Government

Broke: U.S. Postal Service Suspends Retirement Contributions

WASHINGTON (AP) — The financially troubled Postal Service is suspending its employer contribution to the Federal Employee Retirement System.

The agency said Wednesday it is acting to conserve cash as it continues to lose money. It was $8 billion in the red last year because of the combined effects of the recession and the switch of much mail business to the Internet. It faces the possibility of running short of money by the end of this fiscal year in September.

“This move underscores the need for Congress to make bold, quick and substantive reforms to the Postal Service. The USPS is hanging by a thread, along with 8 million private sector jobs that depend on the mail,” said Art Sackler, coordinator for the Coalition for a 21st Century Postal Service, a group representing the private sector mailing industry.

The post office said it has informed the Office of Personnel Management that the $115 million FERS payment made every two weeks will be suspended effective Friday. The action is expected to free about $800 million in the current fiscal year. The post office’s FERS account currently has a surplus of $6.9 billion, the agency said.

“We will continue to transmit to OPM employees’ contributions to FERS and also will continue to transmit employer automatic and matching contributions and employee contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan,” said Anthony Vegliante, chief human resources officer for the post office.

Over the last four years the Postal Service has cut its staff by 110,000 and reduced costs by $12 billion. The agency has also proposed eliminating delivery on Saturdays to save money and is working on closing small post offices and consolidating sorting and other operations.

The post office, unlike other federal agencies, is also required to make an annual payment of more than $5 billion as an advance contribution to future retiree medical costs.

Comments (173)

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  • Chasvs391
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:56pm

    The USPS is not a Government Aggency and receives no Federal Funding. It is tightly controlled by Congress which requires it to fully fund its retirement plan upfront each year. no other business is do restricted. Additionally, efforts to change service and close unprofittable post offices require Congressional approveal which is hard to come by. If it were allowed to operate like any other business, it would in fact be able to break even which is what it is called to do. It is restricted from making a Profit, so any chance of earning money to pay for future improvements, or economic downturns is impossible. Thay aren’t the greatest, but we should only wish the rest of the Feeral Government operated as well as the USPS!

    Report Post »  
    • Evileye
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:24pm

      It not a government organization ,But it run by the government MMMM

      Report Post »  
    • wldduck
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 10:42am

      Finally someone who knows what they are saying. Must be an insider :-)

      Report Post »  
    • Amazed1
      Posted on June 24, 2011 at 11:04pm

      Tell them how USPS has been forced to pay $5.5 billion or more into Govt. coffers every year, the main reason USPS is drowning in red ink (aside from poor purchase controls on mechanized equip).
      And what is being done with all that excess cash while it is languishing in the books? Bet your bottom dollar it’s funding some Black Ops Project somewhere, or purchasing military equipment and supplies. I have no illusions that it will remain `100% available for future USPS retirees. Oops! We made an accounting mistake…your money has all been spent while your backs were turned.

      Report Post »  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:43pm

    Not to worry the government will just slowly take over all the private parcel shippers so all packages under one ton get shipped by USPS. There will be a new environmental shipping tax on them that is passed to the people that USPS is exempt and making cheaper to use. They have letter monopoly soon they will have total monopoly over all shipping as the privates will lose.

    Report Post » TJexcite  
  • h20sue
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:27pm

    Not only are the postal carriers over paid, so are NFL players, Baseball players, Hockey players, golfers, tennis pros, etc. The world has gone mad. The pros may think they are worth a fortune, but the average person can’t afford to go to a baseball or football game. Too over priced!
    Our postals service is no different. Government has squandered taxpayer money. We’ve been paying gold for stamps. We have to pay bills, and many of us do not use on line services! Many folks do not have computers! I use a computer but I still don’t trust someone getting into accounts. In this day and time anything is possible, and I will not use on-line banking. You can call me square, old fashioned, but I see more and more computer leaks and problems. No way!!!!!
    The postal service needs re-vamping and salaries need to be lowered immediately, and yes, if they need to lower retirement payments, or stop them for a short time, then just do it! Taxpayers are tired of paying high postage, and dealing with an ignorant government. Need I say more?

