video chain went out of business the young, low paid personnel just threw everyone's credit info in a dumpster that was overflowing. Documents showing credit card numbers and identification info were blowing all over the parking lot.
Since when does the management edict of lowest costs possible fit into the legal requirements of postal workers. Do they really want us to hand over the sensitive job of the post office to low paid/no benefit employees? Mail is a bit more important than a hamburger order and they will not be held liable for their screw-ups.

Politicians worked up about this issue. Tell them their personal information, personal business, healthcare information, everything is at stake by having an "expendable" workforce vs career employees handle the mail.

I like the USPS.

I don't like the way government botches security and I.T. endlessly.

And I really don't like the way the government ignores the Constitution and spies on us all 24/7.

I deal with take their jobs very seriously. There are also laws that will get them thrown in jail if they break those laws. At one time I worked for the Census Bureau and there are laws restricting those workers as well. That is taken very seriously as the worker could face jail time and the upper management would also be in trouble.

I do think you would see a difference if those jobs were turned over to retailers who tend to hire young, inexperienced workers. I think that a private business, especially one owned by an equity firm, would shortchange security for profits. They are also known to tell their employees to lie. In fact business schools do not put much weight on honesty.
And who do you think is selling your information, such as pharmacists who fill your prescriptions, to other private businesses?
The USPS is not the same as the NSA - at least not yet.

I don't see much difference anymore between the corrupt government and corrupt big business. They both increasingly exist to service the other. Both have fearsome tools to fuck with anyone they please.

By the way, that in a nutshell is the definition of actual fascism - a merging of government and big business motives, behaviors, and practices for their mutual benefit.

As an example, consider how many tens of billions of dollars of lost business for Silicon Valley firms the NSA revelations have cost. I see the postal workers in the same light - once government trust has been run through the shredder, they're along for the same ride.

If the USPS isn't NSA "yet," it's not hard to see how it's just a matter of time. The data they collect is quite juicy and is certainly already compromised and stolen by "our" government anyway.

No, I don't think Staples or someone else would do better. I personally hate the idea of going to the "Post Office" in some strip mall store, anyway.

I don't have any top-down solutions - not that I trust top-down much. To me, the real answer is for each of us to become aware of the way insecure, sloppy, and often malevolent practices are turning all our private information into tools for those with power over us (financial or governmental) to increase it.

And then once we're awake to the reality under the surface, we can start using some of this tech and knowledge ourselves to push back and re-establish our Constitutionally-guaranteed privacy. No one is going to do it for us, certainly not the criminals who think recording everyone's phone calls, text messages, gps locations, and emails is their prerogative.

it is all very depressing but fighting the good fight is worth something.

Stay strong.

I read it right here on DU.

And yet,

Now that I know of Romney's association with the store I don't ever intend to back.

I did not know. I just Googled it.

I don't have a lot of choices where I live. But I guess I can look for some place that is not Staples.

There is no way in hell that I would let an ass like Mitt benefit from the few pennies that I scrape together.

you beat me to it! That's reason enough to not shop there. Add that it is trying to break the Post Office and unions makes it even more important to have a national boycott.

has been sterling, golden, never ever lost anything, never been late. Using this service to gain 'political' benefit is playing with fire. Republicans are tip-toeing over red hot embers, when they should be running. These dense near-do-wels will find many willing to expose them and more of what they do for their profit. Using goverment to serve their interests will backfire. Let's make a point to thank these really hard workers, who expose themselves to heat , cold , rain, dogs, weirdos, and now politicians (weirdos), trying to score points.

are up to around $40B in pre-funded retirement costs. The Wall Street and billionaire thieves (like Rmoney) want to steal veterans', etc pensions and healthcare monies.

And along with Customs - one of the first institutions set up in our country's early years.

These IndieTeaPublicans that scream bloody murder about what "the founding fathers intended" have no clue about their desire to collect tariffs/taxes and a way to transport information/payments.

Customs and Border and the Post Office should always serve at the pleasure of the American people. Not private businesses and not Wall Street - we the people who count on the original federal police force and information highway must ensure they remain neutral third parties.

I'm thinking - in this age of social engineering and identity theft (I touch these every day in my work) and their impact on national security - removing the Post Office as a Federal entity -

What does that do when thieves use the Postal Service to transport stolen goods or engage in financial transactions. It helps to add years to their time - when we can add in Postal Service abuse.

One of the best uses of Facebook is boycott pressure.

when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.

The creation of the Postal Service predates the 1st Ammendment. Some things deserve a fight, regardless of the cost.

Privatizing the USPS is a very bad idea.

-Laelth

Unions are democracy in action.

Bonus kick for labor.

-Laelth

I seem to remember that, before 9/11 changed everything.

it's quite a disconnect

I always look for plausible deniability and anything ripe for extortion, what passes for journalism.

I'm even prouder to be a teacher.

but I think it has not yet been able to be voted on in the Senate.
Looking for more info on this now.

I know she has testified to Congress as a nominee to that Board.

http://postalemployeenetwork.com/news/2014/07/vicki-kennedy-testifies-on-capitol-hill/


Anyway, I think she would bring some much-needed sense to that Board.

If you are a Democratic candidate for office, or an office holder, I want to hear where you stand on privatization of the USPS.

If you are asking me for a donation fucking forget it unless you tell me where you stand on privatizing education, the USPS, Chained CPI and the fucking TPP. Don't disclose this, do not expect one cent from me. I won't donate to enemies. I am sick of your two faced bullshit. Hear that DSCC?

Democrats, speak out in favor of the USPS!

grocery store I shop at sells stamps and ships packages. Think that's the extent of service they offer. Our local PO hasn't suffered-always a lot of folks there. Wish they had more clerks-especially on Saturdays. I remember back in the 70's and 80's we had a drug store that had a small PO in it and it had pretty much the same service as our local PO. The lady that ran it didn't work for the postal service. It was a contract station. She was an older woman and very trustworthy. Don't think I'd be so trusting of Staples employees.

The Staples situation is very different--they are trying to replace post office workers with minimum wage workers.

I watched a news segment tonight about job scams. Postal inspectors were warning about a job scam. A young mother was trying to make extra money by working from home, and she was on the hook for $2,800.00 in a scam.

The postal inspectors were warning people and investigating. Staples won't do that for people!