We can carp about delivery service at the Wake Forest Post Office, but we also need to realize the USPS operates today under a crushing load of debt at the same time it lost revenue during the recent recession and continues to lose revenue because of the drop in mail volume.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars these days, unlike the years before 1982 when it was an important part of the federal administration. Its money comes only from postage and services, and in 2013 had a $623-million profit. The bottom line looked great until you got to the $15 billion in debt.
What? Yes, back in 2006, when the USPS was prosperous and debt-free, Congress imposed an enormous mandate, one never seen or used before, saying that the Postal Service had to pre-fund all future retiree health benefits for the next 75 years and do so within 10 years. The USPS had to borrow up to its legal limit to meet that deadline and mandate.
As a result of this pre-funding mandate, the Postal Service has not been able to improve its post offices or invest in new products and services that would serve the American people better.
Congress as a whole and for several decades has appeared to be incredibly hostile to the Postal Service, maybe because it was so efficient and profitable, delivering a vital service in a way that pleased most Americans. Now Congress has floated and almost passed mandates axing Saturday and next-day delivery. While Wake Forest has had delivery problems, it would have more if our Congress cuts out more vital services.
To stop our congressmen and senators from kicking the USPS while it is down and reducing services to American citizens, we need to let them know that we rely on the post offices. Ask them to introduce bills paying off the crippling debt and tell them you depend on delivery six days a week and overnight delivery.