    Report Post »  
    • wldduck
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 10:37am

      FYI:
      USPS does not run off tax payer funds.
      USPS carriers on average make LESS than a UPS driver
      USPS was made (maintaining congressional oversight) private in 1973
      According to the CBO, the USPS has over paid 50 billion dollars into FERS accounts and congress wont release the money back….probably already spent it on toilet seats!

      Report Post »  
    • mrkeys1962
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:40pm

      Yes you need to say more. A postage stamp goes up in a period of 3 years maybe 3 cents and it’s as if the Postal Service has emptied your bank account…the outrage! In that time gas rises anywhere up to $2 a gallon and that’s supposed to magically be absorbed by the postal service at the current rate of postage?? So a stamp goes up 3 cents and it’s worth a revolution but gas can go up 5 cents in a day and you just take it and barely whimper? There are some valid points regarding the state of the Postal Service and it’s possible relevance but the fact stamps go up ever 3 years to me is nothing to complain about. UPS and FedEx also raise their prices to meet inflation and fuel costs. It’s a necessity. As far as salaries…I have worked for the Postal Service for 25 years as an electronic technician. It’s about as high on the craft pay scale as a person can go. I make around 60k. There was a time when my ex-wife complained repeatedly about how everyone else around us made more than me. Now 60k is considered a rather lavish salary. Not because it’s so incredibly high…but because the government has creamed our economy and people are lucky to even have a job that pays 40 hours a week. Ex-brother in law made $120+ selling plumbing supplies, another one worked oil, another had his own business building homes and laying carpet and my brother made $127,000 as a software programmer. I bet you can figure out how well they’re doing now.

      Report Post »  
  • Midwest Blonde
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:24pm

    There are some things that the Post Office could to do save money – first of all, they GIVE AWAY too many boxes. GIVE AWAY… maybe postage covers the cost, maybe it doesn’t.

    I know I accidentally ordered 10 DOZEN of a particular size box – I thought I was ordering 10 SINGLE boxes, not 10 boxes of a dozen. They would NOT take them back. I gave them away to anyone who wanted a box for whatever purpose. I’m sure most of them never got mailed anywhere. I kept the 10 I needed immediately for shipping.

    Report Post » Midwest Blonde  
  • War_Eagle
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:23pm

    My sister and her husband both work for the USPS, so any time I try to bring up solutions to the Postal problem, it’s a very sore subject.

    Obviously, privatization would be the ideal solution. But beyond that cutting back delivery to three days a week (alternating neighborhoods Mon/Wed/Fri -Tues/Thurs/Sat), closing or consolodating more offices, contracting out for delivery, licensing grocery stores to perform some services (many grocery stores now have banks, Western Union, and other outside companies inside their stores), incentives to switch to post office boxes, etc, would all drastically lower costs.

    Report Post »  
    • churchlady1904
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 5:17pm

      Privitization would be a nightmare.

      Right now, all letter carriers must be bonded. They are responsible for all types
      of mail they carry for delivery—be that junk mail, some Social Security checks
      that aren’t direct deposited, valuable packages, etc. Several times over his
      career, my retired letter carrier hubby got hauled into the postmaster’s office
      because someone called, accusing him of not delivering a check or package
      that they KNEW should have come in that day. Every single time, said package
      or check showed up the next day or several days later; and the postmarks
      were dated after the customer said. But the buck stopped with my husband.
      Privatize and with many companies involved, how do you prove “who touched
      it last”?

      Also USPS has to deliver everywhere; as someone else pointed out, they even
      deliver some UPS & FedX packages! But in a bidding war, these companies
      would not want rural/ghetto-type areas/hilly terrain areas, etc. Trust me, there
      would not be universal service.

      Postal management would like to eliminate walking routes, forcing all patrons
      to install curb delivery boxes or cluster boxes. Can you imagine the theft and
      vandalism??

      Be careful what you wish for, War Eagle!

