Postal Letter

If we did away with the public option for mail delivery (USPS) how much do you think private rates would rise?

The major carriers would jack up their rates just as other commercial sectors do where there's a virtual monopoly. See the value of a public health care option now?

Public Comments

1. There's simply no way it would cost less than a dollar to send a one ounce letter across the country.
2. UPS and FedEx can't get a letter across the country for 46 cents in one day like USPS can. I DO see what you mean.
3. A lot more. USPS basically offers a free service, UPS and FedEx are making a profitable business because of processing and handling - they deliver sticky packages and take orders. I work at UPS - and I can go ahead and tell you if we start delivering your mail and bills every day its going to be expensive.
4. The post office is billions in the red. They are talking about cutting out Saturday delivery (which would be rationing in health care). At least it isn't life or death situation like it would be with health care. No thanks to the government running my health care.
5. Email is free. Nobody is currently allowed to compete with USPS; it has a legal monopoly on first class mail. If UPS and Fed Ex were allowed to compete with USPS, I imagine they could do a lot better.
6. Are you insane ? Who pays for all the prime downtown post offices ? Who pays for all the health and pensions for postal employees? Who pays for all the subsidized fuel for mail trucks? TAX PAYERS - THAT'S WHO Post office pays no fuel tax pays no vehicle registration fees gets free parking in red zones (while fed ex and ups must park legal) does not pay retirement or health benefits for its employees gets its own free police force You think your stupid 40cent stamp pays for all this? WOW - Math isn't your strong suit.
7. "The major carriers would jack up their rates just as other commercial sectors do where there's a virtual monopoly." No they wouldnt. You dont even know the meaning of the word "monopoly". Government has a monopoly on first class mails right now. If it were to be privatized, there would be dozens, perhaps hundreds of companies jumping at the chance to get that kind of business and the competition over postal rates would cause it to drop, not go up. Several companies providing first class mail service is not a monopoly. Government being the only one allowed to do so is a monopoly. "See the value of a public health care option now?" No I dont.
8. Either that, or mail of less profitable types would cease to exist. If you lived in a geographically remote area, you'd be SOL. Second and Third Class mail would be as extinct as the dodo. That is the whole idea, that we have a Postal SERVICE to SERVE the American people -- not a corporation seeking to extract a PROFIT from our need to send and receive papers and parcels.
9. To send a letter 80 miles using FedEx ground is $15.24
10. It is a failing monopoly in the delivery of specific classes of mail, with drastic cuts pending in the delivery of services. Taken in an holistic sense, it may be a success in getting letters and the delivery of other goods to the mail box, but it continues to be an economic disaster that bleeds red ink.
11. I always find it amusing how fools like you don't get how hilarious it is to the rest of us when you make this "anti-monopoly" rant.. by pushing for a government monopoly. Let me break it down for you. If, by law, each American was required to mail 20 packages a year with the US postal service and each business was required to mail 2500 a month.. how long do you think UPS and Fed Ex would stay in business? And when they're gone.. guess what? MONOPOLY! You want a free government handout.. we get it. But just come right out and say it..
12. I don't think they would, and I'll tell you why. It's because their is FedEx AND UPS to compete with each other. Whichever one raises their rates first, the other will take all of their business. Email obsoletes the sending of simple letters. Most things in boxes are sent FedEx or UPS today anyway.
13. Actually, rates would drop. USPS has a monopoly on mail delivery.
14. Great question. The answer is obvious