GOING POSTAL OVER CHRISTMAS

While the United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (Fed-Ex) have spent millions touting the speed and accuracy of their world-wide shipping services, it was the United States Postal Service that actually delivered on its promises this Christmas Season. While UPS and Fed-Ex dropped the ball and left thousands of families without parcels that were promised to be delivered before Christmas, the United States Postal Service left no promised package undelivered, and did so for a cheaper price than its two privatized competitors.

Leaders of UPS and Fed-Ex can blame the weather and a glut of last-minute packages on their company’s respective failures, but the United States Postal Service encountered the same two hurdles and remained true to the Service’s motto – We deliver! It’s time to own up to the fact that the United States Postal Service is second to none, despite the fact that it carries out its mission without the freedoms that its major competitors enjoy.

You see, the United States Postal Service is subject to Congressional oversight, which hinders the Postal Service’s ability to operate effectively and efficiently. If fuel and transportation costs increase, the CEOs of UPS and Fed-Ex simply raise rates they charge for shipping packages to offset their rising costs. The United States Postal Service, however, cannot act unilaterally to deal with market force; it is at the mercy and whims of Congress. Earlier this year, the Postal Service asked Congress for permission to stop Saturday deliveries as a cost-cutting measure to stem the tide of monetary losses posted by the service over the past five years. Congress declined that request, essentially forcing the Postal Service to continue the current level of services at a financial loss. Congress would never mandate private companies to act in a similar manner. If UPS and Fed-Ex wanted to stop Saturday delivering, they’d just do it, and nobody would suggest that Congress could mandate otherwise.

Despite the operating obstacles imposed by Congress, the United States Postal Service found a way to get its mission accomplished this Christmas season. That’s a testament to the dedication and commitment of the men and women who work for the Postal Service. They deserve our praise and support!