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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: Soul Crusher on April 12, 2010, 02:19:48 PM
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GAO: Postal Service business 'not viable'
www.washingtonpost.com
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Happy Monday! The U.S. Postal Service's current business model "is not viable" and the mail agency should make deeper job and wage cuts, hire more part-time staff and consider outsourcing operations, according to a draft of a government audit acquired by The Federal Eye.
Auditors also urge Congress to remove restrictions on the Postal Service's ability to cut Saturday mail delivery and close post offices, according to the report, which offers recommendations similar to the USPS's own proposed 10-year business plan.
Lawmakers requested the Government Accountability Office report, set for a Monday release, as they prepare to consider the USPS plan, which was introduced last month. The proposals call for an end to six-day delivery and ask Congress to give the mail agency the ability to raise prices beyond the rate of inflation and close post offices if necessary. (The full report is out -- read it here.)
The report's conclusions pleased top postal officials who are gathered this week in Nashville for the annual National Postal Forum, a convention for the mail agency's largest customers.
Postmaster General John E. Potter said Sunday he was pleased with the GAO's general conclusions, but concerned with suggestions in the report that further study of the issue is required.
"We've studied this significantly, the time for study is over, now's the time for action," he said.
Potter and his colleagues estimate the Postal Service will lose a record $7 billion in the fiscal year that ends in September and could lose at least $238 billion in the next decade if Congress fails to act.
Auditors appeared to push beyond the USPS proposal. "If no action is taken, risks of larger USPS losses, rate increases and taxpayer subsides will increase," GAO said.
The Postal Service should provide more lucrative incentive packages to potential retirees to try to accelerate attrition, auditors said. They also recommended USPS consider outsourcing more delivery routes and mail services to contractors and seek concessions on wage and benefits from its labor unions during negotiations later this year.
Lawmakers also should consider establishing a panel similar to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission to independently recommend changes, the report said. Auditors suggested that more details are needed about potential delivery cuts and post office closures.
Most lawmakers and regulators have reacted tepidly to proposed changes. Potter's meetings in Nashville will be mostly with customers who could suffer from proposed cuts and price increases.
GAO concluded that the recession served as the "tipping point" that accelerated a shift away from traditional snail mail for most of the Postal Service's biggest customers, including insurance and banking companies.
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), who will lead postal reform efforts in the Senate, said that if GAO's conclusions are correct, "it is imperative that Congress, postal management, postal employees, customers and other stakeholders give up on old fights and biases and work together to cut the Postal Service's costs and adjust its operations to meet a changing environment."
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Straw Man: "The U.S. Post Office is doing fine"
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USPS = Constitutionally Mandated.
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USPS = Constitutionally Mandated.
No, it's not. It says Congress can establish post offices, not that Congress must establish post offices.
You do understand the difference, Renaissance man?
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Ha ha ha. Lmao.
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No, it's not. It says Congress can establish post offices, not that Congress must establish post offices.
You do understand the difference, Renaissance man?
::)
Hope this helps.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandate
Main Entry: 1man·date
Pronunciation: \ˈman-ˌdāt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French & Latin; Middle French mandat, from Latin mandatum, from neuter of mandatus, past participle of mandare to entrust, enjoin, probably irregular from manus hand + -dere to put — more at manual, do
Date: 1501
1 : an authoritative command; especially : a formal order from a superior court or official to an inferior one
2 : an authorization to act given to a representative <accepted the mandate of the people>
3 a : an order or commission granted by the League of Nations to a member nation for the establishment of a responsible government over a former German colony or other conquered territory b : a mandated territory
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::)
Hope this helps.
