To anyone that blames the postal service for it's failings, you are wrong and misinformed. In 2006, Congress passed the "Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act", which created the unprecedented requirement that the postal service has to pre-fund it's pensions for 75 years in advance (retirees that aren't even BORN YET). This was done because the postal service is a shining example of how hard work and collective bargaining in a governmental entity can be productive and financially sound. They have not been funded by any tax payer money for over 25 years, relying simply on consumers purchasing the products they offer, and were doing fine until this passed in 2006. No other public or private entity would or even COULD exist with such a requirement. This bill was passed to kill the postal service, and that is exactly what it is doing. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr6407

Really, who needs the USPS anymore? We have electronic mail, social media sights, UPS and FEDEX. I haven’t used the USPS for years now and most likely never will again.

I think this is just a way to eliminate the service. Then watch, all those people who pay online will start to see companies and banks charge fees for the service. Then it will be too late to go back to the better system. Support jobs folks. So many are being replaced by machines and people in far way lands.

They were doing just fine until 2006?
Just like America. Doing just fine , until all those promises we are borrowing to pay will one day come due.

With all the JUNK MAIL I get, it will be nice not get it on Saturday. About 80% of my mail is TRASH. I just hope no jobs will be lost. We have a great Mail Carrier and would hate to lose her.

Late Postmaster General Marvin Runyon, a UAW member who turned USPS losses into surpluses would disagree with you

I think we could do with every other day delivery. Most of the mail we receive now is not urgent - typically "junk" mail and bills (and even many bills are delivered - and paid - electronically now), so that I don't see why we couldn't go to an every-other-day schedule.

I agree..every other day would be fine. Keep the post office. change the model.
The post office will be open for you to send a letter if need be. But my mailbox can fit WAY MORE mail in it. Why not just delivery more volume instead of coming back EVERY DAY....

This country needs a United states postal service. Except all arguments against it seem to justify it's demise "because you have other mail services".
Well how many of you know that your so-called electronic mail deliveries and bank online checks deliveries __ARE using the USPS to get those checks delivered.
The banks are charging you Dearly for that electronic check. Maybe more than a stamp and handwritten check. Go ahead and figure it.
Then ask yourself, why do you still pay for public schools you no longer use as empty nesters. For those who want to wash aside our wonderful Postal System because they have other mail services are hypocrites to continued Public school costs that are booming out of control. All of you have other perfectly viable Education alternatives throughout your areas. So why do you continue to support an overCOSTED $10,000 per student education while "crying" about a 46cent stamp. Answer---Because you think Public education is "Free".
At least I don't pay that 46 cent stamp, if I don't use the USPS.
That's exactly how our Public education should work.
Stop being hypocrites to one Service while closing your eyes to another very similar service. Postal Service was Taxpayer funded and got out of control.
Witnessing the result?.
Public school costs are embedded in everything you buy. Tax subsidies kept the USPS going many years, just like our PSchools.
Anyone for raising Real estate taxes and lotto,tobacco auto taxes to support our USPS?

The Missourian should pay more for Saturday Delivery. it's what you want.
You want it delivered USPS--Fine get it that way ---You pay for it.
I'll pay whatever the postal service wants to deliver my mail.
If it's $1 per stamp--I'll pay it. If the package costs $20 for Saturday delivery , I'll pay it.
BUT, --don't you "the Missourian" expect me to pay those rates if another mail delivery private service shop offers to do it for less. That's not "whining" . that's a realization that the days of keeping horse buggies on the road are far past Post office "Guaranteed" pay & benefit scales. They should survive, only if they stop the only mail service mentality in town attitude.
It's not the pension benefit pre-funding that is killing them. That is union gossip.
Many smart people know that gripe is phony. A massive layoff is needed at reduced retirement benefits.
They lose $16B each year. Saturday delivery only saves $2Bil.
We all still need home mail delivered, and the USPS can do that better than anyone else. Are you "The Missourian" prepared to fund their enormous Pension obligations they have promised? Are should they simply charge $1 per stamp to cover their annual pension obligations. How many people would pay that?
In your word--"We are all in this together" REALLY?
"All for one-One for All" is a survival cry--not a personal communication cry!

