Who's throwing money away on it???? The federal government does nothing to support the USPS, only rob it. Take away all government "free" postage (especially for the lawmakers who have hamstrung the USPS.)

No @!$%#. And while I'm picking, how about hiring me to do spell check for you guys. I find so many errors in major news network stories it simply boggles the mind.

The unions "robbed it" 80% labor cost (pensions, salaries, health care, 4 wks. vacation 7sick days, and on on...........) that's where our money went.....

The unions "robbed it" 80% labor cost (pensions, salaries, health care, 4 wks. vacation 7sick days, and on on...........) that's where our money went.....

Lee your don't what your talking about. In 2006 the GOP made the post offices to pay 75 years in advance for Health Care and Pension. When people stick their head in the sand why learn nothing.

SAX: The USPS dosn't cost the government one S-in cent.

I agree with you Palmquist1, half of these people don't get, NO TAX PAYER MONEY goes to the Post Office, the GOP did this all in the name of PRIVATIZING and to get rid of the Union. The Democrat's need to get this stupid law off the books, no corporation would or has to fund 75yrs in advance for health care & pension. The Post Office would be in the black if it weren't for this law and we the people would get the best rate to send letter, do you see UPS, FEDEX or any other company only charge .44 cents for letter, hand deliver your mail to your mail box without charging a fee, hell no, so wake up, and get the facts!

Just a bunch of repugs & baggers that listen to much Faux!

lee, if you post it twice, does it make it more true? Read what Palmquist wrote. The grammar leaves a little bit to be desired but the post is right. That requirement doesn't exist for anyone else except U.S politicians and theirs costs us a whole lot more for fewer people and they do less to earn it! And unlike the Senate, Congress,etc., your tax payer dollars did not go to fund it. The cost of the post office is funded by the cost of postage and the sale of postal products.

If money is going to be spent I would rather that it go to the USPS, libraries, and rebuilding this crumbling infrastructure than to defense, (which has become a joke).

Oooh, sandtrich, I like your idea! Can we put you in charge?

Good god!!! that is not why they are going bankrupt. That is part of it but not the rntire story.......Hasnt anyone heard of a S.W.O.T. anaylsis. Try it sometime. USPS is going broke because of high wages for employees, high pensions, and high benefits that were prenegotited. Biggest REASON they are going BROKE UPS, FED EX, and other competitor. Do the research before blaming every employee. When in fact its not the employees fault, but how the company is run. USPS cant compete with counter parts effectively. LOSING REVENUE hand over fist eventually makes any company close their doors.

The one thing you should be concerned about is after it closes its doors. Then its a almost monopoly\ ogilopoly where the business can dictate what ever price it wants. Business' and cunsumers are very dependant on what they do. So they really can charge what ever they want. This is plain old fashion competitors putting the Sqeeze on USPS and they are giving up the fight. Maybe the USPS can overhaul their systems and change a few process to give them the edge again. Who knows. Government negotiated contracts per employees are harder to break than that of civilian. I hate to break that to you laura. You can make a deal with a slouch and walk a way, but not the government. They dont want to be held accountable for wrong doing so they live up to the contract. Although the government should have had a better negotiator,(that is for sure), Fact they didnt and well put all of this together and wall la crap storm. Also the money made by the post office when it was in the black would go to where,,,....hmmmmmm Think about it.

the post office is essential... we never would have known how important they are to everyday communication, amongst not only americans,, but throughout the world.. the advent of e-mail has hurt their business dramatically... congress needs to overturn the act of 2006 that forces the usps to prepay retirement benefits to as yet unhired employees... further they need to impose a tax on e-mail,, equivalent to the price of postage= x amount per pound/page.. the nation cannot communicate without it !!! you cannot force folks to e-bill,,e-pay,,, e-mail.. with all the theft of personal info,, i don't blame folks for not getting with technology !!! never had a damn thing stolen from the mailbox..unless and until the government enforces the laws re: theft severely punished by severe prison time,,, or they pay for everyones computers and internet,, we need the usps..the government created this,, it is up to them to find a solution... it is part n parcel of our history,, all the way back to the beginning of the republic !!!!

Disturbedlibrarian

Oooh, sandtrich, I like your idea! Can we put you in charge?

I'd rather befriend librarian armed with knowledge than a general armed with WMD's. Thanks

To the folks who say the postal service does not or will not require taxpayer money, please explain how they are going to be in the hole 14billion next year alone if they only need about 5 billion for the healthcare funds each year. You all fail to understand that some of their union contracts call for no layoffs, so while the mail continues to drop, they will only be able to get rid of so many employees, this is why the healthcare funds need to be fully funded now. Bottomline, get the Unions out of the public sector and this country can truly begin recovering and taxpayers will not routinely be forced into paying for the overcompensations the political people continue to provide the Unions for their Votes.

James, post office profits have to be put back into the operation of the post office. Period.

The postal service takes no taxpayer money.

The postal service has to put money away to pay for employees not born yet, no other company or government agency has to do that.

The postal service goes to each home and most places of business (or group of mail boxes) 6 days a week. While the mail volume is down, the number of addresses (homes and businesses) have gone up. Someone delivers to these mail boxes. It take more people (labor costs) to do so. Mail needs to be delivered to the indians at the bottom of Grand Canyon, minning camps in Alaska, and Isolated ranches in places like Montana, all for 44 cents. And if you have the wrong address, it will be forwarded or returned to you at no extra charge.

During this, the busiest delivery time of year, does UPS or Fedex go to every home?

Before you talk about closing plants or doing away with the Postal Service all together, you need to visit a postal service processing plant. Call them arrange for a tour during mail processing time, 10:00 pm to 5:00 Am. It is during this time that millions of pieces of mail are sorted and directed to local, in state, out of state, and out of the counrty avenues for delivery. I did and what an education. Go look ask questions, educate yourself first hand, not just by reading what others write!

All of their profits go to feeding the Union Beast that eats up everything in its path. Make those past retirement, take and early one. Stop Uniform allowances. Close on Saturdays. Offer more Post Office Boxes so people that can and will may pick-up their mail. Make the clerks handle so many customers a day so that they increase volume. If their quota is not met, lay-off the excess staff until it picks-up, or cut back period.

