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TokenBoomer@lemmy.world

After Reports Suggest Trump Seeks to Privatize USPS, Progressives Speak Out (truthout.org)

submitted 3 days ago by TokenBoomer@lemmy.world to c/progressivepolitics@lemmy.world

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The Washington Post reports Trump is “keen” for a scheme that would hand the USPS over to for-profit, private interests.

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[–] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)

operating at a loss for 15 years.

every social service operates at a loss. they don't exist to "make money," they're there to provide a service to the community--they cost money. same as public highways. public libraries. the military.

it's honestly fucking asinine that this rhetoric of "OMG the USPS is losing money!" has been amplified to the degree that it has

also, i would argue that any kind of drop in usage for paper mail over time has been more than made up for by shipping for online retail shopping

[–] Lets_Eat_Grandma@lemm.ee -2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I'd argue that amazon has stolen all the growth from shipping that could have propped up the USPS, but hey, that's just me.

I don't think something can be self funded and operate at a loss. I think for the former to work you can't have the latter and vice versa.

The USPS can keep cutting services into the ground to stay afloat but eventually they'll just collapse unless publicly funded. I think that's ok, the service is too critical not to subsidize to a reasonable service level, it needs to be subsidized for the public good.