Is the US Post Office still needed?

Absolutely.

The United States Post Office is a favorite target of some. Long lines, confusing rules, inefficiency, debt, costs are several criticisms as well as the challenges of being relevant in the internet age.  The Pony Express was once a symbol of the Post Office’s innovation. Now the saying, “gone the way of the Pony Express,” is a colorful way of saying “outdated and obsolete.”

But everyone loves to find a personal letter in the mailbox. There is no denying that opening an envelope that’s been mailed with a stamp is a more pleasurable experience than clicking a line in your inbox. Partly the tactile sensation, partly now a modern rarity, getting a letter in the mail is often a highlight of the day.

Is the temporary joy of a letter enough justification to keep open an operation that burns through money? Of course not. Though, one aspect of the Post Office’s debt is a mandated pre-funding of retirement benefits that competitors and almost all business don’t have. Eliminating this requirement would go a long way to balancing the Post Office’s books.

The Post Office is often maligned for having poor service, but I had a recent experience is the complete opposite of that.

I had sent three packages to the same address in Northern California and the shipping clerk in Fresno transposed two digits of the Zip Code. One of the packages was shipped to the wrong destination post office. Now before anyone goes pointing fingers and saying “aha, that’s a perfect example,” we are all human and I quite as easily could have done the same thing.

I knew this because I had the tracking numbers and was following the route of the packages. (You can now get free tracking on you items. They weren’t the first, but better late than never.) I was able to call the customer service line and the rep was very helpful. He started an inquiry and gave me a number to directly call the post office that had the wrong package. I called that post office, explained the problem, they immediately searched for the package while I was on the phone and shipped it on to the correct. The final destination post office called to double check everything. Yes they initially screwed up, but rapidly fixed the problem. I once spent three days trying to get AA&T to flip one switch to fix a problem they created.

I think one of the most important reasons that the Post Office is still relevant and needed is the democratic aspect of it. It’s tasked with giving Americans the ability to send material and contact each other throughout the nation. Not only those in large urban areas, or those with internet, but all across this large, diverse country. And at the same price. It costs the same for someone in rural Nebraska to mail a letter as someone in New York City. That’s democracy in action.

In an age where the economic gap between classes is widening and you can buy your way out of the indignities of TSA searches, isn’t a service that everyone can use, guarantees accessibility from all parts of the country and is affordable priced for everyone still needed? I think so. If you disagree, please send me a letter.