Death of the Postal System
I say death, but it may just represent another period of transformation. CNN is running an article which mentions the upcoming stamp increase from $0.39 to $0.41 along with the new 'forever stamp' which allows users to lock-in prices.
A forever stamp, eh? Why? This stinks of 'last ditch effort to generate large sums of money upfront.' This is the classic 'create panic and let the public buy up all the supply' tactic. Well, I hope it doesn't work. The postal system is great, but damn... it totally sucks. With the increase of email and online bill pay, I write one check a month. That amounts to under $10 a year in postage. Personally, I think all mail should be electronic - or you should at least have the option to request mail as all electronic.
Imagine the efficiencies throughout the entire supply chain. Content providers could release their product via electronic means. This means $0 for printing costs, $0 for postage, etc which not only equates to cost efficiencies, but also resource efficiency - no paper! In addition, the postal service would see reduced volume which means fewer trucks, airplanes, etc needed to move mail which equates to fuel savings.
Basically, you could shutdown the post office within 10 years. However, as with all government agencies, we are overlooking the true reason the post office exists: welfare. Just like the military, police, and other bloated government agencies, the postal system provides jobs to thousands of otherwise unemployable individuals. Yes, I know there are some good postal people, but they are outnumbered 5 to 1 by my count. After all, what other job allows you to ditch your route and layout during the summer? (Personally witnessed by several of my coworkers.) What job allows you to park your delivery van in a company parking lot and smoke weed? (Again, personally witnessed along with several coworkers.)
So let us theorize a second: If all of these people were unemployed, society would crash, millions would go into poverty and starve. Hmm.... sounds like Egypt all over again. However, instead of pyramids, now we are receiving shitty customer service and junk mail.
I advocate the complete rebuilding of the entire economic system from the ground up. Nothing but efficiency. With all of the cost savings, we could decrease our tax burden. The effect should be equivalent to the various 'trickle down' policies of the past - except people would actually get to keep their money! Now, I realize that millions would be unemployed. However, I advocate that we move back to a one-income household model. Since our tax burden would be significantly reduced, we should see a similar increase in the value of our dollar which would in turn cause deflation. A one-income family would allow time for family - something that is almost forgotten in our go-go-money society.
Then maybe, just maybe, the children of this new generation would receive proper parenting, proper education, and critical thinking skills. Renaissance! And all of this could start with the death of the Postal System. :-)
A forever stamp, eh? Why? This stinks of 'last ditch effort to generate large sums of money upfront.' This is the classic 'create panic and let the public buy up all the supply' tactic. Well, I hope it doesn't work. The postal system is great, but damn... it totally sucks. With the increase of email and online bill pay, I write one check a month. That amounts to under $10 a year in postage. Personally, I think all mail should be electronic - or you should at least have the option to request mail as all electronic.
Imagine the efficiencies throughout the entire supply chain. Content providers could release their product via electronic means. This means $0 for printing costs, $0 for postage, etc which not only equates to cost efficiencies, but also resource efficiency - no paper! In addition, the postal service would see reduced volume which means fewer trucks, airplanes, etc needed to move mail which equates to fuel savings.
Basically, you could shutdown the post office within 10 years. However, as with all government agencies, we are overlooking the true reason the post office exists: welfare. Just like the military, police, and other bloated government agencies, the postal system provides jobs to thousands of otherwise unemployable individuals. Yes, I know there are some good postal people, but they are outnumbered 5 to 1 by my count. After all, what other job allows you to ditch your route and layout during the summer? (Personally witnessed by several of my coworkers.) What job allows you to park your delivery van in a company parking lot and smoke weed? (Again, personally witnessed along with several coworkers.)
So let us theorize a second: If all of these people were unemployed, society would crash, millions would go into poverty and starve. Hmm.... sounds like Egypt all over again. However, instead of pyramids, now we are receiving shitty customer service and junk mail.
I advocate the complete rebuilding of the entire economic system from the ground up. Nothing but efficiency. With all of the cost savings, we could decrease our tax burden. The effect should be equivalent to the various 'trickle down' policies of the past - except people would actually get to keep their money! Now, I realize that millions would be unemployed. However, I advocate that we move back to a one-income household model. Since our tax burden would be significantly reduced, we should see a similar increase in the value of our dollar which would in turn cause deflation. A one-income family would allow time for family - something that is almost forgotten in our go-go-money society.
Then maybe, just maybe, the children of this new generation would receive proper parenting, proper education, and critical thinking skills. Renaissance! And all of this could start with the death of the Postal System. :-)
posted by Nate at 1:08 AM
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