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Ken:
The USPS is legally chartered to provide service to everybody in the US regardless.
UPS and FedEx and the like provide service in densely populated or between densely populated markets. And for this they charge a premium.
They do not have to provide service to all Americans wherever in the US.
UPS and FedEx skim the lucrative markets.
The main reason that the USPS is in financial difficulty now is that a conservative Congressional majority in 2006 passed a Law that required the USPS to fund pensions for its employees for 75 years out within the following 10 or 15 years.
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let the postal monopoly expire. Throughout history it has been less efficient then private enterprise and has used the government to shut down its competition. If there is a demand for it, the free market will fill it as efficiently as possible. Maybe Lysander Spooner will come back from the dead and help.
“Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms.”
-Ron Paul
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UPS and Fed Ex both deliver to my house in the wayback of Hawaiian Acres. USPS don't do dat.
quote:
Originally posted by punaticbychoice
Ken:
The USPS is legally chartered to provide service to everybody in the US regardless. UPS and FedEx and the like provide service in densely populated or between densely populated markets. And for this they charge a premium.
They do not have to provide service to all Americans wherever in the US.
UPS and FedEx skim the lucrative markets.
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Aloha spelled backward...think about it.
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UPS and FedEx deliver to my front door, USPS honks and if I don't show in 1 min, leaves a note saying sorry we missed you.
“Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms.”
-Ron Paul
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Sure FedEx will deliver a letter to your door in Wherever, HI ...for only $39.95. Do you really want the free market to decide on a price for delivering all of your mail? The USPS is one of the great equalizers just like the national highway system and the electric grid. Without it being nationalized, costs for rural areas would be extremely high.
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Ultimately it doesn't matter who charges how much for delivery UNLESS the vendor gives you that choice. Many online vendors have "exclusive" deals with UPS or FedEX, so your hypothetical $8 item ends up costing $50 delivered.
Funny, I'm the customer who pays for the item and the shipping, but I get no choice?
I find it particularly offensive when local retailers whinge about how online vendors have the "unfair advantage" of sales tax (GET) exemption -- if the State ever decides to "close that loophole", there better be some language about "buyer gets choice of shipping".
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I highly doubt the Post Office will close. Maybe it will cut down for delivery of 3-4 times a week before it die's.
Reason is, The banking system, the PUC's, and a crap load of other industries (even the government itself) IRS, Courts, "OFFICIAL BUSINESS" uses the Post Office ... They are not going to pay over $1 dollar to send you water/power/credit card bills. It's not gonna happen unless you want to see your utility bill jump you better hope the Post Office stays in business. Besides all that. Look at the History of the pony express. USPS has been the mainstream and the government will never let it die. The government itself relies on it too much to let it happen.
