Issue 36 Going Postal on the Post Office March 19,2013

Another way of cutting is gaining efficiency out of current government programs...in this case the post office.

Going Postal on the Post Office

            No, I am not going to say eliminate the post office.  As much as I agree it can be privatized, it will solve nothing.  Instead I would like to change what role the post office plays in America.

            The first thing I would do is merge the census bureau with the post office.  When the census takes place or other such important information needs to be handed out and then retrieved the postal worker stops at every door.  To collect the census, the postal worker only has to collect it from your mail box once it is complete.  This allows for a more accurate tally of the population of the United States without the need to hire temporary workers to distribute and collect census data.

            Change number two is any mail going to government offices or officials will be handled exclusively by the post office.  I am sure we can agree that government officials and offices are tempting terrorist targets.  This will allow all packages to be screened for bombs, anthrax and other goodies the terrorists would like to throw at us.  Any United States agency that already conducts such screenings will be merged with this new function of the post office or be eliminated so as to increase efficiency and effectiveness.

            A third change would be any mail or documents coming from government agencies or politicians to the people will be handled by the post office.  This means if you get your welfare check or some other government package it will be coming from a postal worker who double checks to see if you live where you say you live.  It also allows the government to track how much mail politicians send to constituents to track costs and aid in transparency. 

            The fourth change is meant to stop pandemics.  If a pandemic should occur, the cure will be delivered right to your door.  With the only negative being if you are allergic to the cure, the benefits out weigh the cost.  Make sure you take the cure with someone present though.

            For the fifth change, I would have the post office take care of all military correspondence between bases.  Rather than have the military handle this themselves, we can free up soldiers to fight by the post office mailing out the checks, and other documents too and from bases.  This also aids in screening for terrorist threats by having the post office screen the packages.  Obviously redactors will still be needed to prevent sensitive information from being leaked out.  The postal worker will obviously not deliver mail to combat zones due to the obvious danger and lack of training.

            Post Offices already handle passports, so why not all forms of photo ID and government paperwork.  By having one location for all these governmental needs, logistics will be simplified.  In this respect the Post Office and its workers will work on behalf of all governments in the United States.

            A responsibility I would spread out that the post office currently handles is the delivery of all forms of magazines, advertisements, and traditional correspondence like letters.  By spreading this responsibility out to companies like DHL, UPS and their ilk it will do two things.  One is allow the post office focus on its new roll as a true government institution and two to give a boost to shipping companies’ profits and secure them financially.  The post office will be a fall back in case one of the private suppliers fails to ensure whatever mail is already in transit reaches its destination. 

            Yes, some of these ideas will take away money from the Post Office while others will secure its place in America as an institution.  But, it is just that, ideas.  My primary goal is efficiency in the government and the Post Office is an institution already ready to take on additional roles.  I am sure others can think of other institutions or government functions that can be shuffled around to increase the efficiency of the government while reducing waste and redundancy.  We should all be concerned with slimming down the government, by doing such things as putting all forms of welfare into a single agency, or eliminating duplicate functions.  Remember, a more efficient government is a less expensive and easier to understand government.