Neither rain, nor sleet, nor hail for that matter, keeps mail carriers from their appointed rounds.
But e-mails, Twitter, FedEx and other delivery innovations might shave a day off those rounds.
Facing a $238 billion shortfall over the next 10 years, U.S. Postmaster John E. Potter has outlined a cost-cutting plan that involves a restructuring of postal workers’ health benefits and regulatory changes.
One proposal that hits home: eliminate Saturday delivery. Post offices would remain open on Saturdays.
For many of us, walking to the mailbox is the only exercise we get on Saturdays.
But there has been no grumbling across America about Potter’s proposal. Few of us really need another day of receiving junk mail; we can get that annoyance through e-mail spam. Few of us want another day of receiving paper that has to go into the recycling bin.
Nationally, mail volume is expected to drop from 177 billion pieces in 2009 to 150 billion in 2020. Of 32,000 post offices nationwide, 26,000 have expenses exceeding revenue.
By eliminating Saturday deliveries, the U.S. Postal Service predicts a $3.3 billion savings in the first year and $5.1 billion by 2020.
Dropping Saturdays requires approval by the Postal Regulatory Commission which monitors the department. Also, Congress would have to agree; federal law mandates six-day-a-week delivery.
Braving rain and sleet doesn’t impress taxpayers anymore, unless a storm knocks out the home computer or disrupts cable service. Then, we’d rather see our cable installer than our postman.
More important to taxpayers are keeping costs in check for a service known for its efficiency. The Postal Service has fulfilled its mission to deliver trust and reliability for 200 years. It will continue to do so but now the mission, faced with overwhelming financial losses, must stress affordability.
With the advent of new technologies, America performs its day-to-day business differently. Postmaster Potter wants his service to be able to respond to these changes.
He needs our stamp of approval.
Editorials
Editorial: Postal Service forced to consider changes
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You Said It: About roundabouts, Mayor Smith’s firings, recycling, State of City address
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Editorial: With changes to program, why not begin recycling?
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