No more contract labor, make those employee's work for what they are getting. Cut the salaries at the top, either they can accept a decrease or leave. Hiring freeze, no salary increase, less days off with pay. Do what it takes to get it back on track, then rebuild it.

I'm with you. But why don't we privatize it so the government can't tell you what to charge, when to deliver, and how much to put into retirement? Sounds like the man is keeping you down.

this is to all those that think that the Unions is the cause of the USPS having financial problems.. one.. The USPS funds itself and pays the Federal Government from its proceeds. Second, Our lovely government saw fit to make them pay up front a sum to cover years for health benefits and retirement pensions..(wonder what happened to that money). Third, since the advent of the personal computers and e-mail the USPS has lost a ton of business they use to get, that means if you are receiving and paying your bills online then you are putting the USPS out of business.. so are you saying that you are the Union? We need the USPS, I always get a paper bill, simply because I know that at some point my computer will crash or I will have a problem with hackers or any number of things that can happen with todays technology. Having a paper bill gives me a back up in case and I can always (or thought I could) mail my payments. Shame on those of you that can only narrow minded blame unions for the failure of any business without knowing the facts...sometimes it is our own faults.

Boondog tax email really lol???? Post office is going under have you seen how hard they work? At UPS we are moving moving moving I will see a mail delivery person at one spot taking there sweet time. We cover far more with fewer employees. Also how will they not go out of business if they dont receive tax payer money? Will it be a government loan?

Why does it that some people want to strip what I see as the wrong things. I'm a Vietnam Era Veteran that has seen the military in such insane scale, while we have abandoned our core infrastructure. The politicians cut education programs, NPR and those "privatize everything" folks bark loud.

Defense related spending is estimated for 2012 for slated at $1.2 to $1.4T. Total revenues are estimated to be $2.2T and the entire budget is expected to be $3.5T. Taxes must be raised and the defense budget has to be cut.

We're heading the wrong direction. Eisenhower taxed the nation's richest at 91%. JFK dropped it to 71%. Innovation was not stiffled. I don't suggest those types of numbers, but Warren Buffett said he pays too little--18%. Never in US history have 2 wars been waged and a tax cut at the same time. What a recipe for disaster, it was.

Stop the wars and let's be a country again.

"Last Thursday, a group of 18 Senate Democrats signed a letter to congressional leaders asking them to add language to legislation that would halt closings for six months."

Democrats funding a bankrupt organization in exchange for votes? What a surprise.

Yes, taxpayers will get the bill. One more 6-month extension will make it "the next guys problem" though... so what do they care?

I beg your pardon sir, but there are always postal inspectors looking over the shoulders of ALL crafts of the mail system. These men and women don't have time to play around as you indicate. It used to be that you knew your mail person personally and they had time to be friendly-now, the postal inspectors are breathing down their necks at all times! I should know, I'm married to a mail handler and I can assure you there is NEVER any time for them to goof off-hardly enough time for them to eat their lunch, supper or breakfast, depending on what shift they work. Holidays are missed with their families because these postal employees are delivering YOUR Christmas presents, YOUR social security checks and OUR Armed Forces letters and packages from their families overseas, etc. May I also remind you, there are many places which UPS and the like will NOT deliver to and who do you think they have deliver to these remote addresses? It's your United States Postal Service, that's who! It's the Congress who ties the hands of the postal service by not allowing them to own their own airplanes and be able to compete in the delivery market. Please check your facts, sir, or talk with a postal worker before you make such false statements to which you know nothing about. By the way, USPS mail deliveries arrive to their destinations in great order more than 94% of the time, on time. Can your organization say the same while saving the consumer more money over the long run? Check yourself...!

P.S. My mailhandler husband just walked in and has worked at USPS for 23 years...at one point in time, the United Parcel Service went on strike for about two weeks. All of their customers and huge mailers were in a panic as to whom was going to deliver the packages from UPS. In a very short time, these businessmen would go out of business due to their lack of revenue all across the country. USPS cannot lawfully go on strike so we were available to take on the total UPS package volume for the country! We went on television and told the whole country that we would deliver every single pakage for our nation. Since we did not know how long UPS would be striking, we gave a 'blank check' and stated we would deliver for as long as it took. We successfully delivered all of our mail volume as well as UPS packages during that time and again-on time! This shows how USPS is capable of doing all of our work as well as theirs but, you're not capable of doing all of your work and all work of the USPS. Goes to show, we can stand up to any challenge! By the way, throughout its history, USPS has hired many war veterans, injured or uninjured and helped these men and women get back on their feet and on with their lives. How many veterans are in your facility sir?

Oh, well said! I salute all postal workers for a job well done.

Also consider this; in places like Alaska and Idaho, mail planes are the only way some people get their mail all for just .44 cents per letter. Try that with UPS or Fed Ex. Ooops, I forgot, they don't do that! So, shut down the post office and these folks don't get their mail. Something else most folks don't know; UPS and Fed Ex both have contracts with the USPS to deliver packages to their customers. And these customers are accessible to UPS and Fed Ex. I guess the post office just does a better job.

maze-1548920: So all those people work there for free? Someone foots the bills. And if you could remove your head from the cold, dark place you keep it, could you possibly show me where I say the gov't does fund it? The gov't doesn't pay for a damn thing, the people do.

Now, mind telling me what your problem is?

All government retirement plans should be prepaid.

Perhaps, but not 75 years into the future for possible future employees not even born yet, Mr. Common-Man

The USPS should be funded and maintained as part of the country's infrastructure just like the highway system though they are lacking in that area also.

you nailed your name, common man, with a common I.Q. score. you are probably one of those right wing whackos who mindlessly parrot what limbaugh tells you to think. the postal service is still needed even in the internet age. if all those living wage earneres go onto welfare, are you willing to pay higher taxes?

Would be easy to fix the USPS losing money. You even have multiple options:

a> let them charge what it costs in postage stamps. Congress won't let them raise it anything beyond inflation rate, which is essentially nothing.

b> or stop making them pre-fund the pension funds for 75 years into the future. Congress mandated that so it could steal the money for other programs.

Just so it is clear to the morons who think the USPS is sucking up tax dollars: IT DOES NOT GET A CENT OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS. Congress simply wants to steal its money, and then won't let it make that money up by charging a fair price for the service.

