On my way to Union Station this evening after work, I was driving through the Capitol Hill neighborhood and saw a mailwoman with a light on her head struggling through the snow higher than her knees. Given this is one of the worst blizzards in recent history with snow on the ground in 49 of the 50 states, it really made me wonder why so much effort is being exerted to deliver junk mail.
In fact, why in an age of email, online banking, and direct deposits forcing declines in mail volume, do I need to receive postal mail 6 times a week? Why not reduce the burden on the US Post Office to deliver mail when it makes sense. Getting rid of Saturday delivery alone will save $3,500,000,000 per year from an agency that lost $3.8B in 2009. If I really need something to arrive the next day, I’m likely to use FedEx or UPS, which are both prevented by law to charge less than USPS. But be careful because the USPS will also fine you if you send overnight mail via FedEx if it is not deemed urgent!
