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How can we even survive without the postal service? USPS is one of the oldest federal government agencies. It was established before the state of independence in 1775 and has sailed through different leadership in America. It would be correct to say it is the mother of development in the United States.
The body's existence has seen the birth of many development projects that have improved living standards in the US. Such projects include better roads, railways, and airlines, the inception of media networks such as newspapers, and at some point, it provided financial services through postal savings plans.
USPS has served America in a way no private sector can, the main reason it needs to be saved from bankruptcy. Discussed below are some of the ways it has been of great help.
USPS Provides Employment to Many
USPS has thousands of employees working in different stations like the USPS Jamaica NY. Over the years, it provided jobs to thousands of people, with great benefits such as job security and medical cover.
It elevated its employees’ status by making sure they could afford a decent living. That means allowing them to afford school their children to colleges and universities and even afford to buy houses. Imagine if all these jobs are lost, how many unemployed people will the US be creating?
The service has given a working platform, especially to people of color who cover at least 40% of the service's employment. The move created equality that the country has strived to achieve over many centuries.
USPS is an Essential Service Provider
What does the USPS not deliver? It can deliver prescriptions, food, clothing, and many other parcels at a very affordable rate. It is even made better because it has offices in different states, making it very accessible. It is distributed both in towns and rural areas to ensure nobody is left out.
Its services came in handy, especially during the current pandemic when most people could not go shopping. Unfortunately, that was not the case in all states as there was a cut in the number of employees. The service was therefore not able to meet delivery on time in most areas.
Such an occurrence portrays a bad picture of a reputed service that has served the people religiously over centuries. Something needs to be done to salvage this agency and continue serving the American people.
USPS Facilitates DemocracyÂ
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The recent voting event served a great deal to showcase the importance of the agency in promoting democracy. When the Corona Virus pandemic has restricted social gatherings and other forms of protective measures, it came in handy.
Mail voting was not an exercise that many Americans would have predicted to be done so widely. The world will remember 2020 for all its experiences, and mail voting will be one of them. That voting system ensured everyone had a chance to vote without having to travel far for the exercise. The exercise demonstrated democracy, giving everyone a chance to be heard.
The USPS is a Crucial Means of Communication
Since its establishment in 1775, the USPS has served as an essential means of communication in the United States. It even led to the start of the first media network, the newspapers. The government used the service to supply newspapers to different states for free.
The move ensured the citizens of America stayed informed of whatever was happening in their country. The people became well informed of their rights and laws through the newspapers. That exercise promoted civic education.
It is hard to fool people that are aware of their rights and are well informed of their laws. It is why America managed to be ahead of so many countries in the world.
What Needs to be Done?
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The government needs to implement a bill that will save this service. It needs to look at the loss that is likely to happen if such a service goes bankrupt. The jobs that would be lost, the services that would not be accessible to the public, and the kind of extortion the public is likely to get from the private sector.
The private sector could not meet the gap left by the service even if they tried. Even today, the same private sector relies on postal services such as night delivery and zip codes. Imagine a time when they cannot access that. How slow do you think the delivery service could be?
The government needs to rectify some of the moves that led to the downfall of the system. Such moves include the paying of retiree's savings funds meant to cater for their healthcare. Such a move took up most of the service's surplus income that could be used to improve the system otherwise. The cure for the service is within, but the government needs to see its importance, to value its existence.