Wondering the thread sunk trigger-perhaps just a move to OT??

JohnInCarolina

alaskanassasin said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

So sub par service is just now acceptable? No thanks. Anything that has to be there on time is FedEx or UPS. Bills are paid online

Nobody is saying that.

But it is. It’s the new norm. The excuses are just piling up. The federal government should get a valuation of the USPS and sell it. Let someone who can run it, buy it and show the government how to do it properly. Doesn’t have to operate at shark tank valuations to prove worth….just be profitable. 

Issue’s always arise in paying for retirement plans/benefits for those 1000’s of employees who have retired. It’s bankrupted 100’s of companies.

I think this notion that the private sector can always run things better is pretty misguided. The private sector is driven first and foremost by the ability to turn a profit.  That’s the incentive.  The public good is a tertiary consideration, if at all.

There are some services that really do make sense for the government to provide to the public, at a base level.  I’m not sure that mail has to be one but it seems like a fairly basic service that’s solidly in the government wheelhouse.  I’m fairly certain that’s the case at most Western countries.

I’m not saying the USPS is perfect.  Far from it.  I just don’t see selling it off as being the appropriate thing to do.  It probably should just be subsidized or something as it ramps down and transitions away from a time where so much business was conducted via mail to where we are now, where much has been replaced by online services.

It’s like every other business in this world……gotta pivot or become dead in the water. How many restaurants folded during Covid cus of no take out/delivery service? The good ones pivoted. Menus adapted. They hit the grind to survive. USPS has not gotten better, only worse.

Yeah I just don’t equate government services with private business.  We don’t have private fire departments and whatnot for a good reason.

Why don't we have private fire departments? 

You’d prefer a private one that only puts out the fires for paying customers and will only use as much water as you’ve paid for in advance?  

I mean, screw the kids screaming out the windows of the house on fire down the street, Mommy and Daddy should’ve paid the $1000 a month Frank’s Fire Guys charges?  Let them burn, amirite?

HeavyG

I know it's fashionable amongst some to always slam the USPS but, historically, I've had far more screwups with FedXXX (tho to be fair I haven't had any major problems the last few years) than the US Post Office. Given the vast volume of stuff the USPS delivers daily I'm impressed by how well most things go.

It's also important to remember that the USPS is REQUIRED BY LAW to deliver EVERYWHERE. And FedXXX and UPS are grateful for that as they frequently rely on the USPS to make "last mile" deliveries for them.

ColbyLang

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

So sub par service is just now acceptable? No thanks. Anything that has to be there on time is FedEx or UPS. Bills are paid online

Nobody is saying that.

But it is. It’s the new norm. The excuses are just piling up. The federal government should get a valuation of the USPS and sell it. Let someone who can run it, buy it and show the government how to do it properly. Doesn’t have to operate at shark tank valuations to prove worth….just be profitable. 

Issue’s always arise in paying for retirement plans/benefits for those 1000’s of employees who have retired. It’s bankrupted 100’s of companies.

I think this notion that the private sector can always run things better is pretty misguided. The private sector is driven first and foremost by the ability to turn a profit.  That’s the incentive.  The public good is a tertiary consideration, if at all.

There are some services that really do make sense for the government to provide to the public, at a base level.  I’m not sure that mail has to be one but it seems like a fairly basic service that’s solidly in the government wheelhouse.  I’m fairly certain that’s the case at most Western countries.

I’m not saying the USPS is perfect.  Far from it.  I just don’t see selling it off as being the appropriate thing to do.  It probably should just be subsidized or something as it ramps down and transitions away from a time where so much business was conducted via mail to where we are now, where much has been replaced by online services.

It’s like every other business in this world……gotta pivot or become dead in the water. How many restaurants folded during Covid cus of no take out/delivery service? The good ones pivoted. Menus adapted. They hit the grind to survive. USPS has not gotten better, only worse.

Yeah I just don’t equate government services with private business.  We don’t have private fire departments and whatnot for a good reason.

