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Postal Service board of governors member Mickey Barnett explains why the Post Office is losing billions of dollars.
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-- -- go to the post -- is -- website.
Okay you probably don't we do so you don't have to.
But when -- access since Ben Franklin was appointed -- first postmaster general -- Postal Service has grown and changed with America.
It's -- Patriot Act.
And part of it's true the post office has grown and grown grown so much it loses billions of your tax dollars now.
That changed -- America part.
Not so much that post office is another government monopoly and government monopolies don't change or innovate the -- private businesses to.
Of course those in the post office have to be a government monopoly right in the post office is in the constitution.
But actually the constitution just says congress shall have the power to establish post offices -- doesn't -- that government must have been -- -- Since governments lousy at -- -- everything why when America's going broke are we still losing money in the mail business.
Well let's ask a member of the post office board of governors Mickey Barnett.
-- been on the -- six years trying to stem the losses why -- still losing money billions of dollars.
Two points one no taxpayer dollars have been lost.
There -- no tax funds go to the postal -- where do you get the money to cover the -- services.
-- was to a new pay postage stamps but posted that's where we get it now we do have a loss.
And ultimately that the taxpayer could be at risk so your -- the questions correct.
Innovation has been -- a hallmark of what's been done the last five years.
In the last ten years we've reduced the workforce by 250000.
Workers primarily through renovation.
This is a business it's not a tax run industry well and -- -- -- business Sunday would fire some workers if there wasn't enough work for them and you never do that.
Granted we are like a government in the sense that we wanna be compassionate and and do it to restriction.
And one of the main problems we have as -- very limited flexibility.
Congress is tied our hands the board of dirt of governors.
Wood and has come up with a plan to profitability.
Where the taxpayers will never be on the hook for -- and we -- remain profitable.
As I doing things like like bar -- all.
Everything first time that such as human hand as winners delivered.
Closing some.
Small post more of our problems we're not well you know congress that controls us to a great extent which is why we're Claus I government alleges he not a private enterprise no question that.
If this -- private enterprise.
We have 36000 post offices many would be closed if you want to do more but what's the obstacle.
When he's -- -- what ways well congress is delivery schedules for example it's in statute every year we must deliver six days a week.
And it.
Congressmen.
All defend their individual post office and their little district they do and and mostly Republicans -- -- -- -- already Republican today.
John you will be surprised this year we're very close to breaking even on operational stand close to breaking even notice let's say was breaking even making a profit which is what can we make a profit through 2006.
All right the last year that's when the volume of mail drop precipitously.
There's been a fifth will do that 50%.
Decline in single piece first class mail in the last ten years look at the government that the distance when private.
There's no one going to by the Postal Service that's mandated to go everywhere in this country there's just so not happen.
Just Celadon and if you live way the heck out you have to come into the local 7-Eleven to -- -- -- if condit's life if congress chose to do that that would be ending in congress I won't allow -- Now they will not allow that and I don't think the public would allow that we want to operate like a business.
But -- -- who are we will operate like a business if congress will let -- like congress won't let you.
They made their their bill does pass the senate and had a couple good things in -- many bad things.
The house is considering legislation.
This is going on for years and years and each congressman.
Wants to keep you want to keep your local post office.
All all the parts that we have flexibility control over we are making it a profitable enterprise we do need more flexibility.
We be more flexible in everything.
We have a new and new product we want -- market takes eight months get approval through the PRC and other things -- -- RC the public postal regulatory commission.
We're we're treated like -- -- -- on any any more or less but yeah.
Forward we don't want you can't compete says sell it off Sweden older one will buy opera there's just be no bidders for it -- if it did how.
She ever -- and lots of people tried to -- the bought.
Offered to buy the post office in the -- -- -- it's making money I'm no expert on Holland that I believe you'll find the facts are not keepers in the post offices were closed.
And the public is extremely dissatisfied with the service man that I don't -- all the facts and how London.
Maybe we need to close -- wanted to post offices and move to 7-Eleven that's not my decision that's Congress's.
I don't disagree that that -- -- need to be run more like a business we're trying to do that.
Sweden allowed private sector competition.
Prices fell in America I'm breaking the law I put supplement a male -- I can't even compete -- she.
You can but it year old male -- you put a mailbox right next to it newspapers all over America put in their -- white irregular separate.
About primarily because of security.
If anybody can use it in that it loses all aspects of the federal security of a mailbox.
Well this is why I would say we need private sector competition because when you talk to the government people about cut back they all -- have a reason why we need.
To reel slots in this case thank you -- Mickey Barnett for coming in all.
