U.S. Postal Service being forced out of business

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francipe
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Re: U.S. Postal Service being forced out of business

Post by francipe »

Idris wrote:Writing as an outsider looking in, three things worry me about Trump:
1) His mental capacity (see this for instance.
2) His seeming disregard for the rule of law, and
3) What he will do if the election doesn't go his way, or ends up on a knife-edge. (There seem to be a significant number of people who think there is a realistic chance that he will refuse to concede defeat.)
Whilst point 3 lies firmly in the future, and is therefore a matter of conjecture, there is ample evidence built up over the course of the last four years to support points 1 and 2. That being so, is he really a good choice to be the (ahem) 'leader of the free World' (not that most of the free World has any say in the matter)?
Whilst I think the whole world is being nasty to that nice Mr Trump, I'd like the answer to a few questions
What's his favourite TV show? The Apprentice USA isn't a valid answer
What was the last book he read? Anything with pictures in it isn't a valid answer.
Why did he remove all the full length mirrors from the White House? Because he knows he's always dressed superbly isn't a valid answer.
mbox2000
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Re: U.S. Postal Service being forced out of business

Post by mbox2000 »

I’m surprised that a site administrator and moderator spend so much time denigrating MY President, while alienating a large part of the membership here. How’s that Socialism working out for you all, anyway?
Mbox2000 / Jay
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Idris
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Re: U.S. Postal Service being forced out of business

Post by Idris »

mbox2000 wrote:I’m surprised that a site administrator and moderator spend so much time denigrating MY President, while alienating a large part of the membership here. How’s that Socialism working out for you all, anyway?
It's called Freedom of Speech (summed up in Evelyn Beatrice Hall;s statement "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”, and also enshrined in the First Amendment to your Consitution), the whole point of The Lounge being to have an area where anything (within reason) can be discussed in an adult manner. (By the way, the Conservatives, who have formed HM Government since 2010, are not a socialist party. In fact, I would argue that we haven't had anything even remotely resembling a socialist government since 1979, when Jim Callaghan lost the general election to Margaret Thatcher.)
Please remember that, unless the context or content indicates otherwise, both Joe and I are posting solely as Members of this Forum and not in any official capacity. (I am sure you will agree that we both have as much right to personal opinions as anyone else on the Forum.)
TOYRFIC
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Re: U.S. Postal Service being forced out of business

Post by TOYRFIC »

I have been a letter carrier (mailman or postie, etc.) for 26 years.

Proud of my job, proud of the USPS!

I wish I was able to voice my opinion...
but let me tell you this - I will be voting by mail this year!

Now, excuse me while I take care of a bunion that has flared up!
JASON
58oldsfan
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Re: U.S. Postal Service being forced out of business

Post by 58oldsfan »

mbox2000 wrote:I’m surprised that a site administrator and moderator spend so much time denigrating MY President, while alienating a large part of the membership here. How’s that Socialism working out for you all, anyway?

Trump is "my" President as well. I don't mind discussion with these guys. As long as it's polite. Everyone has an opinion I reckon. I don't feel alienated, after all. If a person appreciates model vehicles, they can't be all bad! I'm voting red in November, I think President Trump is and has been doing a good job in spite of the roadblocks thrown in front of him since day one. I think the USPS can use some serious improvement. I think with conservatives running our government, they will find a way to improve it. I think Trump will and should nominate Ginsburg's replacement for Supreme Court Justice post haste! Just my opinions. I don't think I'm alienating anyone here by stating these opinions. After all, it is the "Lounge", the place for reasonable and polite discussion. I'm personally acquainted with a couple of folks in this thread, their opinions don't change a thing about how I think of them personally. That is one of the great things about the US! We can have differing ideas, that's what it's all about! :D :D
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Idris
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Re: U.S. Postal Service being forced out of business

Post by Idris »