      Report Post »  
  • h20sue
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:21pm

    Could it have been caused by the mansions the “higher ups” in the USPS system live in?
    There is no excuse for the postal service to go broke! None whatsoever! They have done this to America as they have been building new post offices, buying, directors of the postal service living in mansions, and beyond their means. No wonder they are struggling. Seems to me the people in the Whitehouse are not leading a good example on how to budget. If so, Michelle Obama would not be in South Africa dancing with her “tribe”. Taxpayers should not be paying for these expensive trips over seas, and especially not family members. Hello! We’re almost broke, what doesn‘t the Obama’s understand? Are they paying for their vacations with the “their money”, not taxpayers? Personally, I’m tired of seeing the media coverage of of taxpayer money being wasted. They should know better!
    As a single person and small business owner, I’m having to ration food, fuel, can’t pay creditors on time, and just trying to survive. It‘s irks me to see the Obama’s wasting money. Our money!!!!! Am I the only person to feel this way?

    Report Post »  
    • mrkeys1962
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 1:26pm

      I have to comment again on this…the post office has overpaid into the federal retirement system to the tune of $70 billion. It is having a hard time getting that money back from the fed. In addition the postal service is required to pay $5 1/2 billion a year into prepaying retirement benefits which is not required of any private company or public entity. It is something that Bush enacted shortly before he got out of office (Postal reform). It is breaking the Postal Service. Neither UPS nor FedEx have to prepay retirement benefits and if they did they would be tanking too.

      Report Post »  
  • nomercy63
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:19pm

    Can anyone say Fed Ex and UPS time to let them run it because they actually have to make a profit to stay in business and they do pretty well at it!

    Report Post »  
  • flsnipe
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:19pm

    Their Union has the post office by the balls, Get Stossell to investigate USPS is a F/N Joke

    Report Post » flsnipe  
  • Workforit
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:17pm

    No problem, let it slide quietly into history just like the pony express.

    I can’t remember the last time I used the US Mail for anything. UPS, FedEx have been better alternatives for years.

    Report Post »  
  • Miz T
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:12pm

    I sure wish MY company did employer contributions. As it is, I put in the money and lost a load when Obummer took office.

    Report Post » Miz T  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:54pm

      You’re not alone buddy. It’s going to recover when we ship Barry back to Chicago.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • j7t7m
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:04pm

    The only solution is to put a “FOR SALE” sign on USPS. The private sector does a much better job, even Fedex (gag).

    Report Post »  
  • lketchum
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:57pm

    We cannot afford to pay letter carriers $170,00.00 a year any more than we can pay beach life guards $120,000.00 to $213,000.00 a year – any more than we can pay beloved firemen $250,000.00 to $800,000.00+ a year. – much less guarantee 90% of their peak income with benefits after they retire at age 55 and then pay them Social Security and Medicare in addition to their state pensions.

    As it stands, small business owners, paying the majority of effective taxes, are already being relieved of 72% of the gross incomes in direct and indirect taxes and regulatory fees, which include in many cases, 100% of health and dental care benefits for employees.

    The system is flawed structurally and govt. cannot simply pay what it wants based upon revenues that are too low, and investments that are not sound, or able to sustain required rates of growth.

    Governments at every level have run out of other peoples’ money to take. Even if they were to take 100% of every private asset, it would not be enough – though I assess they will do exactly that and the National Socialist state we have become, will wipe all of us out and then work us to death before the simply murder us and harvest our organs before we are used as fertilizer – reduced to a form of coal they’ll blend with our own urine to grow food on collective farms. Sound nuts? Look out your dang windows folks – it is going to happen.

    Report Post » lketchum  
    • churchlady1904
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 4:33pm

      LKetchum, I don’t know of ANY letter carrier anywhere in this country who
      makes $170,000 a year! Hubby is retired after 25 years of walking a 15-mile
      daily route and the most he ever grossed was $70,000. And that was a year
      where they were short staffed and he had to carry six days a week, foregoing
      his day off. Since he retired, there’s been a hiring freeze so management is
      combining routes and making the existing employees carry more & more.
      What they don’t realize (and actually they do, just don’t care) is that a human
      being can only function as a pack mule so long, walking 15 miles daily loaded up
      with first & second class mail in one hand, shoppers & newspapers tucked
      into the crook of their arm, and magazines & small packages in the shoulder
      bag. At any given time the mailbag can weigh up to 35 pounds. After doing this
      for 25 years, he had to have both his shoulders replaced. He had the surgeries
      going into retirement but worked in between them. Keeps in contact with his old
      co-workers and because of all the overtime from combining routes, each of them
      made $85,000 gross last year. But you know the old saying . . the more you
      make, the more they take. Hubby’s average Federal Tax deduction was almost
      $10,000 of his gross yearly pay.