Yeah, but that doesn’t work. Mail isn’t a government service. Fire and police are civil servants/ government service. They don’t send you a bill when you call (normally). Every person that uses USPS pays for crap service.

HeavyG

I recall hearing a story some years ago about a neighborhood that had no municipal fire department so they relied on a private company. I think they were somewhere in Kentucky.

A house in the neighborhood caught fire and the fire trucks rolled out and started spraying down the house next to the one on fire. The homeowner was pissed and asked why they weren't spraying down his house since it was obviously already burning.

The fire crew leader explained that they were there ONLY to protect his neighbors house from catching fire and not his because he did not pay the annual "membership fee" and the house they were protecting did. I think it was only about $100/year and the pissed off homeowner repeatedly offered to pay the fee right then and there. They basically said it was too late and that's not how it works.

Moral hazard can be a harsh mistress sometimes. That story reminds me of folks that don't buy flood insurance and then expect the government to help make them whole after a hurricane tears through their area. Unfortunately, the government (aka taxpayers) too often does make them whole.

lousubcap

Never saw this coming but a solid exchange here.  Lively dialog.  

JohnInCarolina

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

So sub par service is just now acceptable? No thanks. Anything that has to be there on time is FedEx or UPS. Bills are paid online

Nobody is saying that.

But it is. It’s the new norm. The excuses are just piling up. The federal government should get a valuation of the USPS and sell it. Let someone who can run it, buy it and show the government how to do it properly. Doesn’t have to operate at shark tank valuations to prove worth….just be profitable. 

Issue’s always arise in paying for retirement plans/benefits for those 1000’s of employees who have retired. It’s bankrupted 100’s of companies.

I think this notion that the private sector can always run things better is pretty misguided. The private sector is driven first and foremost by the ability to turn a profit.  That’s the incentive.  The public good is a tertiary consideration, if at all.

There are some services that really do make sense for the government to provide to the public, at a base level.  I’m not sure that mail has to be one but it seems like a fairly basic service that’s solidly in the government wheelhouse.  I’m fairly certain that’s the case at most Western countries.

I’m not saying the USPS is perfect.  Far from it.  I just don’t see selling it off as being the appropriate thing to do.  It probably should just be subsidized or something as it ramps down and transitions away from a time where so much business was conducted via mail to where we are now, where much has been replaced by online services.

It’s like every other business in this world……gotta pivot or become dead in the water. How many restaurants folded during Covid cus of no take out/delivery service? The good ones pivoted. Menus adapted. They hit the grind to survive. USPS has not gotten better, only worse.

Yeah I just don’t equate government services with private business.  We don’t have private fire departments and whatnot for a good reason.

Yeah, but that doesn’t work. Mail isn’t a government service. Fire and police are civil servants/ government service. They don’t send you a bill when you call (normally). Every person that uses USPS pays for crap service.

That’s just the way it’s financed, but the post office is run by the federal government.  

Langner91

This past Saturday I tried hooking up a docking station in my home office that I had liberated from work.  I quickly learned my docking station had display ports, but my monitors had HDMI cables.  So, I looked on Amazon and found a two-pack of Display Port to HDMI adaptors for $7.00 plus tax.  It was 10:00AM.  I clicked Buy. Amazon said it would be delivered on Tuesday (today).  I was fine with that.  Then, the USPS got involved.

It was delivered into my mailbox on SUNDAY at 2:00 Central.  While I love the service, I do not understand why they would send a person out on a Sunday to deliver an Amazon package that wasn't expected until Tuesday.  Seems like an odd way to run a railroad.  There is no way they made any money on that delivery.

alaskanassasin

JohnInCarolina said:

alaskanassasin said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

So sub par service is just now acceptable? No thanks. Anything that has to be there on time is FedEx or UPS. Bills are paid online

Nobody is saying that.

But it is. It’s the new norm. The excuses are just piling up. The federal government should get a valuation of the USPS and sell it. Let someone who can run it, buy it and show the government how to do it properly. Doesn’t have to operate at shark tank valuations to prove worth….just be profitable. 