Common Man, you've got a right to your opinion but I don't care for the way you think. I still like to send Christmas, get well, birthday cards, you name it, and I don't want to pay $4.00 for private industry to mail each one. I don't like sending Internet cards, they just don't cut it. If you don't want to use the post office then don't, it's not costing you anything.

First thing I would do is cut out Sat delivery which will cut down the need for how many employees. 6 day delivery is simply not needed and adds to labor cost dramatically. If it was profitability ups and fed ex would do it! They only work a few people for air on sat at a bigger cost to those shipping. Nobody wants to see the post office go away but it needs to be ran like a private business not a government bureaucracy.

Uncommon man, When it comes to the USPS, your IQ is so low you owe points. Perhaps you could get a loan for some! Brisaber, you're right. I remember when Congress got caught ripping off the USPS in a Check/Money Order scheme. They were all in it. On top of all that Congress uses the service at little cost. The nation's blind get their Audio Books and periodicals at no cost. Bottom line is that Congress is to blame, and only Congress can fix it. Not one Tax Dollar is used, not one. But, if Congress doesn't get a feasible plan, Tax Dollars might need to be used for another Government bailout a la Freddie Mac and Fannie May. My concern is that UNIVERSAL service is out the door for folks who live where UPS and FED-EX doesn't go. These two entities will have to raise their rates as they dump all the stuff that they won't make a profit (where they don't/won't offer service) at the local Post Office. One of two things will happen then. Rates will skyrocket because the USPS won't be there to deliver UPS/FED-EX money losers or those who live in those areas not delivered by UPS/FED-EX/Privatization service will not get service.

"Last Thursday, a group of 18 Senate Democrats signed a letter to congressional leaders asking them to add language to legislation that would halt closings for six months."

Democrats funding a bankrupt organization in exchange for votes? What a surprise.

Yes, taxpayers will get the bill. One more 6-month extension will make it "the next guys problem" though... so what do they care?

Pajama, go back to sleep. The Bush-Cheney dudes were behing the pre-funding bill. They're the ones who bankrupted the system! At least the Dems decided to act, where were the Repukes? Not even the Dept. of Defense pre-funds anything, not even Big Business! Maybe it's time they do.

The USPS management said they would be down to 0.65 billion in operating funds by the end of DEC. They then said they would lose 5% more volume and lose 12 billion in 2012.

The numbers simply do not add-up. Where is the operating funds coming from till March???

And , IF the funds suddenly appear out of thin air. Shouldn't anyone wonder why they lied in former announcements??

Could they be making false announcements, for bargaining purposes?? And having the US citizen pay for it monetarily, and in less service.

And yes, end the pre-funding. But investigate both the present and former PMG .

Scar, many moons ago Marvin Runyon became the PMG. He got rid of tons of dead weight folks not having a hand at moving mail. The USPS went from having 93 Vice-Presidents making well into six-figure salaries to just two. Streamlining at it's finest. Problem bosses were given the Siberia game or fired outright. Got it to a VP for the Western Region and one for the Eastern Region. He thinned out the Management herd like no other. Lots of bosses locally disappeared to out of state jobs on a take it or leave the job at the PO. He leaves, the PO get a new PMG jack-ass Potter. Jack-assed Potter rehires these previously fired idiots and most of them as "consultants". Lots of money wasted there. Since then the PO has 97 Vice-Presidents, not to forget their entourages of associate VP's. The current dickhead PMG continues the game. Most of hese jerks are paid more than the POTUS! Bottom line is it's not who you know but who you got dirt on that decides which rung on the Postal Ladder of Mis-Management you're on. There's too many people on the rolls who don't have a working hand at moving the mail. Too many bosses, not enough folks doing actual physical moving of the mail. Go figure.

Cruddola: Marvin Runyon was defeated in Federal Court, by the Postmasters union for not following RIF (reduction in force ) regulations. He did try though, to his credit.

Totally agree with the rest of your post on the subject.

Scar, Postmasters don't have a real union. Their organization, National Association of Postmasters isn't recognized by the AFL-CIO. They're an organization of folks kicked out the door by Runyon for allowing Postal Money Orders to be purchased by Congress via insufficient funds checks. They (NAPS) had dirt on a lotta folks outside the PO such as the many Congress folks who played Buy Postal Moneyorders with Bum Checks game. Runyon caught them all red handed and brought it to light. That's why Runyon got voted out. NAPS is NOT a Union. I will say this, since his departure the system wreaks of stupidity. Most of the $hitbird bosses never returned. Thanks, Marvin!!

You guys forgot something !!!!

Why the six month delay ????? That is big money time for the post office !!!!!First up is Christmas Rush ( lots of stamps sold and parcels mailed ). Second is you gussed it TAX TIME . That mail flow starts in January and goes through may. again more stamps sold ( more money comming in ). Did you ever notice your return envelope to the IRS requires you to put your own stamp on it . No free bees brom uncle sam or your home state .

bob

And according to a local USPS supervisor when challenged on FedEx delivery of Express Mail, it was the PMG a couple positions back who OWNED stock in FedEx and gave them an exclusive contract to ship all express mail (just as the commercial airlines have contracts for shipping priority parcels with a weight limit for each aircraft.) If there is more mail than the contract allows for, it sits there until there is space (and that often does not mean first in, first out.) I had a parcel sit on the tarmac in MIAMI once for six days before it made it on a plane to Puerto Rico, and then on to St. Croix.

An express I received yesterday morning (mailed on 12/12/11) had two FedEx labels on it that were dated as leaving the sort stations on 12/5/11. How can it get processed a week before it is initially shipped and an express sent on 12/10/11 did not arrive until 8 hours after the one sent on 12/12/11?

I also had a package that was sent by a vendor via FedEx to Colorado Springs get dropped at the CS post office for delivery to the residential address in Colorado Springs. Where was their own driver for the final delivery? What kind of deals are there between FedEx and USPS, and what is that deal costing the USPS to maintain?

What gave you the impression they were fine?

USPS has been dead on it's feet for years.

Have you tried to use Fed Ex lately. Talk about getting a loan just for postage.

