Friday, September 4, 2009

The Problem with Congress

The primary debate that over the future of the Postal Service will be whether it is time to seriously consider privatization. Independent of the value of a mail delivery as a governmental or private sector service, the private sector option will not be viable as long as members of Congress from both parties see personal political value in interfering with Postal Service operations, prices, or service.

The value of interfering with postal management decisions come from the positive news stories in local newspapers and on TV. No member of Congress can pass up good press. Any interview or press statement supporting a local plant and its workers or retention of a local post office is good press. Good press relating to constituent service raises the Congressperson's visibility and positive ratings and may even endear him or her to voters of opposing political viewpoints.

The headlines relating to one postal plant illustrate the point.

Upton says postal facilities are here to stay

Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, says a U.S. Postal Service processing plant in Oshtemo Township and downtown Kalamazoo's Arcadia post office will not be closed.

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton will tour the U.S. Postal Service processing plant in Oshtemo Township today in an effort to stop officials from studying the consolidation of the plant to Grand Rapids.

Congressman Fred Upton fights to keep Kalamazoo postal plant open

"Local postal facilities serve as a cornerstone to communities large and small, and provide hundreds of good-paying, stable jobs," said Upton, R-St. Joseph, in press release. "We owe it to our postmen and women who have faithfully served our community, many for their entire careers, to keep them employed within their own community."

Upton joins fight for postal jobs

Congressman Fred Upton has joined the fight to save postal jobs in Kalamazoo County.

Upton Sends Angry Snail Mail to Postamaster

OSHTEMO -- Congressman Fred Upton has sent an angry letter to the Postmaster General complaining about an unauthorized study that suggested that the Kalamazoo Postal Distribution center in Oshtemo should be moved to Grand Rapids.

Upton tries to stop postal-plant closing

KALAMAZOO -- U.S. Rep. Fred Upton will tour the U.S. Postal Service processing plant in Oshtemo Township today in an effort to stop officials from studying the consolidation of the plant to Grand Rapids.

``Local postal facilities serve as a cornerstone to communities large and small, and provide hundreds of good-paying, stable jobs,'' said Upton, R-St. Joseph, in press release. ``We owe it to our postmen and women who have faithfully served our community, many for their entire careers, to keep them employed within their own community.''

Rep. Upton discusses mail handling

Upon learning of an unauthorized study recommending the consolidation of the Kalamazoo Automated Mail Processing facility into Grand Rapids, Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) immediately voiced his concerns directly to the Postmaster General, John Potter. Upton is concerned with the intent of the non-sanctioned study and its recommendations that will have widespread implications upon postal efficiency in Kalamazoo as well as impact many postal families within the community. Upton has heard from dozens of local postal workers who may be faced with the decision to either move their families or commute over a hundred miles a day just to keep their current job. Upton is also concerned with rumors swirling over the closings of regional post offices including the Arcadia Creek Station post office in downtown Kalamazoo.

Congressman Upton vows to fight to keep postal jobs in Oshtemo

OSHTEMO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – The prospect of hundreds of jobs being lost in his district didn't sit well with Congressman Fred Upton.

That was the prospect facing Upton and many others when they learned that a postal processing center in Oshtemo could be shut down and then consolidated to another facility in Grand Rapids.

Rep. Upton said he'd fight for the jobs, but his fight has led him to make some pretty dramatic declarations.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

"Independent of the value of a mail delivery as a governmental or private sector service, the private sector option will not be viable as long as members of Congress from both parties see personal political value in interfering with Postal Service operations, prices, or service."...that's because we don't a mail service that is one sided...ie a fascist republican controlled to be only for profit. The Post Office stands for the same thing as the Constitution....freedom from oppression via the press and or mail!!!!

Anonymous said...

Your whole company is based on privatizing the Post Office... give it up!!!! We dont want your kind here!!!!

Anonymous said...

As the first paragraph stated USPS ran an unauthorized study. If the employees can't appeal to Congress they have no other recourse. The so called Inspector General will do nothing.