Privatize The Post Office? That What Pitney Bowes Is Paying Lawmakers To Push

By Bill Brickley

Pitney Bowes seems  to be promoting a reckless and astoundingly flawed plan to privatize every part of the Postal Service except mail delivery.   This reckless plan was brought up years ago by the Libertarian Cato Institute but was quickly dismissed.  Yet the idea has been reintroduced recently. Why would this plan be suddenly creating interest in DC at this time?  It’s simple follow the money.

Under this plan, financed by Pitney Bowes, the entire Postal Service would become a series of private companies that would process and transport the mail to your US Postal Service Letter Carrier who would deliver it. The rational of this misguided plan is that they can eliminate hundreds of thousands of good union middle class jobs and replace them with low wage and benefit challenged employees . Then disguise it by still having your trusted Letter Carrier still bring it to your door.

5 Reasons I Don’t Support Privatization of Government Services

by Cory McCray

Everyone is yelling for an “efficient and effective government”. Many people, such as voters and elected officials equate “efficient and effective government”to cost cutting measures to save tax dollars. Ideas that are squandering are things such as privatizing the United States Postal Service, trash pickup, recreational programs, pothole repair, fire services, and etc. The real question is “What are the pros and cons of privatizing these services?” Well the ultimate pro can be that it may save tax dollars, but after explaining the cons I will let you decide your position.

Report Shows How to Protect Public in Privatization Schemes | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG

Report Shows How to Protect Public in Privatization Schemes | AFL-CIO NOW BLOG.

For this week, in response to the State of the Union,  and the Republican message machine, we urge union supporters   to write letters, post responses, and talk to their neighbors about the need to create jobs to get out of this economic crisis.   Here is a sample message.

We need to build the promise of America. ( or of California, New York, Illinois, etc)

That promise is a good job for all,  the opportunity to have  a rewarding career, and the chance for a life that is more than simply the workplace.  The austerity paradigm underlying the tax and budget cut mania  does not promote good jobs, rewarding   careers.

You can post this on blogs, use it as a message in responses, respond to letters in the newspapers, etc.

Why so limited?  Because our goal for this week is to keep jobs on the agenda.  In this we are working alongside the AFL-CIO and others. Here is their work. http://www.aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy/jobs/americaneedsjobsnow.cfm

Why is Mica leading a TSA secessionist movement?

by Ron Moore

Ron Moore

When a career politician displays passion on the House floor it is usually over a cultural or social touchstone issue like abortion or human rights. In other words, the human dynamic excites a fervor beyond the usual political shell game or horse race. So when such a politician speaks passionately for years that institutions under his control should refuse federal help it naturally leads to questions about motive.

Rep. John Mica (R-FL) is one such career politician.

Mica is the on again off again chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and whether he is in the minority or majority as will be the case in 2011 his message is clear: dump TSA. Why would a Congressman use taxpayer dollars to write one hundred airport directors across the country encouraging secession from federal homeland security protection?