I am a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier and I’ve read recent comment about USPS privatization with much interest. I must say that I’m no big fan of postal management, but I’m rather puzzled at what these articles are saying about the postal service. I don’t understand how people can complain about the USPS providing services that the private sector offers, and in the same breath call for Congress to privatize it.
What do they think the private service would provide? Do they think a privatized postal service would ask the other private carriers (such as United Parcel Service) for permission to provide the same things they do?
I think these same people, in the event the postal service ever is privatized, would change the name of their organization and start complaining about the competition that the newly privatized postal service would create for their business.
I know that we get a lot of bitching and moaning every time there’s a rate increase, but let me offer my opinion.
I know that an increase in postal rates is very hard for some businesses to deal with, but if it wasn’t for the “exceptionally low” postal rates, their business wouldn’t have had a chance in the first place. Consider that letters are sent to Alaska, Hawaii and all the U.S. territories for the same price as if you were mailing them to an address just down the street.
I think the American public, along with the mail-related business, has taken our postal service for granted. I know the USPS isn’t perfect and needs work, but for the country as a whole I don’t think privatization is a healthy choice. I don’t just say that to protect my job; I’m also thinking about the millions of people who would either have to pay much, much more for their postal services because they live in a region that wouldn’t be very cost-effective for a private company to serve, or not have any service at all.
Neal Williams