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mandate
Main Entry: 1man·date
Pronunciation: \ˈman-ˌdāt\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French & Latin; Middle French mandat, from Latin mandatum, from neuter of mandatus, past participle of mandare to entrust, enjoin, probably irregular from manus hand + -dere to put — more at manual, do
Date: 1501
1 : an authoritative command; especially : a formal order from a superior court or official to an inferior one
2 : an authorization to act given to a representative <accepted the mandate of the people>
3 a : an order or commission granted by the League of Nations to a member nation for the establishment of a responsible government over a former German colony or other conquered territory b : a mandated territory
LOL. Dude. When you make a mistake just admit it already and move on. :)
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no doubt it's got financial challenged just like every other thing in our government but don't hold your breath waiting for it to go away
look at what's changed in the last 30 years - faxes, emails, webinars, etc....
it's got to evolve like everything else and find new ways to generate revenue and cut costs but it will still be around when everyone reading this post will be dead
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LOL. Dude. When you make a mistake just admit it already and move on. :)
Do you not know the meaning of mandate?
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Do you not know the meaning of mandate?
Yep. I also know the difference between mandatory and discretionary language. So does Skip8282. But you? :-\
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no doubt it's got financial challenged just like every other thing in our government but don't hold your breath waiting for it to go away
look at what's changed in the last 30 years - faxes, emails, webinars, etc....
it's got to evolve like everything else and find new ways to generate revenue and cut costs but it will still be around when everyone reading this post will be dead
that doesnt mean that its doing fine... ;)
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Yep. I also know the difference between mandatory and discretionary language. So does Skip8282. But you? :-\
I don`t really think you understand the term or else you and Skip wouldn`t have made such a blunder.
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I don`t really think you understand the term or else you and Skip wouldn`t have made such a blunder.
Article I, Section 8 of the Constitutition reads in part as follows:
"The Congress shall have Power . . . To establish Post Offices and post Roads . . . ."
That doesn't require Congress to establish post offices. It simply gives Congress the power to establish them.
If the language read "Congress shall establish," then it would be a mandatory requirement.
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Article I, Section 8 of the Constitutition reads in part as follows:
"The Congress shall have Power . . . To establish Post Offices and post Roads . . . ."
That doesn't require Congress to establish post offices. It simply gives Congress the power to establish them.
If the language read "Congress shall establish," then it would be a mandatory requirement.
Again, you need to learn what a mandate is and/or the definition of the word as it applies to a Governing body, in this case the Constitution. For example, the Constitution also mandates that a Census be taken.
President Bush also had a mandate that he was so fond of. He didn`t carry all of it out, but boy he sure was proud of it.
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Article I, Section 8 of the Constitutition reads in part as follows:
"The Congress shall have Power . . . To establish Post Offices and post Roads . . . ."
That doesn't require Congress to establish post offices. It simply gives Congress the power to establish them.
If the language read "Congress shall establish," then it would be a mandatory requirement.
Sorry, a mandatory requirement is NOT a mandate. A mandatory requirement sounds more akin to a law.
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This may help you a bit Beach Bum with "mandate",
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Again, you need to learn what a mandate is and/or the definition of the word as it applies to a Governing body, in this case the Constitution. For example, the Constitution also mandates that a Census be taken.
President Bush also had a mandate that he was so fond of. He didn`t carry all of it out, but boy he sure was proud of it.
You don't know what the heck you're talking about. The census requirement is in Article I, Section 2. When talking about representatives and taxes, it says "The actual Enumeration shall be made within three Years after the first Meeting of Congress . . . and within every subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as they shall by Law direct."
The difference is the language "shall be made," which is a requirement, as opposed to "shall have the power to," which is not a requirement.
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Sorry, a mandatory requirement is NOT a mandate. A mandatory requirement sounds more akin to a law.
Nope, you didn't use it as a noun. You used it as a verb, hence mandated = mandatory.
Constituitional mandate = noun.
Constitutionally mandated = verb (ie. an action that must be undertaken)
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Wow, just wow. Fooled by Semantics, incapable of reading a dictionary.
I give up. You want to make your own reality, fine.
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::)
Face it, you lost again.
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::)
Face it, you lost again.
Any rational person reading this would not see it that way.
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Any rational person reading this would not see it that way.
Do you need a hug?
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Any rational person reading this would not see it that way.
LOL! ;D Now this is the funniest thread of the day. :D
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Do you need a hug?
No. but you need a Dictionary. ;D
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Nope, you didn't use it as a noun. You used it as a verb, hence mandated = mandatory.
