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CONGRESS SENDS THE POSTAL SERVICE DOWN THE RIVER

THE CURRENT ATTEMPT TO DESTROY ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST ENDURING INSTITUTIONS

The United States depends on a strong Postal Service. 213 billion pieces of mail are delivered to 146 million addresses each year (Office of Inspector General, United States Postal Service). It's our country's only universal communication network. The Postal Service delivers 160 billion pieces of mail each year to more than 152 million homes, businesses and Post Offices throughout the country. Most of the population still sends and receives bills via the mail service. Vulnerable groups need the Post Office for life saving goods like prescription medicine. There are also many rural locations that will be completely cut off without the USPS.

Yet the United States Postal Service (USPS) is facing some serious budget cuts. There is no reason to impose such severe cuts on a much needed service. The USPS has not taken any tax payer money since 1982. It is funded entirely by revenue it generates selling stamps and is doing quite well despite the growing shift to email communications. Even during a recession, the Postal Service raked in a net worth of $611 million delivering the mail.

Drastic cuts and the termination of Saturday's mail is not the answer. Not only is congress making severe cuts to this industry, but they are forcing severe mandates that are causing financial harm to the industry.

CONGRESS FORCES THE USPS TO PREFUND 75 YEARS WORTH OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS

In 2006, congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, which mandates that the USPS front the money for 75 years worth of employee retirement benefits. The USPS is the only enterprise (including private and public institutions) in America that is required by law to prefund health care benefits. Even the Federal Government is not required to prefund its healthcare liabilities. Without this ridiculous requirement, the USPS would have a 1.5 billion dollar surplus. Instead, the industry is now in the red trying to scrap together money for the health care benefits of kids who haven't even graduated from high school yet. (Think Progress)

INTERNATIONAL SIZE COMPARISON AND RATES

Compared to most countries in the world, the United States of America has one of the largest Postal Services with some of the cheapest rates. The only country with a larger staffed postal service than the United States of America is the People's Republic of China.

LOW STAMP COSTS

Also, in an article published by the Wall Street Journal, America has the 15th cheapest stamp rates out of 56 countries with stamps costing $0.45. Compare that to the rates in Great Britain of $0.72 a stamp, Germany with $0.75, Japan with $0.90 and Denmark being the most expensive with stamps at $1.46. International Stamp Rates (Wall Street Journal).

LINKS

Delivering For America Home Page

Save the Post Office

American Postal Workers Union

National Association of Letter Carriers

Postal Facts