A Reading List of Recent News

SteveBlog

From WBUR:  Washington Post: “Trump says he will block coronavirus aid for U.S. Postal Service if it doesn’t hike prices immediately” — “President Trump on Friday threatened to block an emergency loan to shore up the U.S. Postal Service unless it dramatically raised shipping prices on online retailers, an unprecedented move to seize control of the agency that analysts said … Read More

How The U.S. Postal Service Shaped American Society And Democracy

SteveBlog

wortfm.org: As the U.S. Postal Service faces a new financial crisis in the midst of the pandemic, we take this opportunity to learn about the history of the USPS and its vital role in shaping American society and democracy with historian Richard R. John. Richard R. John is a professor of history and communications at Columbia University. He is the … Read More

USPS OIG: Reevaluating the Universal Service Obligation

SteveBlog

USPS OIG: The purpose of the Postal Service’s universal service obligation (USO) is to ensure that all postal users receive a minimum level of service at a reasonable price. However, many aspects of the Postal Service’s current USO are not clearly defined. A further defined USO would protect postal customers and provide guidance to the Postal Service about what changes … Read More

John Oliver on the Post Office

SteveBlog

As the U.S. Postal Service faces financial catastrophe, John Oliver discusses why the service is so important, what brought it to this point, and what we can do to help.

Instead of Killing the US Postal System, Let’s Expand It

SteveBlog

The postal service is a core democratic infrastructure—and it’s time we remember that and fund it appropriately The Nation: The postal system has been a key public infrastructure since the dawn of the US republic. Today, the United States Postal Service faces an existential threat as President Trump blocks a desperately needed emergency loan. Instead of defunding and privatizing the … Read More