Dear U.S.P.S. - Just Get it Over With

This Sunday (1/26/2014), the price of mailing a first class letter will increase from 46¢ to 49¢ per ounce.  This three-penny increase, the likes of which haven't been seen or financially felt since June 2002, is supposedly only for two years.  Within that increase is an increase that would have happened anyway, a 1¢ up in stamp price which was in line with keeping up with increases in the Consumer Price Index.  After 2016, the price theoretically would drop back to 47¢.  Will it?  Yeah, right.

When the US Post Office became the US Postal Service in 1971, the price of a first class stamp was 8¢. Let's do some math.  With the change taking effect tomorrow, the price to send a letter will have increased slightly more than six times that happier postal times rate.  From 8 to 49 cents in a matter of 43 years.  Some would say that's not bad considering the rate of inflation that's occurred in that span of time, although the Federal government managed to keep the price under 10¢ for over 100 years.  Yes, it is still a bargain as compared to some other goods and services.  But, as the cost of postage increases, the amount left for buying food and paying bills decreases.  In the scheme of things, it may not be a big chunk of money to mail a letter across town or across country, but for those struggling to make ends meet, it still adds up.

With people already squeezing their budgets, it's no wonder the grumbling began shortly after the Postal Service announced the proposed increase in September of last year.  Mickey Barnett, the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the USPS, sent out a rambling letter in September 2013 addressed to "Dear Postal Customer" explaining the logic of the decision.  I'm a smart woman, but even I had trouble wading through those ten paragraphs.

But, I do get it.  Like any business, the USPS has expenses.  Unlike most business, the USPS has to answer to Congress for any attempt to increase income by increasing their prices. It also has to answer to Congress for any expense-cutting moves it might make.  Even its five year business plan to bring them back to a lean, mean mail-carrying machine needs to be reviewed and approved by our elected officials.  Its hands are tied.  I get it.  Pointing fingers as to when this business entity started to go wrong and who is at fault for it happening in the first place is a useless gesture.  Even with the volume of mail decreasing and competition for package delivery strong, we are still dependent on the USPS for the day to day delivery of boxes, bills, resumes, and the still handwritten cards and letters to friends and loved ones. Not everything can be virtually delivered just yet.

So, why do I say "just get it over with"?  Because I believe that the increase, which needed to happen even though we protest strongly against it, should have taken the price straight to 50¢.  If we're going to get annoyed with a three-cent increase, what's one more penny?  It brings in more revenue for them and my guess is that it still isn't going to result in any leftover funds for someone to enjoy.

And let's face it, it's easier figuring out the cost of mailing things with a nice round figure of 50 to multiply by. Yes, harder on the wallet, but easier to figure out.

Oh, come on, we know it's going to get there, anyway.