It took 3 weeks for a package to get from Iowa to Connecticut via the USPS and it cost me $25 postage. The product inside the box was broken. When I asked the USPS where the package was after 12 days they couldn't locate it despite the extra money that was paid for tracking capabilities. They told me that if it hadn't arrived after a month I could file a claim and they'd "look into it". I'd had the package insured as well, but I guess that just means I paid extra so they could have more money and I was s### out of luck. I'd have been more than willing to pay the extra $10 to UPS (if it would be extra that is) and known where my package was and that it wasn't broken. USPS can kiss my behind.

If YOU would have packaged it properly, it wouldn't have gotten broke...

rmpb, I've had the same experience with FedEx and had to pay more for the pleasure. That kind of happening with the post office is rare, most particularly when you compare it to FedUp.

I didn't package it- I was the recipient who paid for the product to be sent. It was packaged well in a box that arrived completely crushed. When I deal with UPS I get much better customer service, not "call us in a month and we'll look into it." Fed Ex is not a company I ever deal with so I wouldn't have a comparison.

Ok rmbp: Come on now you are bing paid to say this.

rmpb you should only have the opportunity to use USPS. I was forced to use UPS and after the third delivery down the street. The guy that had my package brought it to me later that night. My solution: UPS told me they will not deliver to me and they have used the post office ever since. As far as I am concerned the Postal Service is much better than UPS or FedEx. The P.O. has its problems but at least I can count on them to deliver a package to MY frigging door.

rmpb, something else you should know; when UPS can't or won't deliver something, they drop it off for the post office to deliver.

Otis, you got it right, Not one postal entity moves 1/1000 th as much mail as the USPS. RMBP, you're one in a few million. Suck it up like a real American and take it in the ass! Ya shoudl've had it insured! I get $hit on E-bay, etc. I get it insured. Otis, the only reason you see a UPS/FED-EX truck at the back dock is they're dumping all their non-profitable parcels and letters for the USPS to deliver because only the USPS will deliver to EVERY address once a day. I had a parcel lost, a very important one at that. No sweat, one in a few million ain't that bad. They took care of me.

wendy lets take one day away from you also if you work??? a combat veteran

If I worked 6 days a week I'd be more than happy to give up a day. MOST Americans only get paid for 5 days of work....

Wendy1jo

- Did you know they have carriers that just do collections.....

Wendy.. the postal service runs 7 days a week, 24/7... even though u may get mail in your mailbox 6 days a week, the letter carrier only works 40 hours a week, unless he/she is on the overtime list. Thus, u may see a substitute once a week.. Before u speak, u should at least educate yourself on the topic in which u are speaking of, as not to look like a fool...

Wendy1jo letter carries have rotating days off and work only 5 days a week. no overtime on Saturday delivery.People don't know the system but continually bash the PO.

As I read these post I see most of U dont have any business replying at all.. Letter carriers work 5 days a week most having Sunday off and then a rotating day during the week...yes they can work 6 if they place their name on the Overtime Desired List and as far as one person said that all goverment retirement plans should be prepaid,it is the prepayment of future retirees health benefits that is putting the postal service in the red. at a toon of 5.5 billion dollars per November everbody thinks postal employees retirement package is great after 30 years of workin for a bunch of aholes U get about 2700.00 per month take away your spouse survival deduction and your health insurance for the 2 of you and then Federal Income tax and you are down to about 1900.00 a month not much to live on unless U have stached it away.....

If your postman is not delivering to you on Sat. then he is either stealing, throwing it away or just taking it for a ride.

I will tell you straight up......this is a lie, either by you or the postman !!

Edward Stephan, I agree with most of your post but you are wrong about what the post office is required to fund. It is pensions, not health benefits. Your numbers for retirement are about right though. The other thing I would add is the fact that if you get a postal service retirement they take 40% right off the top of your Social Security retirement. That is money they paid in that gets sucked up out of their pockets.

The wife of a retired Postmaster

Those who only do collection also get paid less!

Edward, not enough to live on? Really, $1,900 per month after deductions? By retirement age, at least most of us who live in the public sector, think $1,900 is a luxury! I have a father and step-mother, both with SS, one with survivor benefits (from a wife who worked for the government), and the other with retirement benefits from working for a public school for a long time and their monthly income, net of deductions, is almost half that. I used to have sympathy for the workers of the USPS, never believed in unions (they definately had their time they were needed), but if that is what reality is to you, let me show you mine. Parents in their early 70's, taking loans out on the equity in their homes, if they even have any, to pay for medical costs. No cost of living adjustments that make ANY sense and NO lifestyle to speak of. You work for the government, whether it's on paper or not, because you are a tool for income for them. Be thankful.

Sorry, that just pissed me off!

Aralee: You have a right being pissed off. Pissed off that work doesn't pay a decent wage anymore. Pissed off that corporations are defaulting on pensions on purpose. Pissed off that the stock market plays games with the 401K's.

But when you attack fellow middle class workers?? You become in essence, a rat fighting over the crumbs that are left by those who REALLY INJURED YOU.

rukiddingme are u a idiot. If you cut sat that cuts a whole shift of people. If sat was profitable UPS andFed Ex would have more then a sat skeleton crew working

Your tax dollars pay nothing of the Postal service bills!!Duh!You aint getting jilted by them ass!

RAY: actually, my tax dollars do subsidize the usps. the fed pension fund they contribute to is GUARANTEED by the us taxPAYER. 2nd, the usps pays their employees too much money which is a contributing reason to their massive pension/legacy deficit. dont get me wrong, every other branch of the federal govt are proportionately incompetent. because the usps competes in the REAL WORLD they are simply more transparent. postal inspectors like the one i know have NO BUSINESS retiring with a full pension before they turn 50! do the math idiot!

Jilted... that is exactly what happened to me at UPS!!!! LOL..

you have a choice RU. go use fed ex or the usps. unfortunately for letter service one is stuck w/ the usps which addressed my experience. if ups or fed ex took letters, i would NEVER set foot in a post office.

The Postal Services' money comes from its retail operations, not tax dollars. Mail volume is down which is why their funds are down. Compounding the problem is the Postal Reorganization Act of 2006 which requires the postal service to prepay future health benefits for employees not even hired yet...75 years into the future. Does that make sense. Hell no. But, it is one way congress could sink the postal service and privatize it. Your congressmen on the take as usual.

The postal service has also overpaid into the retirement funds and the government will not return this money which is in the billions....because they've already used it! Just like they have been robbing social security for years.

