Summary
Donald Trump is considering privatizing the US Postal Service due to its financial losses, a move that could disrupt shipping and push hundreds of thousands of federal workers out of government.
Citing the USPS’s financial losses, Trump argued the agency should not rely on government subsidies.
While his specific privatization plans remain unclear, Trump previously clashed with the USPS during his first term, attempting to shift control of key functions like labor relations and rate-setting to the Treasury Department.
This move could significantly alter the structure and operations of the USPS if implemented.
the conservative push to destroy this incredibly successful organization continues. its already been punished more than any other entity by requiring things no other business anywhere is required to.
starve the beast. theyve forced it to make financial considerations that now put it in pretend financial trouble so they can point at it as a failure.
if the USPS was allowed to run as any other business today it would be far more successful on paper than it already is, but conservatives just cant live with that.
Good thing the Democratic administration replaced DeJoy and passed some protections while they were in charge… oh. wait
Can’t replace him until a board of people fire him…and they didn’t.
There were empty seats on the board that would have tipped the balance, sitting vacant for the entirety of Biden’s term.
yep, the guy who demanded the dismantlement of all the new high speed sorting machines. proof biden is just a big ol conservative
it shouldn’t have to be ‘profitable’ in the first place.
yep. no one ever complains about the profitability of our ‘defense’ system which seems to do more selling than defending.
It was never intended to be. That’s why it has the word “service” right there in its name.
The USPS spent $89.5 billion in operations this year, which means that even if they didn’t collect a single dime from anybody they could serve everyone in the country with every package and letter that they already did in the entirety of 2024 for about 4.475% of the Defense Department’s expenditures in that same time frame – which are just under two trillion dollars.
The Defense Department as a whole Hoovers up about 24% the Federal budget.
Therefore the fact that the conservatives have successfully bamboozled everyone into believing that the USPS should be run as a “business” in the first place is incredible. Would you support about 0.1 percent of your Federal taxes spent on granting you free Postal Service access forever? I probably would.
We’re watching in real time what we’ve criticized other generations for letting things happen. Wars, electric transportation, malls for developers, Citizen United, etc., etc.,
Success is measured in how many billionaires it makes. I don’t see the USPS making any billionaires. /s
The postal service doesn’t lose money, it costs money.
By this logic, the interstate highway system and the military both lose billions! Is Trump going to privatize them too?
Thats not even a true statement.
The postal service makes money, but any surpless is automatically taken by Congress.
In the early 2000s the GOP passed a law requiring the postal service to upfront load the retirement funds of new employees, creating a massive debt burden.
Also, Congress has removed their ability to modernize equipment and fleets, forcing them to continue repairing aged equipment.
Not to mention, DeJoy, Trump’s installment during his first term, has done everything he can to dismantle any modernization because he wants the Post Office sold at rock bottom prices so he can buy it, get this, because he owns competing companies.
modernize equipment and fleets
They’re getting those new electric trucks though.
Which Trump is already talking about cancelling the contract for…
They were getting new electric fleets, the Umpa-lumpa in chief already said hes canx’ing that.
I, too, have trouble remembering how many “L” s are in canceling.
Don’t give him ideas. He probably would.
Don’t forget National and State parks - public lands in general. WhY ArEn’T tHeY tUrNiNg a PRooooFiT??
For fuck’s sake, it’s not meant to make money, it’s a public service - it’s literally in the name!
I wish more countries governments would get their head out of their capitalistic arses and understand that the services they run aren’t meant to be profitable - that’s what taxes are meant to be for!
You’re going to have to get with the times. Everything has to make money or it’s scrapped including us.
It isn’t a business, it is a service, it costs money that our taxes pay, so we don’t have to pay shitty private companies. (And it still makes money) “Let’s make the Mail just like ISPs” is a stupid take.
We should be making ISPs more like the mail.
Given the country’s current mood, is it really wise for the oligarchs to threaten the livelihoods of the very group that gave us the expression going postal?
Quid pro Bezos
I’m not an accelerationist, but what’s left to do now except bathe in the worm glow of our country burning down?
There is no arguing that America doesn’t deserve all the bad things, and maybe a good old fashioned conflagration would straighten the survivors out for a generation or two.
I’m not an accelerationist, but what’s left to do now except bathe in the worm glow of our country burning down?
Well it’s certainly not enough to just luxuriate in the chaos. Every time Trump makes things worse it’s our job to point it out and explain why he’s doing it. People won’t radicalize on their own! They’ll just blame immigrants and woke and DEI etc etc.
Do you hear yourself? You want revolution through explaining?
Trump supporters are not confused progressives. Trump is what America wants, He’s what America is. He’s what America deserves. Trump is more American than bullets and ground beef. He hasn’t overthrown the founders, he’s fulfilled their vision. We’re not going to change that by scolding people on the internet.
I understand, I used to think just like you. I used to be a patriot. I’ve voted for every Democrat presidential nominee from Gore to Harris. But these days I’m writing to the State to take my name off those goddam rolls. I suppose you’ll take a dim view of that, but no bullshit about civic duty, democracy, or engagement could ever compare to the tangible material benefit of avoiding jury duty.
I don’t wanna save America anymore. In fact I think her decline is funny and I’m tired of pretending it’s not.
Who gives a shit about Trump supporters? The vast majority didn’t vote for Trump if you count non-voters.
Also don’t dare call me a patriot. Death to America!
No arguments that the internet is a worthless place to educate people, though. This is just for fun.
Fuck the fascists. We fought the British over less tyrannical shit than what Trump is promising.
Republicans wish to destroy any public service. That has always been their mission.
Does everything have to be a business to this guy? Some things are government services bcz they need to be done, and private businesses wouldn’t make money off it. Not everything needs to be an attempt at making money off people.
And how would you privatize an entity that’s in the Constitution? I wonder how that’d look…
Consitution? PFffffft!!
IF THEY PRIVATIZE THE FUCKING MAIL I AM GOING TO SCREAM. Is nothing sacred?
The Postal Service is in the United States Constitution, Article I:
Section. 8.
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
Clause 7:
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
The Supreme Court gets to decide what that means.
There’s a HUGE real estate incentive here. Yeah the service can make tons of money for whatever company comes in but the real estate imo is the big one.
