Many Republicans from rural districts used to reject privatization. We should be wary of their shift toward it now.
How the pandemic is affecting mail volumes and revenues: USPS issues April financial report
Yesterday the Postal Service released its financial report for April 2020. The report gives us a first look at how the pandemic has been affecting mail volumes. As many observers expected, volumes and revenues for First Class mail and Periodicals were down compared to last April, and Marketing mail was way, way down. Shipping and Package Services, on the other … Read More
A Reading List of Recent News
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
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
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
Instead of Killing the US Postal System, Let’s Expand It
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