Some of the inane statements, not based in fact, made by some of you posters are just plain stupid since you don't know what you are talking about.

You think it will be just postal employees out of work? Do any of you have any idea how many small businesses will be affected by this? There are approximately 18 million that do business with the postal service or whose businesses depend on the survival of the postal service.

Try learning something before posting.

Apparently you aren't aware that the USPS delivers over 400 million of UPS and Fedex's packages every year. UPS calls it "mail innovations" and Fedex refers to is as "smart post." 61% of UPS and 28% of Fedex packages are delivered by the USPS because it's cheaper for them to pay the USPS to deliver them than it is to pay their own people to. Tell me again how the USPS can't compete with UPS and Fedex in package delivery.

you do know ups and fedex dhl all drop packages off to the post office that you pay to have delivered by the repsective carriers?

Phil, fed ex ground also carries usps parcels as well. thanks for proving my point though. if it were not for private sector companies giving the usps work, they would be BROKE! once again, the usps has too many employees retiring WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY too early!

jilted taxPAYER

- Postal Inspectors do not retire at 50. They just cannot be inspectors after that age. Most of them take other positions within the service until they reach retirement eligibility. You should not speak about what you do not know.

both jersey and phil are correct in their posts. as a letter carrier none of my salary, pension, uniforms, vehicles,or anything else involved with my job is paid for in part or full by tax dollars. Jilted does not have a clue. And yes we deliver many fed-ex and ups parcels daily, we have contracts with both that make it impossible to advertise the point that they take more money than we charge from their customers then pay us to deliver it and pocket the difference. As for being overpaid that is also a fallacy, we are paid a fair middle class wage that many people do not see because of union breaking tactics from big business in the private sector. instead of bitching about what we make, people should look at the government that helped create a massive portion of our people who have to work for $8.00 per hour and are told they are middle class although they can barely get by. People throw a fit about news stories that show ceos in the private sector getting large bonuses, well the upper management in the post office bonus program is alive and well with the top dogs eating up money in the millions. The problems with stability in the post office is a total sham and can be fixed with the end of prepayments and pension overpayments but the postmaster general and his cronies in the govt. want to force these closures now before a bill from the dems can get passed to fix this made up on paper crisis so they can lay off workers (from the top down and hire temps for half the pay and no benifits so they can pocket even more. call your congressmen and women and let them know to pass the bill to end prepayments and you will not see these stories again and maybe these people who are bitcing about my salarie will get lucky and their child or brother may get a real middle class job someday.

jilted taxPAYER, they do take letters, if you are willing to pay their price. Enjoy.

BS! jersey girl. i personally know a postal inspector who RETIRED and LEFT the postal service. no one in the private sector (the REAL WORLD) retires @ 50 let alone @ a mid level job.

Jilted, you are clueless! show me where it states your tax dollars pay for the USPS pensions. Show me you moron!

obviously, i am not talking about sending an overnight letter @ $30/no kidding. i was referring to a one ounce 1st class letter....if congress forces the usps to pre pay pensions, then there must be a reason. speaking of cronies, i see the dem senators just kicked the can down the road to halt the usps closures til may. must be nice. if you are upset about pay, go compete in the real world=the private sector and see what you will make for a similar low skill job Dougie....

you are unbelievable! why do they pre-fund? you dont know the answer to that? you are spewing alot of crap but can't answer the simple questions yourself? you are obviously a republican a-hole who worships people like Bill O'Reilly. when you get a friggin' clue then open your mouth.

jilted has no clue. I know someone who has worked in the USPS for over 25 years, and she is still junior in her department. Doesn't sound much like people retiring early and living on the govt. gravy train to me. The govt. guarantees the pension fund, but USPS has to fully fund it for the next 75 years. I'm all for fully funding pension funds so my tax dollars don't have to bail it out. But funding it for peeps that haven't been born yet? Get real - nobody should have to do that.

Again, they are broke because congress won't let them increase their rates and wants to steal their retirement funds. Not because they are inefficient. They would still be the cheapest document delivery service around if they were allowed to charge what it costs them. And your service would improve.

And if you are worried about your tax dollars going to waste, just wait until all the employees get laid off and go on unemployment and welfare. Then you will REALLY be supporting them directly with your beloved tax dollars, lol.

jilted taxPAYER

- If he retired at 50, then he took an early out, or he had military time or other government service, or he retired on disability. It's not BS, it's fact and I know what the hell I am talking about.

In the postal service minimum retirement eligibility is 55 years of age with 30 years of service and you get 56% of your salary, or at 60 years of age with 20 years. Anything less than eligibility, you lose 2% of your pension for every year that you don't meet the eligibility requirements. Even when they offer an early-out package, they STILL ARE PENALIZED the 2% per year that they don't meet the basic eligibility. And they NEVER get that 2% back. It is a lifetime loss.

So sorry about what the greedy companies did to your REAL WORLD. Put the blame where it belongs and don't be a sap.

I just retired from the Post Office at 57 after Open Heart surgery that did not work. I am hoping I can get disability. The annuity is not much and is much less if I don't get it. I wish I could work still. U people that complain about the post office u have no idea about anything. At least he left and retired at his choice.

Jilted you are either ignorant or just a right wing tool...either way, you're wrong.

Jersey girl you nailed it...but isn't strange how there is NO ONE in the media is actually explaining how the Bush GOP sabotaged the USPS with that foolish 75 yr pre-payment.

The USPS schools the private sector! See how much it would take to send a letter via FedEx or UPS...not even close.

nope jersey girl, he was a 4 year college educated employee. no previous service in the gubment or military. i will not argue he took an early out or less pension BUT NO ONE in the REAL WORLD=private sector can afford to do this before age 50 for a mid level @ best job. he works an easy semi retirement job now. postal employees are OVERPAID for their skill set. hence their CONTINUED financial problems.

beefydaddy, you obviously have no concept of the term "economies of scale". no wonder the usps can deliver a letter @ their price since they are a MONOPOLY! yet they have to compete in THE REAL WORLD on packages. if the usps were efficient and competitive and customer friendly, then why can i not "opt out" of junk mail? hmmmmmm? the usps' bread and butter= useless paper. do you know how long the usps has BEGGED congress to tax emails and pass on the rev to subsidize them? hmmmmmm?

jilted taxPAYER

nope jersey girl, he was a 4 year college educated employee. no previous service in the gubment or military. i will not argue he took an early out or less pension BUT NO ONE in the REAL WORLD=private sector can afford to do this before age 50 for a mid level @ best job. he works an easy semi retirement job now. postal employees are OVERPAID for their skill set. hence their CONTINUED financial problems.

