From Postcom:
Here’s a quote from a USPS executive published by Logistics Management. It’s a beaut.
“We are facing this problem because of a massive drop in mail volume and the fact that the bulk of our costs are fixed by laws, contracts, or regulations. Our operating flexibility is severely limited right now. Our network is expanding by a million delivery points every year, and we are subject to a lot of legal requirements that limit our ability to reduce service commensurate with the decline in demand.”
Okay, okay. Let’s see. The USPS is losing mail volume, so the way to gain that volume back is to raise prices. Right? Wonderful logic, don’t you think? Okay, okay, “our costs are fixed by…contracts.” Are we expected to believe that those contracts happened without USPS participation or complicity? Gimme a break. Okay, okay, “we are subject to a lot of legal requirements.” You’re a government agency with a statutory monopoly, for cryin’ out loud! You want to be rid of both, go private and leave your governmental binky at home. Does anyone over there actually listen to what they’re saying?