Failure of the US Senate - USPS

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Over_ed
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7:31a, 4/10/26
AG
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/usps-halts-pension-contributions-warning-looming-cash-crisis

USPS operates under a board of governors with 9 members confirmed by the Senate and 2 executives chosen by the board, including the PostMasterGeneral. Currently, there are 4 Senate confirmed governors, all Biden appointees.

USPS has a borrowing limit of $15B. Yesterday USPS announced it was suspending its legally required contributions to workers' retirement pensions.

The objective here is force Congress to raise its "borrowing limit" to a "paltry" $34.5B.

This would allow them to continue "business as usual" for many years. As long as you don't mind your "business" losing billions of dollars every year.

If the Senate does its job, the USPS board of governors would be firmly controlled by Trump appointees. If the Senate does its job they will not raise the borrowing limit and force USPS to trim workers and services.

I am not holding my breath.

At this point our "Republican" majorities are a sick, sad joke. On us.


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BaileyAg
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7:35a, 4/10/26
AG
It's high time to be done with USPS.
They're bloated, lazy, and cannot keep up.
Put it out of its misery already
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Rapier108
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7:39a, 4/10/26
The USPS problems go back long before Trump was ever in office so the Senate not doing something is not the cause.

At this point, the only real solution to the problems with USPS is to privatize it like the Germans did with Deutsche Post.
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Darth Randy
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7:43a, 4/10/26
Privatize it and keep all the junk mailers out of my mailbox
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95 Buzzbait
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7:43a, 4/10/26
I like to visit with the "mailman" when I have a chance at my office….one day an old timer came in….I had not seen him in a while…he was filling in for another who was on vacation.
He said …"I can't turn this down….because I'm filling in….I will make $65/hour….."

I don't know the pay structure there but when I heard $65 I about fell out of my chair…

Edit to add….this was 10+ years ago
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Over_ed
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In reply to Rapier108 • 7:46a, 4/10/26
AG
Rapier108 said:
The USPS problems go back long before Trump was ever in office so the Senate not doing something is not the cause.

At this point, the only real solution to the problems with USPS is to privatize it like the Germans did with Deutsche Post.

Strongly disagree. It is the board of governors calling the shots, and 5 of the nine positions are unfilled. Unlees you are saying republican appointees are no better than democratic?

But then aren't you really agreeing with me about our "Republican" senate?
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Rapier108
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In reply to Over_ed • 7:48a, 4/10/26
Over_ed said:
Rapier108 said:
The USPS problems go back long before Trump was ever in office so the Senate not doing something is not the cause.

At this point, the only real solution to the problems with USPS is to privatize it like the Germans did with Deutsche Post.

Strongly disagree. It is the board of governors calling the shots, and 5 of the nine positions are unfilled. Unlees you are saying republican appointees are no better than democratic?

But then aren't you really agreeing with me about our "Republican" senate?

No, you completely missed what I'm saying.

Even if the seats were filled, USPS is hopelessly broken and has been for decades. It cannot be fixed no matter who's people are on the board.
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Phatbob
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7:50a, 4/10/26
AG
Gee, I sure hope we can put government in charge of healthcare. I am sure it would be run well, too.
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AlaskanAg99
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7:52a, 4/10/26
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https://stories.uspsoig.gov/postal-retirement-funds-in-perspective-historical-evolution-and-ongoing-challenges/index.html

This is pretty interesting f to u derstand how and why their pension plan is the way it is.

Cliff Notes: email killed USPS.
aTm '99
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Mas89
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7:55a, 4/10/26
AG
Stop reduce rates for Non Profit stamps Immediately. They fill our mailboxes. Make Everyone pay the same rate.

How much do the nonprofit stamps cost?
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Over_ed
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In reply to Rapier108 • 7:56a, 4/10/26
AG
Rapier108 said:
Over_ed said:
Rapier108 said:
The USPS problems go back long before Trump was ever in office so the Senate not doing something is not the cause.

At this point, the only real solution to the problems with USPS is to privatize it like the Germans did with Deutsche Post.

Strongly disagree. It is the board of governors calling the shots, and 5 of the nine positions are unfilled. Unlees you are saying republican appointees are no better than democratic?

But then aren't you really agreeing with me about our "Republican" senate?

No, you completely missed what I'm saying.

Even if the seats were filled, USPS is hopelessly broken and has been for decades. It cannot be fixed no matter who's people are on the board.

"...not raise the borrowing limit and force USPS to trim workers and services."

Not sure your problem with this? It certainly won't happen when the Dems win next. It has to happen with Republicans in charge, doesn't it. That is, if the Republicans wanted it to happen.

ETA - not trying to be argumentative, btw.
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milner79
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In reply to Phatbob • 8:06a, 4/10/26
Phatbob said:
Gee, I sure hope we can put government in charge of healthcare. I am sure it would be run well, too.

