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TokenBoomer

After Reports Suggest Trump Seeks to Privatize USPS, Progressives Speak Out (truthout.org)

submitted 3 days ago by TokenBoomer to c/progressivepolitics

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The Washington Post reports Trump is “keen” for a scheme that would hand the USPS over to for-profit, private interests.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

USPS isn't even publicly funded. It operates on fees for its services only.

[–] [email protected] -5 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

It's been operating at a loss for 15 years. Times are changing, we need to innovate with the times. Email eliminates most need for paper mail and private competition is undercutting the usps by not paying benefits (mostly looking at amazon's bullshit.)

I'm in no way suggesting we should privatize it though. That's just giving someone who is a connection of dumpy a pile of cash and removing a critical service from rural/remote citizens. Shitty services undercutting it by robbing labor should have the rug pulled out so that fucking over employees isn't profitable.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)

operating at a loss for 15 years.

every social service operates at a loss. they don't exist to "make money," they're there to provide a service to the community--they cost money. same as public highways. public libraries. the military.

it's honestly fucking asinine that this rhetoric of "OMG the USPS is losing money!" has been amplified to the degree that it has

also, i would argue that any kind of drop in usage for paper mail over time has been more than made up for by shipping for online retail shopping

[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I'd argue that amazon has stolen all the growth from shipping that could have propped up the USPS, but hey, that's just me.

I don't think something can be self funded and operate at a loss. I think for the former to work you can't have the latter and vice versa.

The USPS can keep cutting services into the ground to stay afloat but eventually they'll just collapse unless publicly funded. I think that's ok, the service is too critical not to subsidize to a reasonable service level, it needs to be subsidized for the public good.