Going Postal: USPS to kill Saturday mail delivery

In an effort to reign in billions in annual losses, and possibly stave off impending bankruptcy, the United States Postal Service has announced recently that they plan “to transition to a new delivery schedule during the week of Aug. 5, 2013 that includes package delivery Monday through Saturday, and mail delivery Monday through Friday.”

In other words, Saturday mail delivery to residences will cease as of the week of August 5, 2013. As of that date, only packages will be delivered to residences, no mail. Mail delivered to United States Post Office boxes will be unaffected, and those Post Offices now open on Saturdays will remain open.

Some say the advent of email via the Internet has been the bane of what is now termed “snail mail.” Since we can now pay bills online, as well as communicate via video teleconference globally – even on our iPhones – it’s almost a no-brainer to understand the importance of the Internet to communication.

Since the backbone of such a network is now a target of hacktivism and e-terror attacks, it would behoove the federal government to increase the physical and electronic security of communication.

For example, what prevents the United States Postal Service from creating or establishing a USPS/Federal Internet – or any such type network – wherein security is next to none, in which the client (in this case, a human being) is uniquely identified and all communications through the network are encrypted and secure?

The United States Army uses high level encryption & authentication standards for their troops when they communicate via online means; why can’t the USPS offer similar or better standards to their clientele, and do so for a fee?

I foresee that the lack of imagination and creativity in the USPS will be it’s demise, rather than the lack of mailings. Goodness knows that there’s no lack of junk mailers, or others who are willing to pay bulk rate to have the mail carrier deposit their flyers and full-color, glossy-papered advertising in your mailbox.

Concerning the USPS and their other highly-publicized problems, I opined thus in a separate forum:

“Having recently shipped THREE packages – two via USPS & one via FedEx – I was significantly more satisfied with the level & quality of service from FedEx. The USPS employees (at a regional mail distribution facility) were exceedingly unhelpful – almost to the point of being surly – and in my estimation, I seemed to be an intrusion to whatever it was they were doing at the “window/counter” when I approached. OTOH, FedEx completely took care of ALL the package securing, labeling & shipping details, and did so cheerfully.”