Wait till they get a form grip on college athletics ...
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Gigem_94
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In reply to 95 Buzzbait • 8:23a, 4/10/26
AG
95 Buzzbait said:
I like to visit with the "mailman" when I have a chance at my office….one day an old timer came in….I had not seen him in a while…he was filling in for another who was on vacation.
He said …"I can't turn this down….because I'm filling in….I will make $65/hour….."

I don't know the pay structure there but when I heard $65 I about fell out of my chair…

Edit to add….this was 10+ years ago

Don't forget the generous government retirement benefits they get.
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Ag4life80
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8:25a, 4/10/26
AG
Congress sucks largely because they have no business sense or discipline. They are by and large attorneys. The attorney business model is to bill by the hour with little or no regard for a budget or a motive to have a sense of urgency. ' It just costs what it costs' is the typical attorney credo, and that is exactly how the government is run.

What's an attorney's favorite color ? It's not green, it's grey. Grey area = no clear outcome which equals unlimited billable hours. It's not that they're all crooked, it's just the only business model most of them know.
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Tea Party
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In reply to Over_ed • 8:29a, 4/10/26
Over_ed said:
Rapier108 said:
The USPS problems go back long before Trump was ever in office so the Senate not doing something is not the cause.

At this point, the only real solution to the problems with USPS is to privatize it like the Germans did with Deutsche Post.

Strongly disagree. It is the board of governors calling the shots, and 5 of the nine positions are unfilled. Unlees you are saying republican appointees are no better than democratic?

But then aren't you really agreeing with me about our "Republican" senate?

This.

When both parties are terrible on an issue such as USPS the logical solution is to take power away from the issue.

And the USPS problem you present in OP is just one symptom of a much bigger underlying issue.
Learn about the Texas Nationalist Movement
https://tnm.me
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tio
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8:31a, 4/10/26
AG
USPS is an outdated service, the entire thing needs to be re-evaluated from a critical capability perspective.

But this will never happen, the only hope is that it is ended or privatized with limited government subsidization.
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Phatbob
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In reply to Tea Party • 8:34a, 4/10/26
AG
Tea Party said:
Over_ed said:
Rapier108 said:
The USPS problems go back long before Trump was ever in office so the Senate not doing something is not the cause.

At this point, the only real solution to the problems with USPS is to privatize it like the Germans did with Deutsche Post.

Strongly disagree. It is the board of governors calling the shots, and 5 of the nine positions are unfilled. Unlees you are saying republican appointees are no better than democratic?

But then aren't you really agreeing with me about our "Republican" senate?

This.

When both parties are terrible on an issue such as USPS the logical solution is to take power away from the issue.

And the USPS problem you present in OP is just one symptom of a much bigger underlying issue.

There is no system run by the government that is sustainable. Look at the USPS, NASA, Medicare, you name it. It explodes costs and lowers results. It's in the very nature of government.
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Ducks4brkfast
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10:01a, 4/10/26
AG
Just raise rates to break even. Let people decide if they want to use the service or not.
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agracer
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In reply to 95 Buzzbait • 10:16a, 4/10/26
AG
95 Buzzbait said:
I like to visit with the "mailman" when I have a chance at my office….one day an old timer came in….I had not seen him in a while…he was filling in for another who was on vacation.
He said …"I can't turn this down….because I'm filling in….I will make $65/hour….."

I don't know the pay structure there but when I heard $65 I about fell out of my chair…

Edit to add….this was 10+ years ago

The actual cost to employ someone at a private company is closer to 2x the salary paid to them when you factor in health ins., vacation, holidays, etc.
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Capt. Augustus McCrae
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10:27a, 4/10/26
AG
Remember when we heard about the poor government workers not getting a paycheck a few months ago during the **** down? These are the people we were told to have sympathy for.

Until the government has the same job risk as the rest of us, I have no sympathy. I hope their pension plans accidentally burn In a fire.
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aggiehawg
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In reply to 95 Buzzbait • 10:36a, 4/10/26
AG
95 Buzzbait said:
I like to visit with the "mailman" when I have a chance at my office….one day an old timer came in….I had not seen him in a while…he was filling in for another who was on vacation.
He said …"I can't turn this down….because I'm filling in….I will make $65/hour….."

I don't know the pay structure there but when I heard $65 I about fell out of my chair…

Edit to add….this was 10+ years ago

Have had three much older relatives who worked for USPS decades and decades ago. I saw that their pensions when they retired were quite generous. They were living high off of the hog as the saying goes, certainly making more as a retiree than the average salaried American, even way back then.