Issue’s always arise in paying for retirement plans/benefits for those 1000’s of employees who have retired. It’s bankrupted 100’s of companies.

I think this notion that the private sector can always run things better is pretty misguided. The private sector is driven first and foremost by the ability to turn a profit.  That’s the incentive.  The public good is a tertiary consideration, if at all.

There are some services that really do make sense for the government to provide to the public, at a base level.  I’m not sure that mail has to be one but it seems like a fairly basic service that’s solidly in the government wheelhouse.  I’m fairly certain that’s the case at most Western countries.

I’m not saying the USPS is perfect.  Far from it.  I just don’t see selling it off as being the appropriate thing to do.  It probably should just be subsidized or something as it ramps down and transitions away from a time where so much business was conducted via mail to where we are now, where much has been replaced by online services.

It’s like every other business in this world……gotta pivot or become dead in the water. How many restaurants folded during Covid cus of no take out/delivery service? The good ones pivoted. Menus adapted. They hit the grind to survive. USPS has not gotten better, only worse.

Yeah I just don’t equate government services with private business.  We don’t have private fire departments and whatnot for a good reason.

Why don't we have private fire departments? 

You’d prefer a private one that only puts out the fires for paying customers and will only use as much water as you’ve paid for in advance?  

I mean, screw the kids screaming out the windows of the house on fire down the street, Mommy and Daddy should’ve paid the $1000 a month Frank’s Fire Guys charges?  Let them burn, amirite?

That’s right! Just like I went to a doctor last week and he laughed in my face and said go to Canada for treatment!!

TechsasJim

This took a sideways turn.  🍿

ColbyLang

Lol

JohnInCarolina

alaskanassasin said:

JohnInCarolina said:

alaskanassasin said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

So sub par service is just now acceptable? No thanks. Anything that has to be there on time is FedEx or UPS. Bills are paid online

Nobody is saying that.

But it is. It’s the new norm. The excuses are just piling up. The federal government should get a valuation of the USPS and sell it. Let someone who can run it, buy it and show the government how to do it properly. Doesn’t have to operate at shark tank valuations to prove worth….just be profitable. 

Issue’s always arise in paying for retirement plans/benefits for those 1000’s of employees who have retired. It’s bankrupted 100’s of companies.

I think this notion that the private sector can always run things better is pretty misguided. The private sector is driven first and foremost by the ability to turn a profit.  That’s the incentive.  The public good is a tertiary consideration, if at all.

There are some services that really do make sense for the government to provide to the public, at a base level.  I’m not sure that mail has to be one but it seems like a fairly basic service that’s solidly in the government wheelhouse.  I’m fairly certain that’s the case at most Western countries.

I’m not saying the USPS is perfect.  Far from it.  I just don’t see selling it off as being the appropriate thing to do.  It probably should just be subsidized or something as it ramps down and transitions away from a time where so much business was conducted via mail to where we are now, where much has been replaced by online services.

It’s like every other business in this world……gotta pivot or become dead in the water. How many restaurants folded during Covid cus of no take out/delivery service? The good ones pivoted. Menus adapted. They hit the grind to survive. USPS has not gotten better, only worse.

Yeah I just don’t equate government services with private business.  We don’t have private fire departments and whatnot for a good reason.

Why don't we have private fire departments? 

You’d prefer a private one that only puts out the fires for paying customers and will only use as much water as you’ve paid for in advance?  

I mean, screw the kids screaming out the windows of the house on fire down the street, Mommy and Daddy should’ve paid the $1000 a month Frank’s Fire Guys charges?  Let them burn, amirite?

That’s right! Just like I went to a doctor last week and he laughed in my face and said go to Canada for treatment!!

The health care debate is in a different thread, pal.  

ColbyLang

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

alaskanassasin

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

So sub par service is just now acceptable? No thanks. Anything that has to be there on time is FedEx or UPS. Bills are paid online

Nobody is saying that.