And your problem is envy.

You don't know what his financial status and means is unless it is a family member. It is best not to make assumptions.

You talk glibly about skill set. I worked for the postal service and was responsible for overseeing the payroll operations for all of southern New Jersey and the entire state of Delaware with a staff of four clerks. We closed our payroll every two weeks at 99% or better. Don't talk to me about skill set. Just words unless you've walked in someone else's shoes.

BEST IDEA FOR USPS TO SURVIVE!!!!!!!!!!

Merge with Fed ex or ups. THis would solve their problem and also they need to give the Union a what for. Give them the option to lose work or take less wages. I am sure they will choose less wages. Show operations cost and how its hurting the company. If this is unreasonable to the union.....You can go and get them disbanded due to unreasonability,

jersey girl, i envy no one. you refuse to accept the bitter facts that you work(ed) for a failed business entity that didn't shed employees as the business volume shrunk over decades. or by technology that passed you by. your payroll office probably still uses 10 key adding machines! if it were not for junk mail, your failed business entity would have been broke decades ago! do you know what software is? the private sector=the REAL WORLD. usps= failed business entity. gotta go give my neighbor his mail.

jilted, postal inspectors are police and are required to retire after 25 years of service. This is mandatory!

Hey Jilted, how come you aren't working at the PO? Unqualified, no? Most of them are VETS as mandated by Uncle Sam. They've earned that job! Is that why you're feeling so jilted? Shut up and pay yer taxes like any workin stiff. You, like most posters here don't have any REAL WORKING EXPERIENCE on the subject. You believe what you are told by the bought and paid-fer media. You rely on third-generational info at best. See that postal dude on the photo. He earns every damn dime! Many Lunar eclipses ago I pulled a 16.4 mile foot route in southern Arizona's heat for seven years. Add to that having to pull a split from another route added the total to over 22 miles a day on foot. Earned every f***ing penny! That's why they got the OLDEST Union in the US. More than 99% membership among the letter carriers. There ain't none stronger anywhere! The NALC is about a hundred and ten-plus years! PI's (Postal Inspectors) aren't real Police. They wouldn't last a week in a real LE job. We used to call 'em the knee-deep police. We called upon the PI's only to make our side look bigger than the crook's we we're serving Federal warrants. Anyhow, Gary is correct! Nothing like a real working experience to put a spine to an opinion! Jilted and the rest of you naysayers, get some experience of yer own! Yer words will mean more!

jersey so the billions in the hole will just come out of what? Please tell me ? As for the people depending on the USPS like businesses I am pretty sure UPS and Fedex will fill the void! As of now we can not ship letters at UPS because of the law. Why is this fair?

Think again ninnybon. It depends on where you live. Are you ready for those businesses to raise their prices by 20%-40% to cover the shipping cost differences? Here in the USVI, we businesses rely on USPS for our parcels that fall within the weight/dimension limitations of USPS for our shipments. Why? Because UPS especially, FedEx, DHL, et al consider the territory "international." It costs FIVE TIMES the USPS priority rate to ship the same parcel by UPS. FedEx is at least double the cost. I'm in the apparel business and that means that each garment sold would have to have a price tag of a minimum of $1-$3 added to the price to cover UPS shipping. Plus, anything that comes in by anything other than USPS gets charged both a 6% customs fee (if it is not labeled on the outside of the box that ALL contents are US Made) plus a 4.5% excise tax. If you haven't looked at the labels on your clothing lately, try finding something that carries a Made in America label. Most apparel now comes from Bangladesh, El Salvador, Guatemala, DR, Haiti, China, Vietnam, and other foreign child labor countries.

Why is it fair? Actually you CAN ship letters (in flat rate envelopes) by FedEx at a rate much higher than Express Mail.

Sorry, Ken. It's the Repukes this time as Bush-Cheney's crew were behind this one! Well done Repukes!

They have more than $3000.00 in equipment, but some offices could be closed, if done sensibly, and make sure there are USPS sevices within a resonable distance.

joe stalin

Like obama said"we all have to sacrifice"Time for the unions,Federal and State workers and post office to chip in.While we are at it why don't we shut down for ever,the stupid idea of the government running the mortgage industry.Bye fannie mae and freddie mac,you were a disaster while you existed.

Fannie Mae has existed since 1938 and Freddie since 1970. How do you "get rid of them?" What happens to the millions of mortgages. Do you want to back a few $T's in mortgages or just have the mortgages magically disappear?

I work for the USPS.. uhh, I am not getting a wage increase in the next few years or even a cost of living increase either. Our health benefits increased drastically.My pay is not going up within the next 3 yrs. Contrary to popular belief, our wages are not that astounding. I am not rich and definitely will never be working for the USPS. So before you form your opinion on what should be done, why not get the facts first. From what I've read about UPS the only reason they make money is because they keep raising their rates. USPS cannot raise rates without jumping thru hoops first and the increase can only be so much. The whole thing is nothing but a manufactured crisis to dupe the public into thinking there is no money and that they need more. How bout the govt stop making the USPS fund a retirement that has enough money in it for unborn postal workers and how bout the govt stop taking the USPS profit since we're a non for profit organization? Never mind 5 day delivery or wage freezes, it's been done.

you have a low skill set, repetitive task job postal, and you are paid WAY more than you would in the private sector. and as far as your increase: welcome to the REAL WORLD! thats what happens when you work for a failed business model.

