CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY APRIL 15, 2025
THE POST OFFICE IS AGAIN RAISING RATES, FROM 73 CENTS TO 78 CENTS STARTING IN JULY. ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF SUBSIDIZING INEFFICIENCY.
SINCE 2007 THE POSTAL SERVICE HAS LOST $100 BILLION. THE EXCUSES FOR RAISING RATES ARE ALWAYS THE SAME – INFLATION, PENSIONS FOR POSTAL WORKERS, DECLINING USE. BUT THE USE IS DECLINING MOSTLY BECAUSE THE RATES KEEP GOING UP.
YOUNGER PEOPLE NO LONGER WRITE AND MAIL LETTERS. THEY EMAIL, TEXT, OR COMMUNICATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. FREE ELECTRONIC CARDS ALLOW PEOPLE TO SEND GREETINGS AT CHRISTMAS AND AVOID THE COST OF THE CARDS AND POSTAGE. THERE IS ALMOST ALWAYS A LINE AT THE POST OFFICE AND FEW PEOPLE BEHIND THE COUNTER. THE SERVICE IS AS BAD AS I HAVE EVER SEEN IT. I RECENTLY SENT A BOOK FROM FLORIDA TO VIRGINIA. IT WAS MEDIA MAIL, THE CHEAPEST RATE. PAST EXPERIENCE HAS MADE IT IN 4-5 DAYS. THIS TIME IT TOOK 11 DAYS. AND THEY WANT MORE MONEY FOR THAT?
PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS SUGGESTED ROLLING THE POSTAL SERVICE INTO THE COMMERCE DEPARTMENT. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE OR THE RATES WILL KEEP GOING UP WHILE THE SERVICE CONTINUES TO DECLINE. I’M CAL THOMAS.
Even our local Postal Clerk agrees, that FedEx may be much more reliable! My latest attempt to send a more expensive, yet more reliable, letter was also by Priority Mail. However, Mailed on April 7th, it was supposed to have arrived on April 10th, then the 11th, in High Falls, NY! The full correct addresses and Zip Codes, were verified as correct.
After it left S/W Kansas, it got to Pennsylvania, on the 10th, before it evidently went to Richmond, VA. Then was forwarded, again in error, to Chesapeake, VA, where a supposed Delivery attempt was made, before they found their error. Marked it in Red, for final Delivery yesterday. However, Chesapeake sent it back to Richmond, via Norfolk, where it sat awhile longer, before Richmond Sent it back to Chesapeake for Delivery again!
This time, Chesapeake finally Noted the Error, and allegedly marked it for Redelivery to High Falls! Currently, it was again in Richmond, and supposedly left for it’s destination. Presumably, High Falls, NY! But who knows how long that will take, or IF they send it to the Wrong Post Office once again!
A previous Priority Mail Letter with the same destination, took eleven (11) days. Yet, previous letters, took only the original four (4) days to arrive.
I believe that the next time, I’ll agree with our Postal Clerk, and send it FedEx! I will miss it, but the Postal Service must now be turned over to Private NGOs for the return of prompt delivery! It shouldn’t be that difficult, because, the USPS already uses both UPS & FedEx for some deliveries.