Constituitional mandate = noun.
Constitutionally mandated = verb (ie. an action that must be undertaken)
^THIS^ and yes TA there is a difference
in your version they are required to
in the REAL VERSION they have the ability to...
small change but big difference
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^THIS^ and yes TA there is a difference
in your version they are required to
in the REAL VERSION they have the ability to...
small change but big difference
Again,
Mandated is a synonym for Authorized. Dictionaries are like Kryptonite to Republicans. Then, there is the problem of comprehension which I won`t even bother to go into.
I hope this helps although I am sure it won`t:
http://thesaurus.com/browse/mandate
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Again,
Mandated is a synonym for Authorized. Dictionaries are like Kryptonite to Republicans. Then, there is the problem of comprehension which I won`t even bother to go into.
I hope this helps although I am sure it won`t:
http://thesaurus.com/browse/mandate
hahha general welfare is all im going to say ;)
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hahha general welfare is all im going to say ;)
And Implied Powers is all we need to know.
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And Implied Powers is all we need to know.
LOL then dont ever bitch ;)
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Again,
Mandated is a synonym for Authorized. Dictionaries are like Kryptonite to Republicans. Then, there is the problem of comprehension which I won`t even bother to go into.
I hope this helps although I am sure it won`t:
http://thesaurus.com/browse/mandate
Just so we have this straight. The title of the thread is "GAO: U.S. Post Office is 'no longer viable'".
And the point of the article is that the post office is going belly up.
And all you wanted to indicate was that Congress has the authority to create the post office?
Hahahaha...give it up already.
Sure you don't need that hug?
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that doesnt mean that its doing fine... ;)
fine is probably one of the most subjective words in our language
it's seems fine to me
every time I mail a letter it seems to get there
what problems have you had?
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Just so we have this straight. The title of the thread is "GAO: U.S. Post Office is 'no longer viable'".
And the point of the article is that the post office is going belly up.
And all you wanted to indicate was that Congress has the authority to create the post office?
Hahahaha...give it up already.
Sure you don't need that hug?
Do you envision a United States without a Post Office? I don`t nor would I ever want to.
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fine is probably one of the most subjective words in our language
it's seems fine to me
every time I mail a letter it seems to get there
what problems have you had?
nooo "good" is the most subjective term
well at least we know your measuring stick...seems like AIG and GM are all doing fine too then I guess ;)
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nooo "good" is the most subjective term
well at least we know your measuring stick...seems like AIG and GM are all doing fine too then I guess ;)
I believe the us postal service is good
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I believe the us postal service is good
just like AIG, CITI and GM huh? ;)
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I believe the us postal service is good
And Maddoffs' clients thought he was a great financial advisor and investor. ::) ::)
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What is "bad" about the Post Office then?
The fact it costs money?
So does a lot of other stuff.
The postal service does function very efficiently and perform at an extremely above average level.
Is it losing money? Perhaps, but that is about how the world and communication has changed. No longer is news required to be delivered by paper.
Sometimes you're all far too concerned with being "right".
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What is "bad" about the Post Office then?
The fact it costs money?
So does a lot of other stuff.
The postal service does function very efficiently and perform at an extremely above average level.
Is it losing money? Perhaps, but that is about how the world and communication has changed. No longer is news required to be delivered by paper.
Sometimes you're all far too concerned with being "right".
Right, so now the GAO is making stuff up?
The US Post office is a fiscal disaster and on point to lose 250 BILLION over the next ten years. Who pays for that?
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This logical person says TA got owned. Skip did that at the beginning of this thread, quit trying to discuss the definition and derailing the thread.
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I never said the GAO was making anything up.
I'm saying the Post Office does do a good job at it's job.
It is unfortunate that due to technological changes, that the job they do has been relatively obsoleted.
I personally believe they should get rid of Saturday delivery and potentially reduce even further after that.
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U.S. Postal Service to cut 7,500 jobs, close offices
Yahoo ^
U.S. Postal Service to cut 7,500 jobs, close offices 31 mins ago
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Postal Service said on Thursday it would cut 7,500 jobs and close seven district offices and 2,000 post offices as it handles less mail and faces greater staff costs and competition from FedEx and United Parcel Service.
