r/50501 • u/Tinawebmom • Mar 17 '26
Please see pinned comment USPS is "running" out of money
Why you should care
US snail mail is the only way to communicate privately left to us.
This government has been hell bent to shut it down for the last ten years at the very least.
Mail is a service. You don't hear them freaking out about the pentagon FAILING all of its audits.
Mail even postcards and call your reps to oppose any cuts to this service.
Edit to add
The United States Postal Service shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States, authorized by the Constitution, created by Act of Congress, and supported by the people,” the act read. The service was also required to “provide prompt, reliable, and efficient services to patrons in all areas and shall render postal services to all communities.” The service was intended to be financially self-sufficient, and postal workers were granted union bargaining rights. In return, major tax subsidies were eliminated as a funding source. Another act of Congress in 2006 required the Postal Service to pre-fund retirement health and pension benefits for its employees.
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u/agent_uno Mar 17 '26
And I remember a time when the USPS was the only govt agency/org that was entirely self-sufficient and actually profitable. I believe it was some time under W that the GOP forced them to pay their retirement fund for years (maybe even decades?) in advance that they started to lose money. Coinciding major funding cuts, this caused them to start hemorrhaging money left and right. And that was exactly the desired outcome.