Dear Editor,

The political “destruction” of an institution, mandated to exist by the U.S. Constitution, is coming to a location near you. Why is this happening? What are some real consequences of the loss of the United States Postal Service (USPS)?

In the 1970’s, because of the rising political power of private “for profit” corporations such as Fed-EX, the USPS became “partially” divorced from the U.S. government. The USPS was ordered by congress to implement a “non-profit” business plan which would modernize itself and at the same time become totally free of “all” taxpayer support needed to accomplish this modernization, and the operation of the USPS itself. There was a catch to this legislation; Congress gave itself full oversite and bureaucratic control over the daily decisions and fate of the USPS. Through hard work and diligent enlightened leadership, the USPS was able to weather this storm, and became the most efficient, fiscally sound, unionized, and efficient shipper of mail and other goods, in the United States. All the profits of the USPS were targeted to maintain a high quality of service and the surplus was sent to the common coffers of the people of the United States of America.

In 2006, and in the final minutes of the Republican control of the U.S. Congress, a law was passed and quickly signed into law by the sitting Republican president. This law, disguised as USPS improvement, was actually designed to destroy the USPS. The law, and draconian poison pills within, required that the USPS fund 70 years of USPS worker health and retirement benefits, in just 10 years. No other public entity, private business, or corporation, in recorded human history, has been hobbled by a fiscal decree like this. As a result the USPS appears to be losing massive amounts of money. The uninformed U.S. voter is led to believe, by trusted media outlets, that the likes of “financially flush” Fed-Ex and UPS should be allowed to take over all mail delivery.

If there is not a massive public outcry, in support of removal of the 2006 anti-USPS legislation from the books, those who live in Holly could well be forced to go to a mailbox in Bremerton, for their mail, packages, and mail order prescription medicine. If you think that the likes of “For Profit” corporations such as Fed-EX and UPS will deliver your mail to your home or “remote” mail box, for what you are paying now, think again.

U.S. Congressman Darrell Issa, (R) 49th California, is leading this persecution, and apparently will not relent until after the last shovel full of dirt is delivered to the cold grave of the USPS. Perhaps some of our State Republican and Democratic political delegations to the US Congress will find the courage to join us and get “very” vocal in support of “removing” this draconian 2006 anti-USPS legislation.

Yours truly

Cliff Kincaid

Bremerton, Wash.