Gabe Cotton:
The NBC-- New York times all reported the $16Bil loss of the Post office.
Here is one link. The Google search gives you more than 20 references articles about the disatrous losses at USPS ALL AT $16Billion.

www.nbcnews.com/.../postal-service-reports-record-1

Using Fox news as your diversion is laughable. It shows you are only interested in what you want to hear. Of course I would exaggerate sometimes on things only to make a point. But Not this one.
If you are still believing that the Post service could be set free by stopping that nonsense Pension contribution , you are way wrong.
I suggest you get your $16Bil starting point first. Smoke and mirrors gossip of the unions is Hurting the Post office not helping it.
I have a stake in getting them on the right foot, but the higher ups just will not level with the workers. Sorry to see you much uninformed. Fox news is not your problem.
NBC and N Y times are with ME on this.
Furthermore, Pre-funding is a "union" term. It is an intentional diversion to "real Cost. Expecting a 25 year old to get a pension at age 60 without putting enough money aside while he is working is "No-funding".
That person now retired is drawing more than what the Postal service put into the plan.
That is what the law is catching up on.
You should actually Watch Fox news---You would be much more informed to state your opinions, rather that reading & listening to Gossip.
No need to agree-Just listen.

Caffeinated: Mr Cotton's comments were wrong. Period.
The pension "accounting expenses" are real. They are expenses never shown in all those previous years that the P.O. left off their profit statements.
These retiree expenses are "real". they are money that will be and must be paid to today's and upcoming retirees. The P.O. did lose $16Bil dollars (2012), they could not pay it and therefore default is on the Horizon. They can not just wisk the $11 bil aside. They owe it. Their income each year does not pay all their expenses. That is why they used the $11B to pay their regular bills. They are not Funding their Pension. IT IS THEIR PROBLEM. Not the Pre-funding.
Mr Cotton was way off in stating that they would be OK , if only they did not have to fund their Pension. DUH!
that's absurd.

Would one of you haters please volunteer to carry a letter from St. Louis to LA for me? I'm willing to pay more than USPS rates. Say, 50 cents?

USPS should take on the UPS business model. If UPS lost this much money they'd be waaaaay out of business. They need to cut costs PERIOD. So you can tell your grandkids about how mail used to get delivered on Saturday. They will roll their eyes at you.

A good start would be to eliminate all federal government programs large and small except for national defense. STOP THE SPENDING STOP THE SPENDING STOP THE SPENDING

The Postal Service is a service that is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. To discuss reform is an appropriate response; no organization can survive without changing to meet the needs of a society. However, it would be unconstitutional to simply end the service. You would think that someone with the name “PaulRevere” would have respect for something that was established by the original framers of the Constitution. Unfortunately, it seems Mr. Revere only supports the parts of the Constitution he personally approves of.

PaulStanley: Article 1 Sec8 of the constitution "Gives the POWER to congress to establish a post office".
That sir, is not a mandate.
Congress has the Power to establish it and they have the power to shut it down anytime. There is no constitutional RIGHT to a post office.
Their Greed in Taking easy Taxed money to pay their excessive wages for many years put them into play for competition.
SOLUTION?--Deliver only letter mail. This country needs that. But, we don't need rural door to door anymore. 20th century automobiles owned by every American makes any post office of 1780's unnecessary.
That is why Congress has no reasonable excuse to continue to subsidize a service made obsolete by innovation. Amtrak is a sister example of congress power to keep a service or allow it to continue.
It is a pay as use system. That is exactly how ANY PUBLICLY TAXED SERVICE SHOULD OPERATE. (Note well, that any time society has a service available for less than the Govt service--No Forced taxation should be imposed to keep that service going.) That rule would make all of us much richer and keep more of what we earn. No Govt "duplicated" service should be rammed down the throats of the workers.--Period. People who cannot afford a Govt education should be 100% reimbursed for a free education. That's what Missouri's constitution should imply.
Instead, our educators are paying themselves whatever the TAXES can support.
GREED! all over again. Blind to the many alternative Education schools.

