Privatization of the US Postal Service:
Normally I am against privatization of most government services. I make the USPS an exception. I had to go to the post office to mail something before leaving town. We have two USPS branches in our area. You will experience the same scenario at either branch. First they are building longer lobbies so not as many people are standing outside the door but they still have the same small number of manned stations providing service. This year's "If it fits, it ships" program is the latest boondoggle. People bring their stuff in in bags, get the boxes, try packing it in at the counter where in some cases the postal worker helps tape the box. If they went elsewhere, they expect to jump right back in line where they were. The second is the Christmas stamp boondoggle. Rather than having a brochure of Christmas stamps, they pull them all out while the customer tries to make up his/her mind. Give them a display and get them out of the way.
One postal worker thought about opening a third station but changed her mind and retreated to the back where one could see several people walking around accomplishing nothing. God forbid they would aide the public. If you know of one postal station worker who smiles, you're lucky. If you know of two, that's incredible. In all my adult years I can't think of one.
First I think they ought to turn the whole thing over to United Parcel Service who would retrain all postal worker. Postal workers remind me of people who do football instant replays: incredibly slow and they often still don't get it right. The postal code says "never smile." The first thing UPS would do is train them to have a personality. The second lesson would be that speed and accuracy count. Try doing both.
Before they come with their hands out for more rate raises, make them accountable to someone outside postal supervisors. Cut their wages and retirement if that's way to avoid rate increases. I believe that would create a more efficient postal system rather than having a group of people who just show for work each day and go home at night and care less what happened in between.