      So before you go making wild statements like this $170,000 amount do a little
      research. This would have to be a big city postmaster’s salary.

      Report Post »  
  • This_Individual
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:56pm

    It’s proof that the private sector is more efficient than big government.

    Report Post »  
  • TheRealElvis
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:52pm

    We spend a half trillion dollars on Afganistan contributing to the Taliban’s retirement, but we can’t keep our postal system going. Not to mention the billions in foreign aid. Our wounded soldiers go without care, We forget about previous wars and neglect the war veterans, but let’s keep supporting illegal aliens, affirmative action, welfare and entitlement programs that bleed the taxpayer.

    Report Post »  
    • MonIIIIcne
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:07pm

      Welcome to the dog-eat-dog Paul Ryan and Ayn Rand world.

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • rabblechat
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:35pm

      its an upside down world be we live in. Like you said we we have trillions to blow up, rebuild, blow up, and rebuild again countries like Iraq. But we cannot fund or own postal service or maintain our own infrastructure.
      I wonder if this is how it felt to be a Roman in 400AD?

      Report Post » rabblechat  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:38pm

      We COULD keep our postal system going…if it made any sense to do so. Why keep dumping billions down the black hole of an obsolete service? Did we keep dumping money in to the telegraph once the telephone was invented?
      For all the liberals out there fighting the demise of the post office: Which has the largest carbon footprint, millions of Postal Service trcucks or millions of emails? I thought you all loved Mother Earth?

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Ron_WA
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:50pm

    I hope they find a way to become fiscally viable. The USPS is still an awesome privilege enjoyed by all Americans.

    It played a pivotal role in America becoming the greatest nation on earth. USPS’s role has been diminished in the internet age but it is still an important part of American life & commerce.

    Report Post » Ron_WA  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:10pm

      “It played a pivotal role in America becoming the greatest nation on earth.”
      So did the Pony Express, want to bring them back too?

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • supermailbag
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:56pm

      Thank-you, and I noticed that a lot of people think the USPS is funded with tax dollars. It is off budget, not tax dollar dependent. The company and employee fund the pensions and insurance, not tax payers. We have unions, but we don’t have collective bargaining…thank God! We shouldn’t bargain against the public. Speaking of that…if you don’t pay for your retirement, or insurance, and live off the government….isn’t that called welfare?

      Report Post »  
    • Ron_WA
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 11:26pm

      P.S. I’m not nor have never been part of USPS nor has any family member … I just think it’s a useful organization.

      Report Post » Ron_WA  
  • slybrtndr
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:48pm

    postal job pay over 22 an hr maybe it is time to take a pay cut. like us

    Report Post »  
    • MonIIIIcne
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:52pm

      Maybe its our reason to finally get a raise, like them. Why should we get less while working better year after year? Just so some executives get double bonuses?

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • churchlady1904
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 4:22pm

      After 25 years of carrying a 15-mile walking route, my husband grossed
      about $27.50 per hour. New hires start around $16, I believe. But the USPS
      is on a mission to pare expenses to the bone, so the new hires are all
      classified as “PTFs”, or part-time flexes. They do get health insurance,
      but don’t get paid holidays or a paid day off. Latest ploy is to not even hire
      PTFs, but “Casuals” or “TE’s” (temporary employees).
      That means they start at $10 an hour, don’t get
      40 hours a week, no benefits, no paid holidays. And after 90 days, they
      may be eliminated with no recourse. Sometimes they are rehired for
      another 90 days, but will never have any perks.
      PTFs also have a 90-day probation
      period but once in they get health insurance and a small raise I believe.
      Not only this, but routes have been combined and management expects
      more & more, but “be back in 8 hours, no overtime!” This coming from a
      boss who has never carried a route on the street and follows you around
      with a stopwatch. How would you like to run your heinies off in all kinds
      of weather for $10 or $14 an hour, knowing you probably will never get
      the big pay? Meanwhile, management gets huge bonuses on the backs
      of the workers who are doing the physical work.

