CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY OCTOBER 4, 2021
WHAT USED TO BE CALLED THE POST OFFICE – BACK IN THE DAY WHEN WE CALLED THE ONE WHO
DELIVERED THE MAIL THE MAIL MAN – IS IN TROUBLE AGAIN.
THE USPS, AS IT IS NOW CALLED, ANNOUNCED THAT BEGINNING LAST FRIDAY A FIRST CLASS
LETTER OR BILL WILL LIKELY TAKE UP TO FIVE DAYS TO REACH ITS DESTINATION. THIS RECALLS MAIL
DELIVERY IN THE 1970S WHEN THE RATES WERE CHEAPER AND DELIVERY WAS ALSO SLOW.
POSTMASTER GENERAL LOUIS DEJOY SAYS THE SLOWER DELIVERY WILL ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO CUT
COSTS. ONE THING IS FOR SURE, THEY WON’T LOWER THE COST OF STAMPS AND OTHER SERVICES THAT
KEEP GOING UP. WHY CAN’T THE POSTAL SERVICE DO BETTER? BECAUSE IT IS LIKE THE GOVERNMENT –
INCREASINGLY COSTLY AND DECREASINGLY EFFICIENT.
ALMOST FOUR IN TEN PIECES OF FIRST CLASS MAIL WILL SEE SLOWER DELIVERY. ONE CRITIC SAID THE
ANNOUNCEMENT IS A “DISASTER.” DELAY OF BILLS COULD ALSO CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH INTEREST RATES
AS HIGH AS THEY ARE.
MANY PEOPLE DON’T USE THE MAIL VERY MUCH THESE DAYS AND PAY THEIR BILLS ONLINE. THAT’S
PART OF THE PROBLEM FOR USPS, BUT MISMANAGEMENT IS THE BIGGER PART. I’M CAL THOMAS.
