area Mail Processing study decision 2/23/12

In a move to help ensure the future of the nation’s mail system, while adapting to America’s changing mailing trends, the U.S. Postal Service today announced that the Area Mail Processing consolidation studies that began more than five months ago have been completed.

These changes are a necessary part of a larger comprehensive plan developed by the Postal Service to reduce operating costs by $20 billion by 2015 and return the organization to profitability.

The Postal Service is in the midst of a financial crisis due to the combined effects of the economic recession, increased use of electronic communications, and an obligation to prefund retiree health benefits. First-Class Mail volume has deteriorated, leading to significant revenue declines, and the obligation to prefund these retiree health benefits on an accelerated basis remains unresolved. To date, legislative proposals to address the financial crisis remain pending, leaving the Postal Service and the mailing industry it supports in an increasingly precarious position.

Since 2006, First-Class Mail volume has rapidly declined, leaving a mail mix that generates far less revenue than it costs to sustain postal operations. The dramatic decline in mail volume has resulted in an enormous amount of excess capacity within the network, creating significant opportunity for consolidation.

Previous USPS announcement on July 26, 2011 regarding Expanded Access Study

WASHINGTON — As more customers choose to conduct their postal business online, on their smart phones and at their favorite shopping destinations, the need for the U.S. Postal Service to maintain its nearly 32,000 retail offices — the largest retail network in the country — diminishes. To that end, the U.S. Postal Service announced today that it will be taking the next step in right-sizing its expansive retail network by conducting studies of approximately 3,700 retail offices to determine customer needs. As part of this effort, the Postal Service also introduced a retail-replacement option for affected communities around the nation.

“Today, more than 35 percent of the Postal Service’s retail revenue comes from expanded access locations such as grocery stores, drug stores, office supply stores, retail chains, self-service kiosks, ATMs and usps.com, open 24/7,” said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. “Our customer’s habits have made it clear that they no longer require a physical post office to conduct most of their postal business.”

For communities currently without a postal retail office and for communities affected by these retail optimization efforts, the Postal Service introduced the Village Post Office as a potential replacement option. Village Post Offices would be operated by local businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other appropriate retailers, and would offer popular postal products and services such as stamps and flat-rate packaging.

“By working with third-party retailers, we’re creating easier, more convenient access to our products and services when and where our customers want them,” Donahoe said. “The Village Post Office will offer another way for us to meet our customers’ needs.”

Here: http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2011/pr11_089.htm

On Edit: Thank you ProSense for your further research on this matter. I'm going to include this information here, because there seems to be a misconception that President Obama can just fire Patrick Donahoe if he wanted to.

House Dem calls for firing postmaster general; blames Obama, GOP Congress

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) on Monday afternoon called on the the Obama administration to fire Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe in light of Donahoe's announced plan for drastic service reductions at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

Just one problem with that The President Cannot Fire The Postmaster General

In 1971, the Post Office Department was re-organized into the United States Postal Service, a special agency independent of the executive branch. Thus, the Postmaster General is no longer a member of the Cabinet and is no longer in Presidential succession.

Furthermore:

The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 abolished the United States Post Office Department, a part of the cabinet, and created the United States Postal Service, a corporation-like independent agency with an official monopoly on the delivery of mail in the United States. Pub.L. 91-375 was signed by President Richard Nixon on August 12, 1970.

The legislation was a direct outcome of the U.S. postal strike of 1970.

The first paragraph of the Act reads:

“The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people. The Postal Service shall have as its basic function the obligation to provide postal services to bind the Nation together through the personal, educational, literary, and business correspondence of the people. It shall provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities. The costs of establishing and maintaining the Postal Service shall not be apportioned to impair the overall value of such service to the people.

WOW check this out, thanks to suffragette.
Shock Doctrine at U.S. Postal Service: Is a Manufactured Crisis Behind Push Toward Privatization?

But many postal workers say the much-touted crisis facing the U.S. Postal Service is not what it seems. They argue the greatest volume of mail handled in the 236-year history of the postal service was 2006. They also point to a 2006 law that forced the USPS to become the only agency required to fund 75 years of retiree health benefits over just a 10-year span, and say the law’s requirements account for 100 percent of the service’s $20 billion in losses over the previous four years, without which the service would have turned a profit. Last week, Republicans introduced legislation to overhaul the USPS in response to a bill proposed by Democrats that would refund a reported $6.9 billion in over-payments to the USPS retirement plan, offer early retirement and voluntary separation incentives, adjust retiree benefits prepayment requirements, and preserve employee protections set out in collective bargaining agreements.

[brentspeak]

145. I think you're right about Obama not appointing Donohoe

Last edited Sun Feb 26, 2012, 03:12 PM - Edit history (2)

Regardless -- after all is said, Obama is still on the same page as Patrick Donohoe, so the reality of the situation remains the same even if I made a blunder here on a web forum. They both agree with Saturday closings, they both want large postal rate increases, and they both apparently agree with the facility closings and job cuts:

The Postal Service has proposed each of the changes Obama advanced as well as reducing its workforce by firing as many as 220,000 employees and closing post offices and mail-processing plants.

Obama’s budget didn’t address the facility closings or job cuts.

“It’s a political hot potato for them,” Del Polito said. “They don’t want to tick off a key Democratic constituency going into a national election.”

Furthermore, and most importantly, for three years, the Obama administration has failed to endorse any of the Democratic-led legislative efforts to reverse the 2006 prefunding requirement. The administration didn't bother to address the issue at all until the other week when it submitted postal reform suggestions for the new federal budget. As evidenced by the facility closings made at the same exact time -- what's the point now? That is hardly the mark of a President who had seriously wanted to prevent all these facility closings and job cuts.