      Report Post »  
    • psychosocial1
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 10:12pm

      I agree with you. Perhaps ALL labor should be peformed by workers making $8.15 per hour. I mean, if it’s good enough for the average Wal-Mart worker it should be good enough for everyone else. Everyone should make so little in hourly wages that they qualify for public assistance. All workers should accept lower pay, more work, harrassment, and no job security in exchange for the satisfaction of knowing that some figurehead executives in $2000 suits are able to sit around the boardroom making millions per year off of the labor of others. Let’s keep racing to the bottom.

      Report Post » psychosocial1  
  • RandChristConservative
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:47pm

    This just goes to show why the left is so worried about the Federal Government defaulting on their loans. When the Government Defaults on it’s debts, it’s main debt holders are US citizens, who also happen to be a part of big government pensions, the welfare class, unions etc. They aren’t worried about the national security implications or defaulting to other countries, liberals are just worried about cronies not getting their share and the whole socialist concept going up in smoke.

    Report Post »  
  • South Philly Boy
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:46pm

    It must be real NICE to get a Beautiful BIG Postal Pension.

    Report Post » South Philly Boy  
    • churchlady1904
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 4:14pm

      Philly Boy, my retired letter carrier husband’s “big government pension”
      is $1497 gross per month. Health insurance & federal tax whittled it
      down to $897. Beginning of this year he was notified that federal tax
      was going up another $50 and health insurance $60. So now that
      “big pension” is a whopping $787. To get this “big pension”, my
      husband worked 25 years (from 1984-2009), walking almost 15 miles
      five days a week, many times six days a week.

      Those hired before my husband were on Civil Service retirement
      instead of FERS, and they get about $500 per month more.
      However, they don‘t get Social Security because they didn’t pay into
      it (my hubby paid into both SS and FERS). Many former carriers have
      to get a job to exist unless they had worked at a civilian job before
      entering the Postal Service, and maybe have a little SS.

      Report Post »  
  • NJTMATO
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:46pm

    Hell, they could deliver mail three days a week and it would be fine! Most seniors have their ss check directly deposited so there’s not a worry there, or they could make sure that the PO is open on the 1st business day of every month. They’d save a lot of money opening only three days a week. I don’t want any more junk mail anyway!

    Report Post » NJTMATO  
  • NSDQ
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:42pm

    They need to pack it in altogether the jobs will flow to FedEx, UPS, DHS. Govt cant out perform private business

    Report Post » NSDQ  
    • DDD
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:11pm

      Have you noticed that a larger and larger number of UPS, DHL and FedEx shipments are passed on to the post office for delivery? Cost cutting measure by the big guys – but its not enough to keep the USPS afloat. I hate the fact that it adds a day or more to the delivery time.

      Report Post »  
  • ForTheRepublic
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:41pm

    What, Where is the union outrage over this.
    3…..
    2……
    1 oh wait there it is

    no, seriously , where is it ?

    Report Post » ForTheRepublic  
  • ILUVAMERICA
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:40pm

    Great, how many will lose their jobs, pensions ect.and be added to the unemployment roll?
    Maybe ‘O’mam will reinstate them if they swear to uphold the new government he is creating.
    The Nazi government
    The germans caved to Hilter!!!

    Report Post » ILUVAMERICA  
    • MonIIIIcne
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:51pm

      Who cares? They are just American fools who trusted their lives to serve.

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:07pm

      What happened to all the U.S. Army horse trainers once the combustion engine was invented? They learned a new skill or were discharged. How long are we supposed to support an obsolete service with our taxes to supply the government workforce with a living?

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • ILUVAMERICA
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:14pm

      WHO CARES!!!!!!!!!!!
      It‘s people like you who are part of our county’s DOWNFALL!!!!!!!
      WHO CARE’S!!!!!!!!!!!!
      I CARE!!! and MANY OTHER TRUE PATRIOT’S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » ILUVAMERICA  
    • SREGN
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 2:03pm

      If they go under I won’t get any more bills.

      Report Post »  
  • Lost in the Flyover
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:38pm

    Why do they continue to deliver 6 days a week? It is all junk mail anyway, from the box to the can.. It is no longer a necessary service except for the many seniors who have not and probably can not learn to use their computers, and the legal profession.