But it is. It’s the new norm. The excuses are just piling up. The federal government should get a valuation of the USPS and sell it. Let someone who can run it, buy it and show the government how to do it properly. Doesn’t have to operate at shark tank valuations to prove worth….just be profitable. 

Issue’s always arise in paying for retirement plans/benefits for those 1000’s of employees who have retired. It’s bankrupted 100’s of companies.

I think this notion that the private sector can always run things better is pretty misguided. The private sector is driven first and foremost by the ability to turn a profit.  That’s the incentive.  The public good is a tertiary consideration, if at all.

There are some services that really do make sense for the government to provide to the public, at a base level.  I’m not sure that mail has to be one but it seems like a fairly basic service that’s solidly in the government wheelhouse.  I’m fairly certain that’s the case at most Western countries.

I’m not saying the USPS is perfect.  Far from it.  I just don’t see selling it off as being the appropriate thing to do.  It probably should just be subsidized or something as it ramps down and transitions away from a time where so much business was conducted via mail to where we are now, where much has been replaced by online services.

It’s like every other business in this world……gotta pivot or become dead in the water. How many restaurants folded during Covid cus of no take out/delivery service? The good ones pivoted. Menus adapted. They hit the grind to survive. USPS has not gotten better, only worse.

Yeah I just don’t equate government services with private business.  We don’t have private fire departments and whatnot for a good reason.

Yeah, but that doesn’t work. Mail isn’t a government service. Fire and police are civil servants/ government service. They don’t send you a bill when you call (normally). Every person that uses USPS pays for crap service.

Taxes? Usps is double dipping!

JohnInCarolina

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

ColbyLang

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

And yet USPS sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon can’t save a sinking boat 

alaskanassasin

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

Healthcare is responsible for heart attacks? Are they contagious or something!?

JohnInCarolina

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

And yet USPS sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon can’t save a sinking boat 

Well it’s not like they have a monopoly on delivery.

ColbyLang

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

And yet USPS sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon can’t save a sinking boat 

Well it’s not like they have a monopoly on delivery.

Those vans exist because Bezos knows he can do it better than USPS. 

TechsasJim

Ok.   If someone can find my effing BM Bailout I’d appreciate it.   It’s allegedly somewhere between Roanoke VA and Houston so shouldn’t be too difficult to locate.  🤣

alaskanassasin

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

And yet USPS sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon can’t save a sinking boat 

Well it’s not like they have a monopoly on delivery.

 I see 4 different amazon vans on the same street yet they some how make a profit.

JohnInCarolina

alaskanassasin said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

And yet USPS sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon can’t save a sinking boat 

Well it’s not like they have a monopoly on delivery.

 I see 4 different amazon vans on the same street yet they some how make a profit.

Yeah, I wonder how they manage.  It’s a total mystery.  Maybe we should just let Jeff Bezos run the whole country.  Give him the US military next and watch him deliver a nuke right up Putin’s ass! 

TechsasJim

JohnInCarolina said:

alaskanassasin said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

And yet USPS sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon can’t save a sinking boat 

Well it’s not like they have a monopoly on delivery.

 I see 4 different amazon vans on the same street yet they some how make a profit.

Yeah, I wonder how they manage.  It’s a total mystery.  Maybe we should just let Jeff Bezos run the whole country.  Give him the US military next and watch him deliver a nuke right up Putin’s ass! 

Dood—-no nukes please

alaskanassasin

JohnInCarolina said:

alaskanassasin said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

And yet USPS sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon can’t save a sinking boat 

Well it’s not like they have a monopoly on delivery.

 I see 4 different amazon vans on the same street yet they some how make a profit.

Yeah, I wonder how they manage.  It’s a total mystery.  Maybe we should just let Jeff Bezos run the whole country.  Give him the US military next and watch him deliver a nuke right up Putin’s ass! 

That escalated quickly.

