but isn't the USPS a mostly private entity that is autonomous? Didn't a Republican Congress handicap it with draconian pension requirements? And haven' t House members refused to rectify said requirements? So how is it Obama's fault? Please clarify.

And yes, a GOP-controlled Congress did indeed cripple it with an onerous future retiree prefunding mandate. I've posted about it before.

The decision to dramatically raise First Class International package rates will not help USPS regain its financial footing; only a repeal of the prefunding requirement will do that. And Obama has not once urged the Republicans to allow prefunding-reform legislation to pass through Congress, let alone spoken out in favor of prefunding-reform legislation.

That's your confusion.

The President appoints the commissioners, but unlike other agencies, the Post Office is an independent organization subject to rules of the Congress.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Postal_Service#Governance_and_organization

The President appoints the commissioners -- and 9 of the ten Board of Governor -- whose USPS policies he wishes them to implement. It is called an "independent organization" not because, as you say, "it is subject to the rules of Congress", but rather, according to your own Wikipedia link...

, with the PRC (Presidential appointees):

.

Didn't they teach you in Corporate/Government Hybrid Public Relations Obtuseness and Obfuscation Guerrilla Posting 101 to first read your own links before posting them?

You're posting nothing that supports the ridiculous assertion you made in the OP.

that refutes your ridiculous assertion that the President has almost nothing to do with the Post Office. Which, consequently, retroactively supported my point that Obama had a lot to do with the dramatic international mailing rate increase (ergo, by appointing people who approved such a thing).

Believe what you want to. The Post Master General is not appointed by the President.

Swin in the nonsense. It's absurd, and doesn't change reality. Obviously, it makes you feel good so have fun.

and at least a majority (and maybe all) of the Board of Governors he personally appointed approved the rate hike. Furthermore, none of these people he hand-selected seem particularly interested in getting rid of the Bush-era GOP-created prefunding requirement. Why is that?

http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/leadership/board-governors-bios.htm#p=5

about the Board of Governors:

http://about.usps.com/who-we-are/leadership/board-governors.htm

The independent Postal Regulatory Commission (formerly the Postal Rate Commission) is also controlled by appointees of the President confirmed by the Senate. It oversees postal rates and related concerns, having the authority to approve or reject USPS proposals.

Ruth Goldway is chair of the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Ruth Goldway was designated Chairman of the United States Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) by President Barack Obama on August 6, 2009. She was first appointed by President Clinton in April, 1998 to the predecessor agency, the Postal Rate Commission, and twice reappointed by President George W. Bush, most recently in 2008 to serve a third term ending in November 2014. She is the longest serving, full-time, Senate-confirmed Presidential appointee within the Executive Branch of the United States Government. The Postal Regulatory Commission oversees the performance and accountability of the U.S. Postal Service, the world's largest post and the second largest civilian employer in the United States.

http://www.prc.gov/prc-pages/about/commissioners/bio.aspx?subsectionid=64

On January 22, 2012, the Postal Service implemented a price increase on all market-dominant classes equal, on average, to the applicable price cap limitation. The Postal Service expects that, in each subsequent year, price changes for all of the market-dominant classes will equal, on average, the price cap limitation applicable in that year.

Postal Service price increases for market-dominant products are subject to a statutory, CPI-based price cap. The price cap for future increases will not be finalized until the Postal Service files a Notice of Rate Adjustment with the Commission.

http://www.prc.gov/prc-pages/default.aspx

because of who first appointed them, that they are corrupt. Seldom have I seen a larger pile of raking crap, or a blinder leap of faith. The two people may in fact be corrupt, but to imply that without a shred of information to back up that implied charge is an act of complete bullshit and a bad attempt at obfuscation.

"So the USPS is going down and your main concern is that Pres Obama shouldnt be blamed?"

...your main concern aren't the facts. I mean, "USPS is going down" and like everything else it has to be Obama's fault or it mean nothing?

Reminds me of the people ignorantly screaming for the President to fire the Post Master General.

You know, the country was screwed up before Obama became President (http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022381931).

In fact, the law that is responsible for the USPS problems was passed before 2009.

I don't agree with the Post Office having to raise the price of stamps every several months. Congress needs to fix the law it passed that is creating the USPS crisis.

"Sen. Bernie Sanders...will oppose a U.S. Postal Service plan to end Saturday mail delivery."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022335994

is so absurd it's not even funny. The President is responsible for USPS pricing.

You can always use UPS or Fedex, see what they charge you.

that ship out of country. Many wont be able to afford them and go out of business. That wont help the USPS.

