It's Your Post Office. Sell It.

       There was an OpEd in yesterday's NY Times about the U.S. Postal Service. It was mostly humorous but it did hit on some of the problems the USPS faces. Can you imagine any company being forced to keep 75 years of employee retirement funds on hand. Who could stay in business with rules like that? Or how about keeping tiny outlets open six days a week and deliver door to door each and every one of those six days.
       Oh yes, and do all this while the internet is taking away much of your business with free delivery 24/7. But even worse than that is that the USPS isn't allowed to even sneeze without Congress's approval. Congress has to pass legislation for anything to be changed by the USPS. And I guess you know how long that can take or that the chances the new legislation will appear anything like what is needed or asked for.
       But as humorous as this article was, the best part was one of the comments a reader sent in. The comment stated that since the Congress isn't doing anything anyway, why not have them make mail deliveries for the USPS. Now I don't recall the name of the person who said that, but he (it was a man) should be given his own show on Comedy Central.
       Think about it. Congress is in adjournment more than they're in session, it seems. Not only that but every Congressman and Senator has multiple offices in nearly every city and many towns in their home states and districts. Have you ever been to one of these offices? You walk in and wake the person or persons up to ask your question. Why not have these good folks deliver the mail or have postal workers man the Congressional offices. Let's face it, it doesn't take a lot of training to pass out photos of the legislator.
       I'd suggest the Post Office rely on volunteers, but what with the scarcity of volunteerism and the necessity of Congressional approval, the USPS could be out of business for several decades before anything could come of that idea. I guess we should remember that the USPS is not a private company. It's a government service. And like the article and comments ask; is it the plan to convert it into a branch of UPS?