Joe Nocera's longish piece in the New York Times a couple of days ago ("It's Time to Stay the Courier") about the future of the U.S. Postal Service is worth a look. His fundamental argument, that the USPS needs restructuring rather than just tinkering, is certainly one I share.
On the other hand, Nocera's suggestion that we can just do without mail delivery entirely, because everybody is using e-mail these days, needs examination. It may be that Nocera is totally wired through e-mail and a dozen other types of electronic connection. Many people are equally fortunate. But he's wearing blinders if he thinks everybody is in the same boat. I know lots of elderly people who don't use e-mail at all, or use it rarely; then there are those like me who much prefer to get their magazines in the comfortably and ubiquitously readable hard-copy format.
An even larger group (I would guess) are those who don't have a computer, and internet service, and all the accoutrements, because they can't afford them. Such people may have "access" to the internet, if they happen to choose to go the a public library (probably also an endangered species in Mr. Nocera's world view) or some other such free-access niche, but that's a far cry from being able to be confident that they are receiving such fundamental communications as their gas and phone bills, other payment notices including taxes, notices of legal matters like foreclosure or an increase in their credit card rate.
Where would people receive and respond to this kind of mail? Not from private delivery services of any sort, especially if there is no "public option." (Sounds a bit like health care, doesn't it?) That's why "universality" has been the watchword of the postal service pretty much since the days of Benjamin Franklin. I can imagine a lot of changes, including closing some offices, reducing the frequency of delivery, and even different frequency in different areas. Getting the USPS out of the clutches of Congress and its totally political considerations is another, and a BRAC-like commission structure might accomplish that.
But abandoning a commitment to serve all citizens? It's unthinkable. Without a government-operated post office, message delivery would fall into the hands of a price-fixing oligarchy. Just look at the cable-TV/phone/internet companies that already handle Mr. Nocera's communications, where the services available in a given area seem curiously similar, and prices increase exponentially since there are no true options. Many people get excluded from such a "free" market. I just don't think we're ready to abandon snail mail yet.
As the son of a 46-year postal employee, I read your latest post with interest and a sense that the PO is about to change beyond recognition. My dad entered the local Post Office at 18 or 19, not long after leaving the local cotton mill.
As a PO employee, he imbued the mails with a religious quality and treated First Class mail as a sacrament. (Not many left like that.) Dad was Chief Clerk for many years and ended up as Postmaster in his small town office. (Appointed by Kennedy's Postmaster General). Incidentally, the Postmaster is the highest-ranking federal officer in many small towns. My dad was constantly counseling, advising, explaining USG policy, etc. Closing small PO's will remove this no-cost USG presence in these communities.
Posted by: Anonymous Reader | August 12, 2009 at 11:57 AM