Another issue - FedEx and UPS get to profit from the most lucrative part of the mail business that the USPS used to help offset their loses when servicing rural customers. This is killing the USPS. And if the postal service is privatized the first thing that will happen is they will cut rural routes. Check that, the first thing they will do is establish huge salaries for the CEO and top executives. Mitten would love to "harvest" the USPS.

Democratic politicians are silent on the privatization of our pensions, postal service, bridges, our schools. What is next? Libraries, fire stations, social security?. When do we stop being silent? When do we say no? Will we wait until they are all gone and then scratch our heads and wonder where they went? People you do realize if we allow them to take over our schools, evolution will a thing of the past right? If they are allowed to take over, creationism will be taught in our schools. Women's bodies can reject rape sperm, wombs of women who take birth control are littered with dead babies, metiorites and dinasaurs aren't real. Women came from the rib of a man. Women belong to God and their husbands. The poor are only here for the service of the rich. All of this will be taught to our children if we continue to allow the privatization of our public institutions.

their fault.

and is characterized as doing something to hurt small business to boot.

The P.O. has longstanding problems.

...as USPS is only regulated by the government. Its not the government, and the money doesn't go to the government; it just goes to fund the operations of the USPS.

I can't say I'm in favor of the price increases, any more than anyone is in favor of prices increases on anything, but I don't think they're out of order as far as shipping costs go. Given current issues at the USPS, I can understand how they might be needed.

Only getting rid of the $5.5 billion/year prefunding requirement for hypothetical as-yet unborn future USPS retirees will.

And the price increases are certainly out of order in this case, as low-weight First Class International shipments are cost-effective for the service (i.e, USPS transports all this stuff on the cheap already).

...given that the USPS switched to a "one price" policy for all international mail. So, the "say, Canada" example sounds bad, but how about the, say, South Korea, example? Its not so bad at all.

If you also note that delivery confirmation is now included in the "one price", its sounds even less bad. And that they are pushing customers to use their online service by giving additional discounts, then its also much less bad. If it doesn't effect USPS finances its probably because its not a net price increase, just a simplification.

Anyway, considering how fuel costs continue to plague every transport-dependent business's bottom line, there's probably plenty of basis for an across-the-board price increase.

But not to nitpick too much, as its all pretty tame stuff (read it here if you want: http://about.usps.com/postal-bulletin/2012/pb22352/html/kit.htm )...I probably wouldn't even argue if it weren't for the "Thanks, Obama!" slant in the OP title. He's got nothing to do with it, other than having to appoint a board member every year or two.

It is now almost 68% more expensive to ship to S. Korea than it was prior to the rate increase. Last year, it cost about $10 to mail a 1 lb package from the US to S. Korea; today, $16.75.

It's also clear that you don't really grasp the economics behind this. Try explaining to real-world sellers (just one example below) whose sales have gone 'poof' from the increased rates that this all just a "simplification":

and other than pen pal type stuff, letters and a couple packages a year maybe, I don't ship anything overseas. You got me there.

The New Republican/Fox "news" party instituted the legislation designed to destroy the USPS. The Teabaggers continue to support the privatization of America's public works and commons, in the hopes of devastating our culture and shared liberties. The destruction of small business in America is one of the main aims of Teabaggers and thier criminally wealthy overlords. The OP stinks like a pile of shit-stained "Elect Romney" T-shirts. The suggestion that the right wing attack on neccessary American institutions is the responsibility of President Obama exposes the dishonesty and rank hypocrisy of the poster and other teabagger apologists. Isn't there enough hatred for America at the freeper site? Why don't you stick to posting lies like this to the Yahoo news comments section and freeper "destroy America" message board.
This kind of right wing radical extremism disguised as "news" will not go unchallenged on DU. Now go find something else to blame on the president- I'm sure that your fellow Teabaggers have some sort of new racist conspiracy theories that implicate President Obama was responsible for Aids and Nazi death camps.

Playing stupid about the actions of the Teabaggers and the destruction they have caused underlines your true motives for posting this- The antiAmerican right wing zealouts inhabiting the republican party enacted the legislation that made the destruction of the USPS possible, but you just keep beating that blame Obama drum- I'm sure you'll find someone hate-filled enough to disregard the truth in favor of Teabagger radicalism and fear.

I think the President could at least alleviate some of the damage. The actions described in the OP dont appear to me to be on the correct path. Do you agree or disagree?

Saying that I am "playing stupid" and "beating that blame Obama drum", shows that you arent interested in having a decent discussion. So thanks but no thanks, I dont want to play your game.

