Vox Pop - Running government services as businesses doesn’t work

Vox Pop

Dear Editor: The Post Master General is attempting to run the US Postal Service as a business. Your recent article discussing the negative ramifications of that effort directs attention to only one of many symptoms of a philosophy being pushed by political candidates across the country. Local, state and national governments provide services that ‘for profit’ organizations cannot or will not provide. When government services are shifted to ‘for profit’ enterprises, the people being served almost always suffer serious reductions in service. Post Master General Louis DeJoy, a businessman appointed during the Trump administration and still in place despite efforts to remove him, is trying to make the postal service profitable. To do so he signs sweetheart deals with companies like Amazon at the expense of the regular service we expect. Closure of small post offices serving rural areas like Curtiss and Unity seem almost inevitable. Do not be surprised to see mail delivery reduced to five or fewer days per week if The Board of Governors continues to keep DeJoy in place.

The move from ‘government service’ to ‘for profit enterprise’ is being applied to our prison system and to our education system with serious negative results. Many candidates are looking at ways to apply the ‘for profit’ concept to Social Security, Medicare, and a host of government programs serving low income citizens and the elderly. Projected results would be devastating. Governments are not businesses. They provide needed services to the people. You implored people to contact their legislators. I agree, but would add the admonition, be sure to vote. — Bryce Luchterhand, Unity