Thursday, November 12, 2009

Sell off the Postal Service? Americans don't like that idea

A Rasmussen poll asked Americans what things the government should still own. Most think the government doesn't need to own Amtrak. And three out of four want Uncle Sam to sell ownership stakes in G.M. and Chrysler.

Public lands, on the other hand, should never be sold to pay off public debt according to the 50 percent of voters who don't like the idea.

What about the Postal Service? Just 31 percent think it's a good idea to sell USPS to a private company and 58 percent are completely opposed.

What do you think? Good idea or not? Click here.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Okay I'll be the first. Sell the Post Office - if you want the prices of stamps to go sky high, If you want somebody to go through your mail (with no reprocussions if they do) WHAT A STUPID IDEA. Let me retire first thank you very much

Ladycdw said...

No Way!!!! I care more about my privacy than to let someone I do not have trust in handle my mail!

Anonymous said...

No way!!!

Merk said...

Those who think the Postal Service should be privatized don't understand the mandate we legally have to deliver to all addresses in the US 6 days a week at the same price for a First Class stamp. Do they really believe UPS, FedEx or any private for-profit company wants to do that? How many days do those companies deliver to their homes? Do they realize they have surcharges for everything from fuel to residential addresses? Do they know how many towns they don't have an office in? If there's no profit in delivering to certain locations or having a retail presence there, they aren't going to do it. That will leave thousands of small towns, rural locations and urban, inner city locations without a reliable, inexpensive way to send or receive mail.

Anonymous said...

Do not sell the USPS. We would loss the Title 18 benefits as well as any privacy of mail. Our delivery would be whenever they wanted to delivery(not daily), and expensive. Profit would be the bottom line not service.

Anonymous said...

Ditto, Merk!!

Anonymous said...

Those people that are in favor in privatizing the postal service should take a long hard look at other countries and what they pay and what they get. Look at where UPS, FedEx and other companies don't go. Go ahead and sell but don't complain about it afterwards. They have such a good thing now and they just don't see it. The grass isn't always greener on the side.

Grannybunny said...

Who would buy USPS? USPS delivers more mail in 2 days that FedEx and UPS combined deliver in a year; they simply could not compete! USPS delivers a letter to American Samoa, the Alaskan bush, the bottom of Grand Canyon, American military personnel all over the world, etc. for a mere 44 cents. FedEx charges more than $20 for the same letter, and won't even go to most of those places, for any amount of money.

Anonymous said...

I understand the concerns over the loss of privacy and the high probabiilty that prices would increase if privatized; however we have not over the past couple of years and do not anticipate sufficient business to support Universal Service in the short or long term. If we do not privatize and retain Universal Service....who pays for it?

Anonymous said...

Universal service will not be retained if USPS is sold - and how, exactly is that to be done? Our addresses to the highest bidder - no thanks!

Anonymous said...

It is a horrible idea! I would like let people know the consequences if that happened. Most people don't know how it would affect them.

Anonymous said...

Privatization of the postal service would be a rotten idea. There is no way private enterprise would be able to maintain the system.

Anonymous said...

No way.

Anonymous said...

What is the USPS worth? With all the real estate, furnishings and fixtures, equipment, and vehicles, etc., who could afford it? Corporate America and Government Service operate on two different plains. Let's improve on what we have.

Anonymous said...

First off, it would be almost impossible for any single company to afford to purchase the Postal Service. Secondly, delivering mail to every household in the 50 US States takes more effort and resources than most companies would want to take on. Thirdly, it would have to be mandated by Congress for someone to purchase the Postal Service the way it stands right now. I say "NO WAY EVER" should be privatize the USPS!

MBAcarrier said...

wow....what a broad spectrum of opinions.

look at the facts.

to purchase the USPS, a company would need approximately 25 billion dollars. As of 2007, this was the relative value of all USPS assets and revenue.
Given the decline in volume and consistent losses, this number could be reduced at this time.

On the flip side, DeutschePost (Germany for those that get it) privatized with the State owning 51% of the stock. One subsidiary, DHL, failed miserably in the US due to inflated costs and the inability to compete in a mixed marriage agreement (government/private).

Isn't that what we have now? We are "for profit" but cannot compete unrestricted without the competitors crying "foul" due to the government backing.

Either privatize and reform, or continue as is and REFORM!!!! Without the influx of corporate managers we cannot compete in the free market.

As is, we will most assuredly end up private within 10 years. But I suspect that all those that are saying "HELL NO" are also unwilling to become part of the solution...regardless of the cost.

Anonymous said...

to purchase the USPS, a company would need approximately 25 billion dollars. As of 2007, this was the relative value of all USPS assets and revenue????
USPS has 33,000+ buildings most worth AT LEAST $300,000 each... $10 trillion. 260,000 vehicles have to be worth 10,000 each..$2.6 trillion. That doesent include the computerized sorters...
USPS if should would have to bring at least $25 Trillion