Is the one you started by posting this OP in the hopes of distracting the reader from the facts of history and the duplicitious nature of your claim that the president enacted tariffs on small businesses through the USPS. The USPS is simply attempting to continue to exist, even though antiAmerican right wingers have targeted it for the forces of "privatization"- which is Teabagger speak for "let's destroy America's most successful public works or give them to wealthy republican supporters". Admit it; you're the only one playing a game here, and now that people are calling you out over it you want to change the rules in the middle of the game to make it seem as if you didn't REALLY intend to use Teabagger lies and hyperbole to attack the president. You lost at your own game, now you're demanding that using your own words and the OP against you is unfair. Sounds an awful lot like the only game Teabaggers play. You ought to at least ACT like an adult and admit when you are wrong, accepting the responsibilty that all adults must, to be considered an adult. Your affinity for Teabagger hate and hyperbole directed towards the president isnt a legitimate social or political opinion, it's a sign that you value your fear and hate more than you value morality and adult notions of honor and responsibility. Grab your ball and run home- no one here wants to play YOUR game.

The article you reference in your OP under 'between 60%-110%', http://www.ecommercebytes.com/C/letters/blog.pl?/pl/2012/10/1350432220.html, is a letter to an editor. The author of the letter, after discussing the changes in pricing and services, writes:

From Wikipedia,



Times have changed dramatically since 1775 and Ben Francklin's tenure as first postmaster. The environment for international logistics and delivery is very competitive and very large. If the USPS is to survive then it needs to play on a level field which, among other things, means it needs flexibility in its pricing to meet its costs within the scope of pricing of its competitors, AND it needs to function under the same general business practices as do its suppliers, consumers, and competitors. If you are looking for the enemies who are trying to destroy the USPS for the sake of FedEx and UPS, I'd suggest you look into the members of Congress (as it was under Bush).

I was not familiar with Ms. Ruth Goldway before, but from the Postal Regulatory Commission page about that you referenced about Ms. Goldway:



She seems to me to be a pretty cool lady, and not a likely candidate for a member of a conspiracy to handover the assets of the USPS to the waiting vultures. Nor is our President, IMHO.

The writer of that particular piece was expressing a simple fact, not an opinion. Rates for First Class International have indeed risen between 60%-110%. The PRC's own filing notice low-balls the figure at 58.6%, with actual rates encountered by consumers exceeding 100%, and those actual rates are confirmed and listed within the PRC filing notice on page 86.

I'm not sure why you quoted that bit about the Parcel Post rate increase because it has nothing to do with the First Class International rate increase. And as for your opinion concerning Ruth Goldway -- all I can say is that anyone who reads an official bio blurb and concludes from it that a bureaucrat or politician must be a "pretty cool" person, exempted from real scrutiny, probably doesn't deserve the right to vote.

This would fall under something that has to be done to keep things going. Money doesn't appear out of nowhere.

And the small business angle you brought in yourself. It will affect everyone.

No, it won't. Those larger vendors whose revenues exceed $100,000 utilizing several USPS services would be eligible to apply for a special discounted rate; no one else would be eligible (page 6 of the PRC filing notice. Large corporations will have their shipping subsidized by increasing rates on the little guys.

for everyone. Nothing new here.

And to suggest otherwise is blatant lying on the part of the OP.

the evil Obama's way of taking back all the government-destroying tax breaks and incentives, including those in the health care law, for small businesses. Did anyone think he was giving those away for free?



"Obama instituted the largest tariff on U.S. small businesses in American history"

In "American history"? It could only mean one thing: Obama sucks!

The USPS has been bleeding and racking up deficits for years ....

For whatever reason, whether for a pre-funding mandate foisted on the service by TeaHadist idiots, or simply because their costs exceed their revenues ...

Maybe, just maybe, the USPS needs to increase prices to maintain revenue flows that will help keep it from diving too far into the red ....

Maybe, just maybe, it's time for EVERYBODY who uses the service to pay the REAL cost for that service ....

Maybe, just maybe, it's time for small businesses, who have done their utter best to wipe out decent wages and benefits for US workers, to the point where they have stifled the very marketplace they need to survive ....

Maybe, just maybe, it's time for small business to put it's money where it's mouth is, suck it up, and pay those real costs ....

They want to pass down these increases to it's customers ? .... Well, they have been jacking up prices for years without much concern for their customers ... Why start worrying about them now ? ....

I see just more price increases on the horizon; increases that will already come anyways ...

I am open to being re-educated as to why this hurts regular folk ....

Who knew that the real money behind the US Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable were small tool makers, independent record companies, and mom-and-pop Amazon book sellers and etsy quilt makers?

They despise pay taxes for the public infrastructure they use to promote their sales and move their goods ...

