Skimmed this long PDF after getting clickbaited by the headline and it begins with the premise that without the USPS, we would be left only with email
>The federal agency plays a crucial role in U.S. supply chains, commerce, and basic communication—which email simply cannot replace—by processing and delivering nearly 500 million pieces of mail on an average day.
But I did have a number of questions like,
Wouldn't it be bad if we abolished the post office since there's always been one in my neighborhood?
Why does this person have a particular issue with a quasi-governmental agency that is a rounding-error in the federal budget? What about the trillions in defense and deficit spending?
Isn't 90% of what comes to my mailbox spam that I just forward on to the landfill?
Do most other countries have a public postal service? Why or why not.
Don't I avoid the post-office at all costs unless there's an automated kiosk that happens not to be out of service?
No one knows for sure. This person also has issues with other tiny pieces of the federal budget, such as the CPB.
Various theories are advanced, such as political strategy (kill mail-in-ballots, NPR is seen as leaning slightly left) or profiteering (the USPS has a large pension fund, perhaps an appealing target for a corporate raid).
It's an interesting topic. It's generated a few 100 comments already proving that. If HN were just about the latest Rust release and some new startup CEO's deep thoughts, I probably wouldn't come here 5x a day
>The federal agency plays a crucial role in U.S. supply chains, commerce, and basic communication—which email simply cannot replace—by processing and delivering nearly 500 million pieces of mail on an average day.
But I did have a number of questions like,
Wouldn't it be bad if we abolished the post office since there's always been one in my neighborhood?
Why does this person have a particular issue with a quasi-governmental agency that is a rounding-error in the federal budget? What about the trillions in defense and deficit spending?
Isn't 90% of what comes to my mailbox spam that I just forward on to the landfill?
Do most other countries have a public postal service? Why or why not.
Don't I avoid the post-office at all costs unless there's an automated kiosk that happens not to be out of service?
Why is this on Hacker News?