With mail in voting being all the talk I thought to take a look at the postal service as it exists today. I'm opposed to mail in voting based upon their job performance. Unless my vote was sent registered mail, return receipt requested, with a verified signature at that point of receipt, I will not do that. Even then, I would require some guarantee of it being delivered on time. The current postal system can not meet those requirements. They have neither the resources nor the personnel to do that. But set that aside for the moment and let's take a look.
In 1971 the postal workers went on an eight day strike for increased wages and the right to collective bargaining. Prior to that the postal service was an arm of the United States government and its' workers were subject to those rules and regulations. Nixon was the president at that time. He sent members of the armed forces to deliver the mail in an attempt to show the postal workers they could be replaced. That was a miserable failure. So in the end the postal workers, with their union, won a raise and the collective bargaining rights they so wanted. As a result the postal service became an independent agency. They would have to make a profit in order to stay in business, sorta. The Congress does allocate about 96 million dollars a year to the postal service to pay for " free postage " for the legally blind and the cost of postage for U.S. citizens mailing in ballots from overseas. The postal service also has certain rights to borrow money from the government, at reduced rates, at any time they deem it necessary. In short, as far as a business goes, it is pretty poorly organized. It can't be allowed to go bankrupt like any other business would. In fact the postal service hasn't realized a profit in eleven straight years! They are deeply in debt. That is the direct result of the Unions. Yes, that's what happens when unions control things. The prices go up, up, up, and the business eventually goes down. Happened with the auto manufacturers, and we bailed them out. The postal service itself cites two primary reasons for their staggering losses. The cost of funding the pension plan and the cost of the health care program. The declining volume of mail is also cited as a reason.
Now taking all that into consideration do we really have an expectation that this independent agency can handle an increase in volume? That is to say, at this time they are ready? Well I don't know about you but I don't want to rely on a business running in the red for eleven straight years to provide a service this vital. Sure they can handle a Christmas card, what's the worst that can happen, it gets there late or gets lost. But my vote isn't a gift, it isn't a salutation, it is my voice in government. I want to ensure it is heard! It has nothing to do with the employees, it has to do with the management of that business. Yes, pensions, health care, vacations, and higher wages are important. But when those costs are bankrupting you, something has to be done. Unless the workers are willing to reduce those costs the options are few. The first option, reduce the number of employees, close post offices in the smallest places, remove mail boxes from the streets. In fact the Obama administration removed over 14,000 over a five year period. It's obvious that didn't help much, how many would have to be removed? And let's not forget that Senator Diane Feinstein (D ) from California, husband has the exclusive deal to sell some 50 former postal buildings at a commission of 6%. Some of those building are worth a few million due to location and size.
No I vote no confidence in their ability to do the job. An independent agency, on the verge of bankruptcy, being trusted with my vote. I don't think so. Who is going to pay the bill? You are, the United States taxpayer, to an independent agency. You know we say, it's in the mail for a reason. Everyone knows the implication. Yet, there are those willing and eager to allow their vote to be just be, " in the mail. " Obvious to me they don't really care if their vote is counted or not! No, all they want to say is, I voted! Well you can say that anyway so why bother? Just self-identify as a voter. It's just as real, right?
In 1971 the postal workers went on an eight day strike for increased wages and the right to collective bargaining. Prior to that the postal service was an arm of the United States government and its' workers were subject to those rules and regulations. Nixon was the president at that time. He sent members of the armed forces to deliver the mail in an attempt to show the postal workers they could be replaced. That was a miserable failure. So in the end the postal workers, with their union, won a raise and the collective bargaining rights they so wanted. As a result the postal service became an independent agency. They would have to make a profit in order to stay in business, sorta. The Congress does allocate about 96 million dollars a year to the postal service to pay for " free postage " for the legally blind and the cost of postage for U.S. citizens mailing in ballots from overseas. The postal service also has certain rights to borrow money from the government, at reduced rates, at any time they deem it necessary. In short, as far as a business goes, it is pretty poorly organized. It can't be allowed to go bankrupt like any other business would. In fact the postal service hasn't realized a profit in eleven straight years! They are deeply in debt. That is the direct result of the Unions. Yes, that's what happens when unions control things. The prices go up, up, up, and the business eventually goes down. Happened with the auto manufacturers, and we bailed them out. The postal service itself cites two primary reasons for their staggering losses. The cost of funding the pension plan and the cost of the health care program. The declining volume of mail is also cited as a reason.
Now taking all that into consideration do we really have an expectation that this independent agency can handle an increase in volume? That is to say, at this time they are ready? Well I don't know about you but I don't want to rely on a business running in the red for eleven straight years to provide a service this vital. Sure they can handle a Christmas card, what's the worst that can happen, it gets there late or gets lost. But my vote isn't a gift, it isn't a salutation, it is my voice in government. I want to ensure it is heard! It has nothing to do with the employees, it has to do with the management of that business. Yes, pensions, health care, vacations, and higher wages are important. But when those costs are bankrupting you, something has to be done. Unless the workers are willing to reduce those costs the options are few. The first option, reduce the number of employees, close post offices in the smallest places, remove mail boxes from the streets. In fact the Obama administration removed over 14,000 over a five year period. It's obvious that didn't help much, how many would have to be removed? And let's not forget that Senator Diane Feinstein (D ) from California, husband has the exclusive deal to sell some 50 former postal buildings at a commission of 6%. Some of those building are worth a few million due to location and size.
No I vote no confidence in their ability to do the job. An independent agency, on the verge of bankruptcy, being trusted with my vote. I don't think so. Who is going to pay the bill? You are, the United States taxpayer, to an independent agency. You know we say, it's in the mail for a reason. Everyone knows the implication. Yet, there are those willing and eager to allow their vote to be just be, " in the mail. " Obvious to me they don't really care if their vote is counted or not! No, all they want to say is, I voted! Well you can say that anyway so why bother? Just self-identify as a voter. It's just as real, right?
No comments:
Post a Comment