It's not just you!

When I lost power during the "derecho" I was charged for all five days. It was near 100 degrees and no a/c. Glad this has come about.

Because PRIVATIZATION of government services has not saved money for taxpayers, provided better services or prepared for the future, because private companies seek profits for today. There is no place across the country where de regulation of utilities has improved delivery of electrical services. MD has a better system, because under this governor, the MD PSC does its job to protect consumer interests. The EHRLICH PSC gave Constellation Energy everything it wanted and consumers no guarantees. And now, foreign investments are taking over utilities in MD. not a good idea. One thing is though the PSC did its job in the last power outage, and we will get better service this time around and we wont be overbilled by utility companies in the mean time. Some people just arent willing to give credit to govt for doing its job, but in fact govt has a major responsibility in a democracy: to be the bulwark against WOULD BE KINGS whether foreign or domestic, whether private or corporate. And O'Malley makes govt work.

Maryellen: Any good or service is susceptible to the same supply and demand dynamics. Enter the USPS vs FedEx and UPS. Govt has a monopoly on 'post' and they cannot turn a profit, yet FedEx and UPS CANNOT deliver post specifically to mailboxes yet they turn profits and stay in business. Without year after year in the red.

Well McGibblets, you are horribly misinformed about how UPS and FedEx makes profits.

1. The Post Office must deliver to everywhere, by law.
2. What do UPS and FedEx do when a package has to be delivered to a non-profitable area? They give the package to the local post office to complete the delivery which the rest of us then have to pay for.

One of those dirty little secrets nobody knows about.

Thats what you call 'horribly misinformed' FIFA?

Tell me what percentages of their profits actually come from the methods you mention and what come from what you might call 'genuine' business practice. The process you speak of is called sub contracting, if nothing else FedEx and UPS subcontracting service to the USPS is a GOOD thing for the USPS, sounding like a much smarter venture than ramping up on valpak and friends. The USPS can't make money, FedEx and UPS give them business, yet you're faulting FedEx and UPS?

Interesting

McGibblets, yes. Those entities only deliver to the profitable areas. Thet then force taxpayers to pick up the bill for delivering to the non-profitable areas. By law the Post Office has to deliver everywhere. Those two cherry pick and we pay for it. Great system. Butthead, isn't it?

Yea, butthead, they give them the business all right, you ignorant fool.

Gosh I have zero tolerance for idiots like fast food McGibletts.

From the looks of it you have zero tolerance for providing facts to substantiate your claims. Numbers that show how much money the USPS loses by carrying fedex and UPS products would suffice. Backing up percentages of profits by UPS and FedEx they make 'from the taxpayer' by forcing the packages on the USPS.

You've resorted to name calling (3 posts, two of which were simply to insult) rather than presenting facts or legitimate arguments supporting your points therefore your posts no longer deserve my time.

McG, you make an argument that the PO is a business which is false. You pay .45 to send a letter anywhere to a US address. They can't close Post Offices without congressional bickering. They are told they have to fund 5 Billion a year in pensions. They have no control over what they do. The other two choose where they deliver. So they only pick profitable routes. You can mislead about insulting you, but you are a frigging idiot.

"A business (also known as enterprise or firm) is an organization engaged in the trade of goods, services, or both to consumers.[1] Businesses are predominant in capitalist economies, where most of them are privately owned and administered to earn profit to increase the wealth of their owners. Businesses may also be not-for-profit or state-owned. A business owned by multiple individuals may be referred to as a company, although that term also has a more precise meaning."

Yes, it is a business.

Further, you act as if FedEx and UPS are burdening the USPS. Increasing their volume on less desirable routes makes the routes more profitable, aside from the fact that this situation is a rarity and again you've shown little data to suggest its a major hemorrhage for the USPS. USPS works along with FedEx and UPS, cooperatively. Who do you think handles USPS products overseas??? FedEx handles large volumes of USPS freight overseas, because that is less desirable and profitable for the USPS and FedEx has the resources to handle it, just as the USPS is better equipped for local rural domestic routes so they can profit from delivering FedEx packages to areas not profitable to FedEx.

Its a business, run by govt, quite poorly. Like all other govt businesses.

The End

That's BS fast food and you know it. It s a government run enterprise that allows you to mail packages at one of the lowest rates in the world and you complain about it? I hope the PO goes out of business, then what will you do fool? You will bitch and moan about how much more it costs! Gonna send letters FedEx? Go for it, it's idiotic and you know it. You are a whiner, that's all.

Finally, an agreement.... we both hope the USPS goes out of business!

What exactly were those charges? I am looking at my bill for the same period and see no extra charges. Our electric only bill was $52.27 for that same time period. I used a lot of AC since the temps were so high then.
Are those charges on your bill itemized?

Ben, the box that you type in? If you don't uncheck the box that says "Send me email updates for this article" (which should be UNCHECKED BY DEFAULT) then you will get an email every time someone posts after you do.