Perhaps a Trump supporter could explain why they believe it's legitimate for Amy Coney Barrett's appointment to the US Supreme Court to take place before the Presidential election.
To quote from an article in The Guardian:
!The fact that hearings are being held at all is also egregious given Mitch McConnell’s blocking of similar hearings to replace justice Antonin Scalia after his death, in February of an election year. Back then, McConnell and the Republican party insisted that confirming a justice would be inappropriate and undermine the legitimacy of the court. Even many months before an election, they said, the American people should decide who appoints a new judge. McConnell blocked the Senate from even hearing from Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama’s nominee. At the time, Amy Coney Barrett went on television and said that replacing Scalia in an election year would be inappropriate – and that it would be especially inappropriate to replace “the staunchest conservative on the court” with a liberal because “it’s not a lateral move”.
Now it’s an election year – and it’s much, much closer to the election than when Scalia passed away in 2016. The justice being replaced is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the court’s staunchest liberals. The woman nominated to replace her is a far-right conservative – not a lateral move. Yet all of these hypocrites, from McConnell to Senate Republicans to Barrett herself, are happy to move forward because, this time, they have the power.
"
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Squid
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Re: U.S. Postal Service being forced out of business

Post by Squid »

Idris wrote:To quote from an article in The Guardian:
After reading the quoted passage, I was ready to go on my spiel about how objectivity in journalism has gone the way of the dinosaurs and the dodo bird. However, the link leads to what is correctly identified as an opinion piece.

I am aware of only one other vacancy in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court that opened up closer to a presidential election. (Justice Sherman Minton announced his retirement on 7 September 1956 and retired on 15 October 1956. President Eisenhower made a recess appointment of Justice William J. Brennan, Jr, and Brennan was confirmed the following year.)

The rush to confirm a new justice boils down to balance of power; nothing more than that. Would the confirmation process be in full swing if a Democrat was in the White House? Given the sorry state of American politics today, I wouldn't doubt it.

I am not going to get into a protracted discussion of a political nature, for three reasons:

1. Discussion of political matters in mixed company almost universally brings out the worst in people.
2. Both camps have good and valid points about the pros and cons of voting by mail (however, I have received too many unsolicited applications for mail-in ballots, as well as much undesired political propaganda, in the mail as of late).
3. I have my own opinions on matters political, and they are set in stone. See also reason one.

I will, however, comment on the state of USPS. Maybe five months ago, mail delivery in my area went completely to hell. I had many packages, both sent and received, get horribly misrouted. One package that was going to a recipient who lived less than 20 miles away from me took two weeks to be delivered (had I known that would have happened, I would have delivered the item myself). It got so bad I stopped requesting my medications. My complaints to USPS were answered with the same canned cop-out to the effect of, "please be patient; we're in the midst of a pandemic and resultant personnel shortages."

In the last month or so, things have vastly improved. Packages have arrived ahead of estimated dates. I had a package leave England, clear U.S. Customs, and arrive on my doorstep in a week. Sure, "two days, two pounds, $2.90" is a quaint relic of the past, but operational costs are going up. At least service has returned to a good standard (and the ladies at the Post Office nearest me are absolutely wonderful!).

The USPS is an institution, and many people would be upset if it went away. Though I can see it changing radically over the next ten years or so, I highly doubt it will cease operations altogether.
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Idris
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Re: U.S. Postal Service being forced out of business

Post by Idris »

Squid wrote:1. Discussion of political matters in mixed company almost universally brings out the worst in people.
A very wise observation.
Shall we leave it at that?
francipe
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Re: U.S. Postal Service being forced out of business

Post by francipe »

Idris wrote:
Squid wrote:1. Discussion of political matters in mixed company almost universally brings out the worst in people.
A very wise observation.
Shall we leave it at that?
Good idea.
Squid wrote: In the last month or so, things have vastly improved. Packages have arrived ahead of estimated dates. I had a package leave England, clear U.S. Customs, and arrive on my doorstep in a week. Sure, "two days, two pounds, $2.90" is a quaint relic of the past, but operational costs are going up. At least service has returned to a good standard (and the ladies at the Post Office nearest me are absolutely wonderful!).
Following up on Squid's comments, some Super Kings I bought from a California based seller towards the end of July didn't move very quickly. Tracking showed that 35 days after posting, the package had left Kentucky for the UK. Some more Super Kings posted in Michigan on 8th October were delivered to my Kent address this weekend.
Things are indeed improving.
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