Actually pivate companies like UPS and Fed-Ex pay well above what USPS workers make,

Thank you: Thank you: Postal service for the great job you gave me and the great retirement I get. Maybe not Rich but enjoying Retirement....I listen to all this BS from people that are against the USPS and I laugh how they wish they had a job that you knew you could retire not like working for the Corps and get laid off or fired after 25 or 30 years because they want to down size and their CEO make 100 millions dollars like Mitt R. did. If you had a party of No then not much get done in a country that about to collaspe. The GOP is all about the Wealthy getting richer and the middle class getting poorer.....They don't want to help out the poor, I do mean the poor not the lazy good for nothings...Who are the one's that leach off the taxpayer.They are the Wealthy that get welfare both for themselves or for the Corps. So really both party are at fault...But it seems that the Wealthy get away with it like the Corzine.....They steal billions and the few poor steals a few thousands. So what does the GOP want to do is Screw the MIddle Class to get even with the few. As I say its the me me me and F everyone else.... The failures of the Republicans party trying to take away SS and Medicare so they can give their wealthy Blackmailers more money...To hell with the Poor and Needy. Let them freeze in the winter and stave the Old and Babies,let them die from bad water, do away with the EPA and thats what you'll have, just like all you Teabaggers want...You make me sick with your Me Me Me altitude. It just a matter of time before the masses raise up against you . Greedy and you all call yourself Christains. What a laugh: Your no better than the Muslims you all hate. Wake up America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WAKE UP: "

Midwest mom,I work for usps and my friend works for ups. Your wages are much better than mine,and you get more vacation after 8 years than we get after working 15 years. We do not forward a local package unless address correction is requested. What wage increases? Our benefits are not gold like everyone thinks.Get the facts straight before you post!

listen to the union thug = maze! the richest 10 people in the congress AND senate are ALL dems! yes, your govt union paid you to work 25 years where a similar low skill set worker in the private sector=the REAL WORLD works 40 years. THAT is primarily why the usps is a fiscal failure! case closed....

Maze, you're a-Maze-ingly ignorant. You write like a postal worker, which explains why they're failing.

Ok jilted: A typical Republican or teabagger. All BS: most Postal workr work to 40 years and retire unless you started when you forty then you work 20 to 25 years..So the longer you work the more you get for retirement.

@Jilted Taxpayer--What are your skill sets? Besides running your mouth? Everyone tries to look like geniuses in thier posts and regetfully neglect the issues at hand. As someone who makes a partial living shipping online. I would be out of business if i had to pay ups and fedex. My wifes a teacher. Do you have something against her also? Unless you came from dirt and are now accomplished through self means. You really have no right putting anyone down.

Jilted, it just doesn't matter what anyone tells you, you keep spouting the same hateful crap. People don't get rich working for the post office unless they are the Post Master General. He lives by a whole other set of rules, just like Congress.

There used to be strict appearance standards, but the unions negotiated them all away. Half a century ago, they looked as good as the police did in most jurisdictions. It gave people confidence in their letter carriers.

The Post Office right now is stuck in the hell of being in the worst of both worlds. In many ways it is in competition with private-sector companies like UPS and FedEx but it still has to put up with all of the affirmative action and social-engineering policies that are pervasive in government.

What a Stupid remark to make.What the Hell does look,s have to do with anything?!! Most Postal Worker,s work very hard for not allot of pay.

I'm sorry...What exactly does a homeless person look like in your eyes? The working class is the new homeless.

I'm sorry but he is clean shaven and his cloths are clean, what about this says that he is homeless to you? Yes he is wearing a beanie to ward off the cold, and it may not be up to your standards of fashion, but if you had to work outdoors in the cold you would be more concerned about keeping warm like this man pictured.

Vicj, Letter Carriers are exposed to a lot of ink from EVERYTHING they handle. You show up all clean and pressed, go home at the end of the day looking like a grease monkey! Them folks put lots of miles on foot! After a few months a letter carrier will have a permanent stain on their hands, secondly the photo color is not accurate. Thirdly, that satchell starts at a weight of about 30 pounds or more. Besides, what's a homeless person look like ? Be happy he's employed and paying taxes!

I think someone mailed your brain while you were asleep last night David.

With that pricing volume would collapse to almost nothing and nearly all of the offices would then close.

awesome,,,,

go ahead and ups and fedex, and see what they charge you!

I have a hard time believing that what they are currently charging for "standard mail" (advertising and magazines, what used to be Third Class and Second Class respectively) covers much of the cost of mailing it. These tend to be things done by large, politically-connected companies as opposed to your personal Christmas and greeting cards, for example, which have only Hallmark, etc. to lobby the Postal managment. Billing and even more importantly bill-paying volume are down and will never totally recover even when the economy does due to electronic billing and payments. Obviously, actual letters are a tiny fraction of what they used to be and will never recover much due to electronic communications, but it's been decades since they were a truly important part of volume anyway. Here's the deal: it's an important governmental service that will never directly pay for itself. We don't ask law enforcement or firefighting to do this. The difference is that at least the Post Office can offset some of its expenses. They can also close some of the offices where almost no one lives anymore, and where there are several within a very small radius of a few miles or even less. They can also go back to having more "contract stations" inside other business like drugstores and places where the people can spend most of their time on other duties instead of sitting around during slack hours waiting for customers to come as often happens at some of the smaller offices. If they massively cut their service back to next to nothing, they will be cutting their own throat the rest of the way, though. If it is going to take several days just to get something across town or the same time as to somewhere hundreds of miles away I'll cut back on what mail I send even more.

Marvin... u are obviously unaware of what u are speaking about... The postal service did not LOSE the parcel service as u stated... they sold it off, as they felt they were not making money off of it, as it is, and has been the cheapest way to ship. What society doesn't understand, is that the postal service is required to pre pay millions of dollars a year into a 75 yr plan.. in other words, they have to pre pay for retiree benefits, for people who aren't even born yet!!! That is what keeps the postal service in the red. The postal service could maintain itself they way it runs, if the Govt would eliminate this pre payment. So plz Sir... educate yourself before speaking of something that u are obviously not educated on...

Hi all you who know not very much about mail delivery. I just came home from another long day of delivering all your online free shipping holiday parcels. Oh and by the way, the USPS delivers parcels in the suburbs and rural areas for UPS and Fedex everyday. We go the last mile, so the other services hire us to do it cause they don't want to. Yes, the internet has really cut in to our first class bill paying mail, but mail service is very valuble to many folks who live in area's where they don't even have a reliable internet service. and remember, when your internet service goes down or is compromised by a virus, the poor little mailgirl will still come to your mailbox everyday. We at the USPS are proud to serve. We may have our issues, but we will never quit on the American people who want our service. Here's an idea, if you have so low opinion of our service, you can take down your mailbox and be done with us. You are not required by law to have a mailbox. You can have no delivery 6 days a week if you care. We'll just send all your bulk business mail to the round file and return to sender any greeting cards, checks and yes your bills, Undeliverable as addressed! We work for the person who put the stamp on the envelope, not the recipient. You are getting it for free. But I bet you won't do it. Cause everyone likes to hope that someone will send them a card or a check or tickets to Florida. So mail someone something today and make them happy. Stick a stamp and save the USPS for the next generation.

yeah the poor little mailgirl will come to my mailbox and deliver my neighbor's mail!

pamailgirl, reely welll spookened. yous rr soo smarrts. no woonders yer a malegirls.