Today's Postal Loss-Fresh off the press.
(The Postal Service posted a $1.3 billion loss in the first quarter, compared with a $3.1 billion loss over the same period last year. The agency said the first quarter has traditionally been one of its strongest periods.)
That annualizes to $5bil loss this year. No viable business in America could ever survive a $5B loss.
Those of you who continue to blame Pre-funding, please read carefully.
The pre-funding is for "medical" expenses coverages for retirees after they leave the postal job. Claiming that no Private business has to pre-fund that expense is simply Wrong. First of all 95% of all businesses do not even have that coverage.
Only a handfull of major Corporations still offer that. Paying medical expenses after retirement is "UNHEARD" of today at any private business.
With all the Postal retirees needing reimbursements in the future demands that the P.O. fund for that expense. Poorly mismanaged is more like it.
The pre-funding argument is not about pensions--it's about medical expenses.
A real expense about to hit the fan. Old union demand. using tax funds
Officials yell foul and want to be treated like Private businesses. WHY? Private businesses go out of business and NO medical is ever paid out to the retired. They are left in the cold.
The postal service would have to charge every Taxpayer to pay the guaranteed medical , if they went out of business. That is a big reason they Fess up NOW.

You all also forget that as FedEx and UPS are private businesses, they don't have to deliver to every citizen. The USPS exists as a means for Congress to fulfill our First Amendment *right* to speech and assembly - via communication.

To say that "well, just use e-mail/the Intarweb" is a solution isn't realistic for people that don't have computers or internet service. And certainly not for a mere $0.46, with delivery to every address in this great country.

Another required government purpose for the USPS is the delivery of official notices to you - elections, taxes, etc. My point is that the "privatize" or "go out of business" options proposed are simplistic and don't capture the actual purpose of the USPS as a guaranteed ability of the government to communicate with its citizens and for any citizen to communicate with any other citizen. Technology doesn't change that, and since that's not a business function, it shouldn't be expected to or be thought of as a business.

Could we do a better job of running the USPS? Likely. I'm OK with M-F delivery. I don't see why USPS workers should have a 6-day work week when most of us don't and almost no other government offices are open on Saturday either. I'm also fine with $1 for 1st class mail. I'm also for eliminating 1st class mail subsidizing what are excessive discounts for bulk and advertizing mail. That's the *real* money-loser for the USPS. Junk/bulk/2nd class prices are too low. That and they are saddled with their own Hancock Amendment, but with no ability to have a "rainy day" fund nor to be a revenue source for the government. So in the past, when it was profitable, they "spent" the excess revenue on capital expenses, wages, and employee benefits instead of shareholders or growth like "real" businesses can.

"You all also forget that as FedEx and UPS are private businesses, they don't have to deliver to every citizen."

Two points. First, while commercial carriers don't *have* to deliver to every address, UPS Ground reaches every address, urban and rural, in the lower 48. You also ignore that USPS often delivers only to PO boxes in the center of rural towns, not to addresses. And there certainly are places, such as in Idaho, that USPS does not deliver, and instead contracts to private firms.

You are right. USPS is not a business. Businesses adapt with the times. They don't require monopoly protection on certain classes of service such as first class mail. They don't require laws that force competitors to charge MORE than they do (!) for other classes of mail. They don't need the government to prohibit what people can have delivered to their own mailboxes that they own.

No, the USPS and its supporters would rather have "letter writing campaigns" to urge people to send pieces of paper to each other across the country to prop up the non-adaptive government monopoly.

Is it any wonder that going to a post office feels exactly like <i>dealing with the government</i> in the worst possible sense? I'd rather stand in line at the Social Security office than go to the post office.

You might have missed the point, well, points, that the law dictates (a) what UPS can charge...and it literally forces them to charge multiple times what USPS does and (b) they're not allowed to carry (and thus charge for) first class mail.

As for not wanting to stand in line at the post office, I guess you haven't spent time standing in line at our privatized DMV offices or tried to pick up a package from UPS because they are only open when you are at work and have to sign for your package, meaning taking off work and driving out to earth city. What a PITA. Not to mention the insurance fraud the exec got nailed on a few years back siphoning off profits to their privately held offshore insurance holding company.

Or their practice of hiring folks part time and split shifts to race to the bottom of the work pool.