    Report Post » Lost in the Flyover  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:51pm

      Agreed, 3 days a week would work and do away with bulk mail. Seniors can survive with mail 3 days a week.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • vennoye
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:48pm

      It is not so much that seniors do not know how to, or use their computers………they just want as little information about themselves as possible out in cyberspace to be used against them….pretty DUMB isn’t it????? LOL!

      Seriously though, this is just the first….you could see this coming when you look at conditions. Are seeing it in union contributions going to political agendas instead of retirement, now broke fed govt not paying into retirement…..states will be next if do not get deficit spending under control…..and then there is Tiny Tim!!!!
      http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/05/16/government-hits-debt-ceiling-treasury-urges-lawmakers-reach-budget-deal/

      Report Post » vennoye  
    • crabbyoldman
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 2:37pm

      Respect your eldres sonny boy!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • NEAF
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:37pm

    Any Federal program that is working right or not bankrupt?

    Report Post » NEAF  
  • agameofthrones
    Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:36pm

    The USPS needs to go to UPS and FedEx and see how they manage to make a profit every year. When you consistently lose money, you go out of business. Hate to say it but capitalism works. Watch as every government agency loses money with everything they do. Education, Post Office, Medicare, Social Security, etc. Did none of these fools study business 101 in college? And they’re the smart ones. Uh huh.

    Report Post » agameofthrones  
    • cessna152
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:43pm

      Stamps now $40 each…problem solved!

      Report Post » cessna152  
    • Uncurable wound
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:44pm

      What!!!!! All right Im going POSTAL…
      ROFL

      Report Post »  
    • MonIIIIcne
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:49pm

      The losses are due to selfish rural Americans who expect mail service. There needs to be NO mail delivery that does not result in (at least) Break Even Results cost wise.
      Just like the families who insist on rebuilding in hurricane alley under federal insurance provisions, these folksy brethren who choose to live in remotest parts of Alaska, Montana, downtown Atlanta and other non viable and un profitable regions do not deserve to have mail service, broadband access or roads.

      Report Post » MONICNE  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:50pm

      Get US government out of everything but the Military and FIRE the commander in chief BO NOW.
      I use lower case for “Commander in Chief” because BO has NOT earned My RESPECT!

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:51pm

      I’m wondering how much unnecessary & wasteful spending was identified and eliminated before this action was initiated.

      Federal agencies have a long track record of both.

      Report Post »  
    • fastfacts
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 12:51pm

      THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL OF OUR ENTITLEMENTS IF NOT PUT IN CHECK

      Because they are employed and it is part of their contract, they should get a pension, but they need to start paying into it and the most any government should do is match it, any other way is just giving away the house. The govt matching will make the employees have to take the initiative. According to the CBO we can’t stay on the same track we are on right now: http://tiny.cc/0kdxc

      Report Post »  
    • lynda1276
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:09pm

      Why do you “ hate” to say Capitalism works? It is the greatest economic system ever!!!

      Report Post »  
    • TexasCommonSense
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:13pm

      Does anyone need anymore proof the government is inept? They can’t even run a postal services, yet there are still many who want to give them more power and control.

      Report Post » TexasCommonSense  
    • Cobra Blue
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:23pm

      MONIIIICNE

      Why not be the first contributor of your philosphy to show them how it is done. Oh..I’m sorry. I just remembered your pjilosophy…DO AS I SAY, BUT NOT AS I DO. You are long on talk and short on action. No balls to put your money where your mouth is. .

      Report Post »  
    • vennoye
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:36pm

      @MonIIIIcne
      You really need to apply for a job at the UN!!! They love people like you……….they have the very same mindset!! Remember, Cain was the first city builder……..even before Nimrod and Babel. You seem to appreciate his mindset!!

      Report Post » vennoye  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:43pm

      @MonIIIIcne
      How is it that rural people are selfish and urban people aren’t when both expect mail delivery? Sounds to me like you are a conceited city snob who thinks food comes from a store, cotton comes from factories, and wool comes from LL Bean. What are YOU going to do when the store runs out of food?
      I have found that rural people are more worldly and have more knowledge than anyone I have met in a city.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:44pm

      Hey postal unions talk to the President e-mail is greener than snail mail. As soon as the internet is more secure you’ll be as useful as **** on a bullfrog

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:50pm

      @agameofthrones Well pretty sure they won’t hire you as a consultant. Are you not able to differentiate between the business Fed X and UPS are in versus the post office. You like a most folks would get rather upset if the post office reduced offices and services to the level of Fed X or UPS. If the mail business was so profitable why don’t you see Fed X or UPS offer $.44 cent mail?? You need to analyze a bit before you skip to the conclusion and pronouncement stuff. Parroting Rush is not a rationale or defense for what is best a superficial review.