Finally, as for presidents and the people they nominate to USPS brass postions:

http://www.savethepostoffice.com/what-were-you-thinking-mr-president-obama-nominates-hammond-prc

What were you thinking, Mr. President? Obama nominates Hammond to the PRC

December 2, 2011

On Friday the White House announced that President Obama was nominating Tony Hammond as the fifth commissioner on the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). No offense to Mr. Hammond, but that’s probably not good news for communities trying to save their post office or processing plant, and it’s not good news for postal workers either.

The PRC is supposed to have five commissioners, but for months now, there have been only four, and we’ve been waiting to hear who the President would nominate to fill out the term of Commissioner Dan Blair, which runs to November 2012. According to US Code, "Not more than three of the Commissioners may be adherents of the same political party." Currently there are two Democrats — Ruth Goldway and Nanci Langley — and two Republicans — Mark Acton and Robert Taub. Obama could have appointed a Democrat, but instead he chose Hammond, a Republican.

It’s not that Hammond is ill equipped to be a Commissioner. He was on the PRC from 2002 to 2010, and he served twice as its Vice-Chairman. He obviously knows the ropes.

Still, with all those years on the PRC, you wouldn’t say Hammond brings a fresh perspective to the Commission, and he is definitely hard-core Republican. For much of his career, he was a Republican political operative. From 1989 to 1994, he was the director of the Missouri Republican Party, and in 1998 he was Director of Campaign Operations for the Republican National Committee. Hammond was involved with postal matters during the ten years he served on Capitol Hill on the staff of Southwest Missouri Congressman Gene Taylor, the Ranking Member of the Post Office and Civil Service Committee.

(Note: Obama's one other nomination to the PRC was Republican Robert G. Taub.)

[uranus is my home]

104. Happy days are here again

Da da da da da da...

Dreamboat is dreamy...Film at 11

[ProSense]

111. Welcome, and

goodbye!

[FarCenter]

113. If we mail all those "business reply mail" cards and envelopes, would the USPS earn more money?

[geek tragedy]

119. Will any of the Obama haters who rec'd this withdraw

their rec now that it's been proven to be a blatant lie?

Of course not.

[QA_IT_Pro]

121. JUst trying to live up to the execptation of needing so many post

Need the ability to post without meeting a rule/?

[boppers]

124. So many lies, no need to bother with arguing, as there is no intent of being truthful.

*plonk*

[New Yawker]

125. Someone needs to file a lawsuit against the Republicans and the administration re: PO

Because the PO is forced to pay 75 years in advance on their pensions in advance within 10 years thanks to the '06 lame duck Congress that illegally passed this and signed by the Chimp. That is why PO continues to "annually" lose money.
That can be solved by reversing that law.

But no, Obama is content to let it go.

Sorry, that's one of many issues that gives me pause when deciding if Obama is worthy of being re-elected or not.

If he really wants to fix this problem, he could sign an EO temporarily overriding/suspending that illegal law, and save 35,000 jobs until Congress repeals that stupid law.

[Tarheel_Dem]

133. "But no, Obama is content to let it go."

How could you possibly know that? And, btw, Welcome to DU?


Since you're a newbie, perhaps you don't know how "outraged" we were when the last administration decided to govern by EO's and signing statements? Perhaps "progressives" should strive for consistency, instead of just constant outrage. Maybe you should send the president suggestions as to when you approve of EO's, and when they're inconvenient for you. How 'bout that?

[geek tragedy]

134. You must have flunked civics--the President can't override laws that have been

enactedbeen enacted. They can only veto them before they pass. Once it becomes law' the President is bound.

[smoopie]

136. 155,000 jobs by 2016

The postal service wants to eliminate 155,000 positions by 2016.
You cannot compare the USPS to FedX or UPS because we have to go to almost every delivery address 6 days a week and they don't.
We have been delivering packages for FEdX and UPS for quite awhile now.
I have been working there 28 years. We have gone from 50 clerks to 20 clerks. We still get 5 semi trucks of mail 6 days a week. They are not always full but it's still enough mail considering we only have about 7 clerks and 3 mailhandlers who actually sort this mail.
They are going to close a processing center in our area and send the mail to a center about 50 miles away to be processed. The center where it is being sent does mostly priorirty mail. Right now when that center is overwhelmed or understaffed they can't handle the mail volume so they send it to us unsorted and we have to sort it. If they are having problems now how are they going to handle even more mail?
Then to all of you who don't give a damn if the postal service closes because YOU don't need or use it consider this it's not just postal jobs that will be lost. It will be all the jobs that are related such as truck drivers who haul mail,the businesses they buy fuel from, etc. It will effect jobs where newspapers and magazines are produced. Increased shipping costs may cause layoffs at some businesses. Then the local areas that lose business from postal employees. In our local area including all the employees that would be a loss of 3 to 4 million potential dollars spent here.
Once the postal service is gone how can you be sure that all those free things on the internet will remain so? Most of my bills will charge me a fee if I want to pay by phone and it's more than 45 cents.
I saw one of Issas meetings on the postal service, The idiot didn't even know how much a stamp cost. One of the other idiot Republicans on his committee bragged about using FedX and UPS. The joke is on him because theres a good chance the postal service delivered his packages.
I agree that there needs to be some changes. It would be a big help if we had intelligent managers but we don't. There is a lot of money wasted by their stupidity.

[fascisthunter]

138. Alles for zee Privat Sectorrrrr

this march towards privatization to quench the thirst of greedy people is sickening.

[ProSense]

142. Well,

Alles for zee Privat Sectorrrrr

this march towards privatization to quench the thirst of greedy people is sickening.

...can't blame that on Obama. Nixon did it: http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002350291