Here's a clue - UPS and FedEx don't *want* 1st class mail delivery. They are package movers and overnight delivery specialists. Not envelope generalists like the USPS. But the reason they lose money is because they over-discount bulk mail rates. If that drives marketing companies out of business, well I am certainly not going to cry. That's capitalism at work, right.

I won't argue any of that...but then why force what other businesses charge their customers? What if the government made all car companies except GM make sure that their cars cost at least twice as much as the equivalent GM car?

Not sure if it is 'forcing' UPS and FedEx to charge anything. Could be that they asked for certain 'floors' in what they charge and the government makes a subsidy to them (read corporate welfare) in exchange for risking to compete with the USPS (because they were afraid the government could always underwrite them).

Or, the high prices aren't a limit on how low they can go but rather a *cap* on them to prevent unfair price gouging by UPS and FedEx. I.e. They would be higher without that government restriction. This was likely in exchange for the UPS giving up its monopoly in some services and/or infrastructure FedEx/UPS got for cheap that the taxpayers paid for (read corporate welfare).

Be careful what you wish for.

You may want to read into the Private Express Statutes.

In 1979 the Postal Service authorized the delivery of extremely urgent letters outside the USPS; this has given rise to delivery services such as Federal Express and UPS's express mail services. These letters must either cost at least the greater of $3 or twice what First Class (or Priority) mail service would cost, or they must be delivered within strict time limits or otherwise lose value. They must be marked "EXTREMELY URGENT". Records of pick up and delivery must be maintained for Postal Service inspection if the time sensitive exception is being used.

...among other things.

USPS is NOT a Business? Let's see--
A cash register-check
Employees-check
Work hours-Check
Pensions-check
InsurancePlans-check
Buildings Rented-check
Office equipment-check
Tables & chairs-check
Vehicles owned-check
Vendors-check
Pay bills-check
Collect-money from ------uum----CUSTOMERS.
Wow! The only thing the USPS does not have is
COMPETITON. From the comments here. Most of you are perfectly OK with operating another "FREE" service with no accountablility as to who pays for it.
Ignorance ranks high here when those who belittle $5,000,000,000 as chump change. Ignorance ranks high when comments suggest it's OK to run any Govt service at $5B losses. Why don't we just have our Govt sell Coca-cola sodas or provide Beautician services for $1 or start US Gasoline service stations (50cents Gas) and pay those people $100k per year.Govt could also service our Cars for big losses of maybe $10B a year . who cares as long as people have a job.
Any Service provided by our Govt IS PAID BY TAXES. What is so hard to understand. Why would any of you want to intentionally PAY more for any service available at a lower cost by private industry.
I'll say it again-The cost of a stamp should be $2 per letter as long as you are demanding we continue providing door to door mail delivery.
BTW losses are expected to be $10B annually as more Postal workers retire.
Medical & pensions are expected to ZOOOOOOOM!!!!!!
Who will Pay those?

Someone here says "some people don't have computers" they need a USPS for their mail. Well some people don't have cars--or checking accounts.
Some people don't want children.
Should we provide "Free" Govt transportation? Yes, we already do.
Should we provide "free Govt banking?
What about free Telephones?
What about "free education"? Oh-Oh my favorite subject. I'll bite my tongue for now.
IT IS NOT THE GOVT JOB TO RUN OUR COUNTRY FOR "Some of the people".
(Charity does that)
Our whole system is now running on "let someone else pay it" mentality.
We are running on _0_% interest rates. As soon as interest rates start rising again--LIGHTS OUT!! Not even the Rich could support that cost on $17Trill debt.
Any math majors out there.? just 1% rise equals $17 bill dollars per year.
That's 3 USPS operation losses. Every person making over $40k per year will be assessed over $1,000 per year just to pay that 1%.
Name calling and funny games is not what will save our USPS and the coming financial crisis in America.
It is time to look in the mirror and ask when "YOU" will start paying your fair share of all these "Govt run Freebies"
Some asked for them, Not All.
Solution is simple-- Charge people according to INCOME for any Govt services.
All the poor and needy would get any service "free" as needed. The income theory makes every person pay the same as his/her income peers.
Nobody would be able to "freeload" on any Govt service based on Income.
That's FAIRNESS.