      Report Post »  
    • rayoga
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:50pm

      The Postal Service by law cannot show a profit. The only revenue they get is from the sale of postage. UPS and Fedex can raise prices whenever they need to, the USPS has to get approval from congress. I don’t think they teach anyone in business 101 how to run a business like that.

      Report Post »  
    • Czar Casm
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:54pm

      @ MonIIIIcne
      Love your posts. They’re funny. But not in a witty way as your trying to be but funny because your so cluless. ( I guess, unless your being clueless on purpose for comic relief)

      Hurricane alley happens to be the whole Gulf coast and up the Atlantic seaboard. And what about the people rebuilding in tornado alley, or earthquake zones or flood zones, or areas prone to blizzards and days of well below freezing temperature‘s and area’s of extreme heat, or places with aligators and spiders and snakes….and downtown Atlanta (now thats funny there, have to give it to you) Move over, we’re coming to live with you in your safe place.

      Report Post »  
    • American Soldier (Separated)
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 1:55pm

      @JROOK.

      I’m pretty sure USPS has a monopoly of standard mail service. UPS or FedEx aren’t allowed to delivery standard mail at standard rates ($0.44 stamps) last I heard. They may not mind if the profit level is too low but I do believe they are prohibited from doing so.

      Report Post » American Soldier (Separated)  
    • encinom
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 2:25pm

      I never realized that government was a for profit operations. I guess we should close down the local firehouses and police departments, as they are not turning profits.

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 2:32pm

      @American Soldier (Separated) you are probably right as I have not checked that as late. My point was that providing the number of locations and delivery mail to every house, every day…if unwarranted junk mail is clearly something neither Fed X or UPS wants to do. Have’nt heard any interest from them to privatize either and offer the same level of service. That was my point about a superficial comparison. They are not in the same business as the post office and clearly don’t want to be. Just compare rates on small packages, the post office is much more competitive at those which indicates a price floor at which Fed X or UPS wants to provide service. So your observation that they would not be interested in delivering $ .44 mail to every house, every day is exactly the point. If Americans are willing to give that up or pay what that service costs (we could check with Fed X or UPS what they would charge) then perhaps they could break even. In many ways they are a symbol of what is wrong with the simpleton view that government doesn’t do anything efficiently, thus we should cut taxes. Show me one quality private school that provides education for a lower per student amount than the vast majority of public schools. That is one that is not subsidize by a church or large endowment, where building and equipment costs are not reflected in tuition.

      Report Post »  
    • chazman
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 2:43pm

      If you never worked for the federal government you can’t possibly understand why they fail at nearly everything they do. Simply put, government crap rolls downhill. One must screw up to move up. And with a seemingly endless supply of tax payer money, all government agencies are suppose to nearly run themselves. This is the process, day after day when working for the federal government. I should know. I worked for the fed for 11 years, and when I wake up every morning I thank God that I no longer work there. It was the worst job I have ever had in my life!!

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 2:44pm

      @encinom Good point. But then again we could privatize them, buy the stations for a fraction of their worth, charge the government the same amount of money, reduce services, cut staff and salaries and then turn a profit. Many areas of government are much more effective and efficient in providing services than many small companies I have performed business development for. For those who don’t think that is the model, please explain to me why privatized health insurers who started providing coverage for Medicare recipients were paid a premium. And when it was suggested that such excess payments would be eliminated quickly got out of the business.

      Report Post »  
    • Czar Casm
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 2:58pm

      UPS and FEDX cannot deliver to P.O. boxes due to the keys required. As far as USPS reducing offices to the level of UPS and FEDX as JROOK states, there are many independent locations that offer those services outside the main UPS, FEDX locations. It’s sort of a wash if not more UPS, FEDX service locations.

      UPS, according to a study they did, thinks that they can deliver mail for around .10 cents. I doubt that now with the price of fuel.