They want it all .... and they have been getting it, to a great degree ....

All they need now is families with money to buy their stuff ....

OOPS ....

PASS the price increases to their customers .... That's the way it works ... right ?

I don't think you get it. Or you're being sarcastic. Or both.

holy shit.

wow.

(i agree with you, SMALL businesses are trying to "wipe out decent wages for US workers", my ass).

increased the price of stamps.

Cost of first-class U.S. stamp increases to 46 cents
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/01/cost_of_first-class_us_stamp_i.html

I'm surprised that there weren't five other threads over the years blaming the President for USPS pricing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_United_States_postage_rates

focus on the price of domestic letter stamps is a red herring to distract from the real issue of the catastrophic rise in the price of international package shipping.

"Probably because focus on the price of domestic letter stamps is a red herring to distract from the real issue of the catastrophic rise in the price of international package shipping."

...do standup. Good stuff.

-- where you work at -- probably check out the Georgetown improv cafes when they want to sip on a latte and there's no lobbyist around to foot the bill.

Are you auditioning to be a clown?

"sip on a latte"

I take that back, try Fox, I hear they're hiring.

That clever Obama! He couldn't be more devious to the left than he is to the right.

Hey, you're the looney tune claiming that's the case, not me.

Unless something has changed, it's still the way to go and international shipping is usually added to price of goods.

I think this will help USPS.

Yet another who apparently has no experience in day-to-day overseas shipping. Read the links I provided, and you'll discover that small-time American vendors are already suffering from the increase in prices. You think someone in, say, Germany, will actually buy the same number of widgets from a US seller when they're asked to pay up to 100% more in shipping than they did previously?

And USPS will not be significantly helped by this rate increase; the built-in cost-prohibitive nature will decimate its overseas mail service volume. The loss of USPS' affordable international shipping service is one of the things that FedEx and UPS have been clamoring for for decades.

They don't go to a lot of countries.

I think rate increase will help USPS.

1 oz - 4 lbs, which covers First Class International. You have experience shipping large weight parcels overseas, a completely different animal. Small independent US vendors use First Class International to ship their lightweight items and rely upon (or, until a few weeks ago, have relied upon) its relatively low-cost price structure to stay in business. That's now been taken away from them.

You haven't explained how losing mail volume will help USPS (and they'll a lot of mail volume from this).

The USPS has been charging pretty cheap rates for years, while costs of providing the services have gone up a lot. That can't continue, esp now that a lot of people don't use the USPS any more.

I don't really understand the pension prepayment funding issue. Over my head. I don't know what other govt agencies do about that, or why that funding was done that way.

It's supposed to provide a service. And the physical cost of shipping low-weight items overseas is cheaper than you might imagine. USPS wasn't losing money providing First Class International service.

The prefunding mandate is explained in this truth-out article under the "Stage 3: Dismantling of the Post Office" section.

income, hasn't it, for some years?

I don't ship international, so I have no idea of the costs of that.

Thanks for the link. I'll check that out.

etc.

It's not pensions- it's health care.... 75 years of health care, paid in advance over a 10 year period. The difficulty is not in understanding- the difficulty is in believing that something so blatant could be perpetrated by people charged with representing our interests.

What do other government agencies do about pre-funding health care? Nothing. This law was passed by the Republican lame-duck congress in 2006.

I'll try reading up more on this. I've read a few things, but what I read assumed the reader had a basic knowledge of the facts to begin with (unlike me), so I didn't understand the articles.

AFAIK, there is no USPS internationl shipment by mailboat anymore.

- as I'm always charged the shipping amount, it's not like the seller is paying it. Many things I can't purchase locally so will have to pay the shipping anyway. On the other hand, will it send some business back to faltering "brick and mortar" Mom and Pop stores? Possibly. That wouldn't be a bad thing overall.

It all depends on what's cheapest - online shipping fees or gas to get to the store. With gas looking to hit $4. gallon soon, it's pretty much a draw.

for instance a first class stamp in the UK costs 60p which is about .93 cents
in canada its 63 cents.

id rather they raise costs on business than individuals

Granted ti have never sent an international package, but if they are having to cut out days to save money etc, something needed to be done. When you consider how much it costs to send a letter domestically, its amazing they can offer such a cheap service. A stamp costs 47cents, and they will send my letter across the country. They could make it a dollar and I would be ok with it. Again I don't mail a lot of things, and I think that once my generation is the generation in power we will see a lot of the services go away. This sucks for those who mail a lot of things, but in reality, when you consider the cost of fuel, and pay for the person transporting the parcel it still isnt that bad of a deal.

Damn him and his Socialist over-reaching!