gregfeeler
Dances With Sheep
I don't believe that when the founding fathers wrote the Postal Service into our founding documents - the only agency mentioned in the Constitution - they expected that it'd have to make a profit or even break even.
Not everything needs to be subjected to the forces of capitalism, IMHO. I'm certain, given the political bent of this forum, others won't agree.
If you consider the purpose of the USPS, the founding fathers realized that if we wanted informed voters for our democracy, a method of distributing information was going to be necessary. In the same sentence, they also mention the creation of "post roads" to facilitate interstate commerce and trade.
We don't expect our road infrastructure to make money. Why have we bent the USPS into an expectation of profitability and not costing the country anything?
Dave,
I think that you are likely correct about your assertions the the need for informed voters trumped delivery cost concerns - within reason. But, today it's possible to operate the Postal Service close to revenue neutral. The cost model for mail delivery is far different - and not in a good way - as it was 50, 100, or 250 years ago. Other operations need to subsidize it. As a quasi-governmental agency that mission can be mandated, whereas a for-profit private enterprise would stop it and pocket the savings.