As opposed to the genius that you are, akehole?

@akehole and jilted, Once again its come down to petty degrading. Proving our point for us.

Too many folks want that Postal dude to roll by even if all he/she delivers is Bulk Business Mail (junk mail for all those posting not in the USPS loop) on Saturday. The vast majority want Saturday delivery and those that do are most likely to speak the loudest on Election Day. Pamamail girl says it from a real working experience. Experience is what puts a spine to an opinion. Get some!

The government is the one who will decide if the Post Office will close on Saturday, close offices that need closed, and what the prices the Postal Services can charge. I'm a mail contractor and beleive me I am not getting rich delivering the mail but I do enjoy my work. Your mail carrier sees to it that Granny gets her letter even when the address isn't complete. I realize this isn't always the case but most of us do the very best job that we can. My route is 132 miles and I have 372 stops. Some of my customers are about 45 miles from the closest Post Office.

No but our tax dollars will end up paying for your pensions once it heads to the PBGC that agency is so underwater trying to bailout pensions

Dave... your tax dollars do not in anyway support the postal service... U wanna gripe about misspending of your tax dollars... how about all the free loaders sucking up welfare and bridge cards, oh and lets not forget social security benefits for all of their kids bcuz they have a learning disability! Write your Congressman on that one, and support your local post office!

yes they do! the us taxPAYER guarantees the usps pension fund.

Just because there is a guarantee does not mean that it is used. If you go into a bank it says that all deposits up to 100k are gauranteed by the federal government. This just means that if something were to go wrong that the government would back it, it is a safety net. And here is somthing else to think about for all of you that are griping about government pensions, government jobs pay far less then similar jobs in the private sector, HOWEVER, they make up for it with their benifits and pensions, this has always been a consideration for someone to make that is entering the job field. Here is an example I am an Engineer, if I went to work for a private firm where I live I could make around 60k a year, on the other hand I could go to work for the government (in this case the county) for 44k. The difference is that the 60k position does not offer the benifits and retirement that the 44k job does. That is why for me I would pick the job with the county. People entered into these positions knowing that they paid less then their private counterparts because of these benifits.

Jilted, you have no idea what you are talking about. The USPS gets ZERO TAX DOLLARS FOR ANYTHING! The taxpayer does not guarantee the pension fund. If you believe that then show it in writing! you f in moron!

the us taxPAYER does guarantee the us postal service and every other federal govt pension. BTW, in the event of a collapse, guess who gets paid first? yep, fed govt union pensions. the usps is a FAILED business model or this article would not exist. this is not the first time the usps has begged for money. ps, guess who has hired more new workers in the last 10 years than ANY other entity? yep, the federal gubment.

they do not pay for our pensions, as we must contribute to our own thrift plan. No tax money is used for our pension!

And have the UPS and Fed Ex deliver out there. The Post Office delivers packages from UPS and Fed Ex to all areas that they don't cover

UPS and Fedex will not be going to those rural places. If they do, it will cost a BUNDLE.

booFNhoo! round up a covered wagon and go to town once a week like in the old westerns. NO ONE owes you anything because YOU choose to live in the sticks!

jilted taxPAYER

booFNhoo! round up a covered wagon and go to town once a week like in the old westerns. NO ONE owes you anything because YOU choose to live in the sticks!

All of your posts this evening smack of bitterness. Are you one of those whose job was sent overseas? Are you now working for minimum wage and barely making it? Please take your bitterness elsewhere. You are not impressing anyone here with your posts full of falsehoods. Don't be a hater, you'll live longer.

bitter truth hurts jersey girl. new jersey= the toxic waste dump capital of america!

Good, get your brain dead asses out of the sticks and attempt to live like civilized folk.

David: where do you think the money come from when you retire; Idiot it come from the money I paid into for 30 + years and it has to pay for future benfits..So it doesn't cost the taxpayers nothing....and yes I also get SS because I paid into it for 50 years. Dip-Sh*t. Before you open your mouth get your fact first, but then again republicanpukes and teabaggers don't know sh*t except tp cut from the poor and elderly.

jilted taxPAYER

bitter truth hurts jersey girl. new jersey= the toxic waste dump capital of america!!

#21.5 - Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:08 PM EST

Your verbal attacks don't bother me little man. No wonder "jilted" is your screen name.

BC, you have to much faith in the unions. Postal unions don't have that much power. Your are aware that they have been moving employees out of the processing plants for years. Also, there are post offices open that bring in 30 to 40 dollars a week. No company would keep them open. Some of them simply need to bel closed and incorp in to the closest larger city. Save a lot of money!

Unions have no say whatsoever in what post offices stay open. Your politicians control that. The USPS isn't allowed, by law, to consider a post offices profitability when trying to close a post office. Try and close a post office anywhere and see how many of those gutless Congress members you speak of scream bloody murder. The fact that you think unions have a say shows just how ignorant you are of how things work. The fact that you posted with such certainty, when ignorant of those facts, show just how much of a fool you are.

@ unreal-3070801

I think it is funny that you think we need to incorporate the post offices that bring in 30 to 40 dollars a week into the closest larger city. My mother is a post master at such a postoffice. Do you want to know where the closest larger city is? It is over 1.5 hours away, and in a different county. If you were to recieve your mail at a post office in the same county (which you have to do for certain DMV regulations) you would have to go about 4 hours away, that is real practical.

Also, unlike private sector unions, all that they can do is bargain and file grievances. They can't strike, which means that the Service has traditionally given in on non-pay items like appearance, and to an extent, work rules.

Smartest post I've read here today. Seasonal hiring shouldn't be considered for the National unemployment rate, since it's so brief. 9.5 %, here we come again.

And I'll bet that's why your blow up doll has a penis.