@PaulRevere: It is only in recent years that the USPS has run a deficit. You see Congress requires it to balance its budget. That's why stamp prices changed so often - to balance their budget year-to-year.

And the USPS *has* tried to stop the red ink and "shrink" services. Again Congress stepped in and stonewalled that option. So the mess is yet again another consequence of a "do nothing" congress. I'll even quote Faux News for truthiness:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/08/it-all-your-money-us-postal-service-bailout/
""If the post office was a business, it would be in bankruptcy," said Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla. "It's insolvent."

Ironically, however, Congress shares much of the blame. For years, the Postal Service begged Washington for the freedom to cut its own budget by closing post offices and cutting employees. But Congress, under pressure from rural constituents and labor unions, prevented the cuts, and the service continued to bleed red ink.

In December, the USPS said it wanted to close more than half of its mail processing centers, eliminate 28,000 jobs, end overnight delivery of first-class mail, close 3,700 local post offices and end Saturday delivery.

The Senate said no, prohibiting the Postmaster General from taking those actions altogether, or delaying them for two to three years."

(Continued)
Sounds like Congress is to blame here, and that it is Congress that has bound the hands of the Postmaster General from taking action.

"A competing House bill co-sponsored by Ross allows the postmaster to cut services, close offices, raise fees and force existing postal employees to pay a greater share of their own retirement."

So a bill is required to *allow* the USPS to do these things. If the USPS was a business, it would be insolvent due to incompetence of the board of directors (Congress), for failing to well, provide actual "direction".

Call your Congresscritter and tell them to let the USPS do what it needs to do and cut where it sees fit, as Congress is utterly incapable of actually performing their obligation as a governing body trying to micro-manage the USPS.

you guys have all missed the point. we're only knocking one day off of mail delivery to save money. no one is talking about doing away with the postal service. let's see how this goes. maybe every other day would work out well. what's the big deal with a little bit of change? there's half the volume. what's wrong with scaling it down? people get so emotional.

I don't care much one way or the other as I get very little mail that's not garbage, but it SEEMS to me that Saturday delivery is a competitive advantage of the USPS. Having some sort of weekend presence gives it an edge over competitors that charge extra for Saturday delivery. Why not eliminate Wednesday? It's not like they don't already rotate days off for employees in order to deliver 6 days a week.

The business itself would be open for people. BUT scaling back delivery is something that needs to be done. Fuel is $3.50 a gallon. It's a huge expenditure. It's never going back. We have to change with the times.

One final comment on Postal service debate.
All suggestions are agreeable to "CUTS" and "CHANGES NEEDED".
The "Times have changed". There is "competition" that the people are using.
Most people could care less because "They don't USE the Post office that much.
All of your comments can be applied to our Public school funding system-- which is not being used by many of you anymore.
The whole discussion about our post office would have been different , if your Property taxes will go up to keep it going. How many of you would support continuing it if property taxes came into the picture?
I would surmise that all of you who care less about the Post office because you don't use it are hypocritical in nature, if you are For any Govt service that "competes" with another or any private institution. Education is at the forefront of making more and more citizens "poor" and "needy" in this so-called "free" education arena. Thousands of private school Teachers and janitors and school facility maintenace should not be using their money to pay public school teachers wages.
We will have this debate sometime, because the post office situation is "EXACTLY" a poster child starting point. (Minus the forced TAXation).
Using FedX and UPS makes it very easy to disregard the Post office Plight.
It starts with No Saturday delivery-- But will end with ????????????? like medicare premiums--They started at $16 per month---now over $100 per month. In 3 years Obamacare will be unaffordable.

Yes, "no true Scotsman" would ever bad-mouth the USPS. Right?

What about the elderly that still rely on the post office to deliver their bills and pay them because they don't have the means or knowledge that isneeded to payonline or phone. Alot of older people still do not give out their SSI number over the phone let alone payment info. I really believe it should stay the same. We all count on our post men and women so please don't take thatawayfrom the people that rely on them. It wouldn't be fair to them. Thank you for time and consideration.