      With e-mail, texting, cell phones, facebook, bills being paid on line, etc. most of the daily USPS delivery is junk mail, bills, and occasional greeting type cards. Oh and gov’ment correspondence. Depending on the bulk of that stuff the USPS handle’s, cutting back to 3 days a week delivery shouldn’t affect consumers that much.

      Report Post »  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 3:00pm

      JROOK

      Your kidding right? Here are some fast facts about Public vs Private school costs.

      AVERAGE DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOL PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE: $12,018
      AVERAGE PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL PER PUPIL EXPENDITURE: $8,001

      AVERAGE TEACHER BASE SALARY:
      Public School: $49,630
      Private School: $39,690

      In grades 4 and 8 for both reading and mathematics, students in private schools achieved at higher levels than students in public schools. The average difference in school means ranged from almost 8 points for grade 4 mathematics, to about 18 points for grade 8 reading.

      In short the Government couldn’t run a lemonade stand for a weekend and stay in business.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • hauschild
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 3:02pm

      @MonIIIIcne

      See – you hang around here long enough, and you learn things.

      Nice post!

      Report Post »  
    • MidWestMom
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 3:04pm

      @ – MonIIIIcne

      “The losses are due to selfish rural Americans who expect mail service.”
      “…..these folksy brethren who choose to live in remotest parts of Alaska, Montana, downtown Atlanta and other non viable and un profitable regions do not deserve to have mail service, broadband access or roads.”
      ———————————————————————————————————————————————
      If you’re serious….then I‘m sure you won’t have any problem if the people you’re speaking with such contempt about get their taxes (both federal & state) lowered accordingly. After all, if they’re not getting the services, why should they be forced to pay for them? And why should they pay taxes that will be used to support areas deemed “more worthy” ?

      And if they don’t lower the taxes, the government would be guilty (yet again) of fraud. And violation of civil rights, illegal seizure of property (money does count as property), profiling (one regional area is less important than another) etc etc.

      Oh wait, they would just explain it was Homeland Security (for our own safety) or some other ridiculous excuse.

      If you don’t believe what you wrote….yet another trivial childish remark meant only to insult others.

      One other thing…..why must you change your posting name every few hours or so? Blaze editors banning you? Or because you have nothing better to do?

      Report Post »  
    • Junter
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 3:05pm

      agameofthrones, well said!

      Report Post »  
    • Evileye
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 4:08pm

      This a common problem with government run entities.
      The U S Forrest Service with the finest stand of timber in America
      will lose money on a product they paid nothing for .but Weyerhaeuser timber company will make millions
      on stand that are of inferior quality.
      Think Amtrak and all the other Government run companies in any place it always the same story
      Fanny Ma Freddie Mac the only one that should be federal is the Military

      Report Post »  
    • getalong
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 4:52pm

      Time to privatize the post office. Any company with the kind of deficit the post office rings up every year should be out-of-business.

      Report Post »  
    • jjoy
      Posted on June 22, 2011 at 6:07pm

      @agameofthrones…

      Private companies can make decisions and cut their losses… The US Postal Service has to abide by laws passed by our “congress”… Yep… the same “congress” that is now spending the USA into national bankruptcy…

      Report Post » jjoy  
    • Jackers
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 5:13am

      Canada Post has had only five delivery days (Monday to Friday) for years, and now they’re considering reducing delivery days in rural areas to just three days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)…

      Of course, the Postal Unions are up in arms and currently striking on a rotating basis…

      Report Post » Jackers  
    • Wyatt's Torch
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 5:55am

      Hellooooooo Newman……

      Report Post » Wyatt's Torch  
    • RedPepper2
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 12:08pm

      According to the Obama Administration leaders the recession started under President Bush which would account for 8 years and then two years of the Obama administration and the internet has been taking US Mail business for at least 10 yearrs so how can the US Mail service just now wake up to the fact their reitrement and benefit programs for their employees are out of line with their income? Either poor management or head stuck in ;sand syndrome here in play.

      Report Post »  
    • ozchambers
      Posted on June 23, 2011 at 6:39pm

      “the USPS hanging by a thread..” This explains why my Danner Acadia’s havent arrived yet.

      Report Post » ozchambers  
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