JohnInCarolina

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

And yet USPS sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon can’t save a sinking boat 

Well it’s not like they have a monopoly on delivery.

Those vans exist because Bezos knows he can do it better than USPS. 

So is the USPS “sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon”  or does Bezos know he can do it better and is mostly relying on his own delivery vans?    Because it seems like those two positions are somewhat contradictory.  

TechsasJim

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

FWIW, private EMS works beautifully here. Company is ESOP and constantly growing 

Funny how people having heart attacks in America is a growth industry.  

And yet USPS sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon can’t save a sinking boat 

Well it’s not like they have a monopoly on delivery.

Those vans exist because Bezos knows he can do it better than USPS. 

So is the USPS “sucking the Bezos tit on Amazon”  or does Bezos know he can do it better and is mostly relying on his own delivery vans?    Because it seems like those two positions are somewhat contradictory.  

John I actually think it’s capitalism winning out.  While I don’t know the fine details, Amazon pays USPS better than they pay themselves—thus the better quality of service.   

Edit to say, I know this bc I had a guy who worked for me, TAMU Mechanical Engineer degree and an MBA from Rice (I only bring this up bc you are in the higher learning space) who left me to work as an Ops Mgr for Amz.  

JohnInCarolina

To be clear I don’t think the USPS is perfect or can’t be improved.  I’m just not convinced the best way to fix it is to take it private. But I’ve said my peace and now it’s time for a sip or two of bourbon.  JIC out.

TechsasJim

Cheers John!    Good conversation!

Ozzie_Isaac

JohnInCarolina said:

alaskanassasin said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

JohnInCarolina said:

ColbyLang said:

So sub par service is just now acceptable? No thanks. Anything that has to be there on time is FedEx or UPS. Bills are paid online

Nobody is saying that.

But it is. It’s the new norm. The excuses are just piling up. The federal government should get a valuation of the USPS and sell it. Let someone who can run it, buy it and show the government how to do it properly. Doesn’t have to operate at shark tank valuations to prove worth….just be profitable. 

Issue’s always arise in paying for retirement plans/benefits for those 1000’s of employees who have retired. It’s bankrupted 100’s of companies.

I think this notion that the private sector can always run things better is pretty misguided. The private sector is driven first and foremost by the ability to turn a profit.  That’s the incentive.  The public good is a tertiary consideration, if at all.

There are some services that really do make sense for the government to provide to the public, at a base level.  I’m not sure that mail has to be one but it seems like a fairly basic service that’s solidly in the government wheelhouse.  I’m fairly certain that’s the case at most Western countries.

I’m not saying the USPS is perfect.  Far from it.  I just don’t see selling it off as being the appropriate thing to do.  It probably should just be subsidized or something as it ramps down and transitions away from a time where so much business was conducted via mail to where we are now, where much has been replaced by online services.

It’s like every other business in this world……gotta pivot or become dead in the water. How many restaurants folded during Covid cus of no take out/delivery service? The good ones pivoted. Menus adapted. They hit the grind to survive. USPS has not gotten better, only worse.

Yeah I just don’t equate government services with private business.  We don’t have private fire departments and whatnot for a good reason.

Why don't we have private fire departments? 

You’d prefer a private one that only puts out the fires for paying customers and will only use as much water as you’ve paid for in advance?  

I mean, screw the kids screaming out the windows of the house on fire down the street, Mommy and Daddy should’ve paid the $1000 a month Frank’s Fire Guys charges?  Let them burn, amirite?

We have private fire departments here.  If you are not subscribed and they have to come put your fire out or provide a service, then you get charged.

lousubcap

For the record-there is no such thing as a sip or two of bourbon.  
Just like there is no such thing as one beer.  

Canugghead

FWIW, not sure if things have changed, back in the day when I ordered stuff from US I would insist on shipping by USPS only. Why? USPS -> Canada Post -> me and I paid $5 flat brokerage/handling fees, whereas UPS or Fedex would charge an arm and a leg, over $50 easily, often more than the value of goods delivered.