So a bloated pension system in USPS is not a surprise.
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rocky the dog
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10:40a, 4/10/26
AG
Elections are when people find out what politicians stand for, and politicians find out what people will fall for.
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valvemonkey91
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10:43a, 4/10/26
AG
The USPS is nothing more than a jobs program for minorities
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Omperlodge
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10:47a, 4/10/26
Raise all mail to the current rate of 78 cents. 90% of mail is at 28 cents. Reevaluate the entire system after one year.
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Martin Cash
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In reply to Darth Randy • 11:09a, 4/10/26
AG
Darth Randy said:
Privatize it and keep all the junk mailers out of my mailbox

I don't disagree with your premise, but junk mail is the only thing keeping USPS from going completely broke.
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HumpitPuryear
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11:14a, 4/10/26
AG
USPS handles lots of shipping for Amazon in rural markets. It would be interesting to find out what Amazon is paying for the service and the amount of Amazon stock and Amazon connections with members of the USPS board. I bet those Biden appointments were tough on Bezos in those negotiations.

We are highly dependent on USPS in our rural county and I would bet that half the workload is handling Amazon packages.
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Viper16
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In reply to Over_ed • 11:26a, 4/10/26
AG
Over_ed said:
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/usps-halts-pension-contributions-warning-looming-cash-crisis

USPS operates under a board of governors with 9 members confirmed by the Senate and 2 executives chosen by the board, including the PostMasterGeneral. Currently, there are 4 Senate confirmed governors, all Biden appointees.

USPS has a borrowing limit of $15B. Yesterday USPS announced it was suspending its legally required contributions to workers' retirement pensions.

The objective here is force Congress to raise its "borrowing limit" to a "paltry" $34.5B.

This would allow them to continue "business as usual" for many years. As long as you don't mind your "business" losing billions of dollars every year.

If the Senate does its job, the USPS board of governors would be firmly controlled by Trump appointees. If the Senate does its job they will not raise the borrowing limit and force USPS to trim workers and services.

I am not holding my breath.

At this point our "Republican" majorities are a sick, sad joke. On us.



Amazon seems to do a great job of delivering packages to my house, don't know why they couldn't do the same with the U.S. Mail!

JMO
The two most dangerous domestic terrorists groups in the USA are the modern democrat party and the main stream media.
Class of ‘73
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Gone Camping
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In reply to HumpitPuryear • 11:27a, 4/10/26
AG
HumpitPuryear said:
USPS mis-handles lots of shipping for Amazon in rural markets. It would be interesting to find out what Amazon is paying for the service and the amount of Amazon stock and Amazon connections with members of the USPS board. I bet those Biden appointments were tough on Bezos in those negotiations.

We are highly dependent on USPS in our rural county and I would bet that half the workload is handling Amazon packages.

FIFY

We don't know what to expect from the post office after our packages have been rerouted all over the country.
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Slicer97
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In reply to Martin Cash • 12:08p, 4/10/26
AG
Martin Cash said:
Darth Randy said:
Privatize it and keep all the junk mailers out of my mailbox

I don't disagree with your premise, but junk mail is the only thing keeping USPS from going completely broke.

So I have to take something from my mailbox to my trashcan just so USPS can stay afloat? That seems.......pretty f'n useless.
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Slicer97
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12:12p, 4/10/26
AG
I would also like to know why when I order something from a business in Houston, it goes to 2 different facilities in Austin, then makes a side trip to Temple, and then goes back to Austin before it's sent to Giddings. As much practice as the government has at effing up everything it touched, one would think they'd at least be efficient at it.
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Martin Cash
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In reply to Slicer97 • 1:05p, 4/10/26
AG
Slicer97 said:
Martin Cash said:
Darth Randy said:
Privatize it and keep all the junk mailers out of my mailbox

I don't disagree with your premise, but junk mail is the only thing keeping USPS from going completely broke.

So I have to take something from my mailbox to my trashcan just so USPS can stay afloat? That seems.......pretty f'n useless.

Just the facts, ma'am.
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BigRobSA
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In reply to Slicer97 • 1:25p, 4/10/26
Slicer97 said:
I would also like to know why when I order something from a business in Houston, it goes to 2 different facilities in Austin, then makes a side trip to Temple, and then goes back to Austin before it's sent to Giddings. As much practice as the government has at effing up everything it touched, one would think they'd at least be efficient at it.

Now....do FedEx.

You ordered something from Austin? Cool.

Tracking:
-Austin
-Bastrop
-Denver, Colorado
-San Francisco
-Oahu
-Zimbabwe
-Giddings
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normaleagle05
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In reply to Darth Randy • 1:37p, 4/10/26
AG
Darth Randy said:
Privatize it and keep all the junk mailers out of my mailbox

There's no point in privatizing a government service that has already been replaced by private entities. Email, UPS, Fedex, etc., have already replaced the USPS with cheaper/better service. That's a huge contributor to why USPS struggles as much as they do (and being the government).

Just shut it down.
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cevans_40
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In reply to Darth Randy • 1:40p, 4/10/26
AG
Darth Randy said:
Privatize it and keep all the junk mailers out of my mailbox

The junk mailers are an absolute cash cow for USPS. The fact they can't turn a profit says a great deal about their leadership.
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5Amp
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1:42p, 4/10/26
Do away with the USPS and black unemployment rises bigly.
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