"It's critical that we adjust our work force to match America's changing communications trends as mail volumes continue to decline," Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said in a statement.
In November, the Postal Service reported a net loss of $8.5 billion for fiscal year 2010, its fourth consecutive year of losses.
Joanne Veto, a spokeswoman for the Postal Service, said, "We know that we cannot look the same 10 years from now. The mail volume isn't there. We have to adjust to keep up with the mail and customer needs."
She said the Postal Service would close 2,000 post offices around the United States over the next 12 months, while eliminating the 7,500 jobs.
As of the end of January, the agency employed 583,000 people.
The first round of job cuts are expected to be completed by May 31. As part of the first round of cuts, the Postal Service said it was offering voluntary early retirement of $20,000 paid over two years to employees 50 years old with 20 years of service, or any age with 25 years of service.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
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Where can I buy stock in the Post Office? :)
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U.S. Postal Service reports $2.2 billion loss
By Ben Rooney, staff report @CNNMoney
May 10, 2011: 5:03 PM ETNEW YORK (CNNMoney) --
The U.S. Postal Service continues to hemorrhage money, with a loss of $2.2 billion in the most recent quarter.
The national mail service said Tuesday that it expects to have a cash shortfall and reach its statutory borrowing limit by the time its fiscal year ends in September. That means the agency could be forced to default on some of its payments to the federal government.
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Patrick Donahoe, the Postmaster General, said the service is still seeking changes to federal laws that would allow it to change its business model and potentially save enough money to avoid a default.
"The Postal Service may return to financial stability only through significant changes to the laws that limit flexibility and impose undue financial burdens," Donahoe said in a statement.
At issue is a 2006 law requiring the service to pay between $5.4 and $5.8 billion into its prepaid retiree health benefits each year. In addition, the agency is seeking Congressional approval to eliminate Saturday mail service.
The postal service has estimated that moving to five day service could save $3.1 billion. But the Postal Regulatory Commission, which oversees the agency, issued an advisory in March that put the savings at a much more modest $1.7 billion.
While the Postal Service is not strictly a government agency, it is not exactly a private business either.
Dear USPS: Consider privatizing
The service funds its operations through the sale of postage, products and services. But it does receive some taxpayer support and is only required to make enough money to break even.
The service has been struggling with a prolonged slump in mail volume as email and other electronic forms of communication have supplanted 'snail mail,' as the practice of sending letters is now known.
0:00 / 2:26 USPS Postmaster: We will survive
In addition, the service has been hit hard by the weak economy as businesses cut back on direct mail marketing, traditionally a big source of revenue for USPS.
"Sluggish economic growth and diversion of First-Class Mail to electronic alternatives continue to cause record losses," said Joseph Corbett, the chief financial officer at USPS.
That's despite ongoing cost cutting measures, including a reduction of over 130,000 full-time workers over the last three years, he added.
20 most profitable companies
Meanwhile, the recent spike in gas prices could make the situation even worse.
The service said it expects to save up to $1.6 billion this fiscal year as a result of its efforts to reduce expenses and reorganize its operations. But the benefit of those measures "may be offset by rising fuel prices," the service said.
In its fiscal second quarter, which ended in March, the Postal Service said it lost $2.2 billion, up from $1.3 billion in the same period in 2010.
Operating revenue dropped 2.8% to $16.2 billion in the quarter.
http://money.cnn.com/2011/05/10/news/companies/usps_earnings/?section=money_latest
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Source: Reuters
The U.S. Postal Service posted a $2.2 billion net loss in its second quarter and said it might be unable to pay its debts by September.
The agency, which has been battling falling mail volumes and competition from FedEx (FDX.N) and United Parcel Service (UPS.N), said it expects to hit its borrowing limit by the September 30 end of the fiscal year, and will have to default on payments to the federal government unless Congress intervenes.
"The Postal Service continues to seek changes in the law to enable a more flexible and sustainable business model," said Chief Executive Patrick Donahoe in a statement.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/10/us-postalserv