CBS' 60-Minutes commentator Andy Rooney had some things to say about the Postal Service last night.
He talked about the state of the Postal Service, proposed service cuts and the loss of traditional mail communication. He's prefers to get letters.
"An e-mail, on the other hand, has all the charm of a freight train. When I was growing up we all knew when the mailman was coming and we waited for him even though we hardly ever got a letter."
And Rooney gives props to our efficiency.
"In 1900, there were 77,000 post offices around the country. Today with four times as many people, there are only 37,000 post offices - 40,000 fewer post offices for 230 million more Americans."
And he concludes, "We have a lot of things that need cutting, but post offices are not among them."
His full comments are here. Tell me what you think here.
11 comments:
Those of us who work for the USPS know the important service we give to the American public. It is important that we educate our family and friends on the facts so that misinformation does not continue to spread. We can help ourselves by using the mail more as well.
I've heard plenty about the speed of the mail but I haven't heard enough about the sanctity of the mail. We need to emphasize the differences between email and letters. Email is open to almost all eyes. Personal mail is only seen by the recipient. There will always be room for both forms of communication in our society.
Awww. Andy Rooney is so sentimental but not very realistic. USPS has no other choice but to change. Technology has advanced and progressed allowing less people to produce more. Our employee pool is shrinking. USPS has lots of overlayering and ineffi...ciencies. There are post offices that are in close proximity to one another. USPS leases many buildings. It just makes good business sense to consolidate.
A huge THANK YOU to Andy for helping get the facts out to the public. As we saw with the debate over HR22, even some of our government representatives don't know enough about how the USPS is managed financially.
I think it's wonderful that Andy Rooney gave USPS an endorsement and encourage letter writing. But, unfortunately, since he's from the World War II generation, he's living in the past. I'm afraid if he was to talk to a Millenial (teenager or 20 something) about letter writing or "snail mail", he'd be ridiculed. Young people pay bills online and send text messages and e-mails, they will help dictate future direction of USPS.
Personally, I think it's sad that people who still enjoy writing and receiving letters are called nostalgic or sentimental. Letters can still evoke emotions that emails can't come close to, and the younger generations today who are so tech savvy are really missing out on the personal touch that a letter can bring.
I think it is very, very sad that people have quit writing letters and sending cards using the "snail mail" as it is called. Life would be so much better if we all went back to a slower pace in our life and enjoyed the simple things a little more.
I saw recently where the postal services sends (on average) 9 million emails a day. Imagine if we cut that in half and sent a regular piece of mail (stamp and all)what it could do for our own business. I am a believer in sending cards (homemade) and letters as often as possible even though I use email also. I look forward to getting mail especially when it is personal.
Years ago there was an email spoof about the government receiving .05 for each email.....imagine how that would boost sales!! :)
Save the Post Offices forever! I appreciate them so much.
WB
Thanks Andy,
I know all of my customers by name, and them me. We are a community although I live 10 miles from my route. I know that someday the mailman will be but a memory. For now I'll continue to deliver all of the birthday, wedding, anniversary and sympathy cards that come to my customers. I'll share their joy and pain, triumphs and pitfalls. And at the end of the route, with any luck, we'll all have a better day.
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