Why does the US Post Office subsidize Alaska package delivery to remote towns and villages? These subsidies have cost the PO $2,500,000,000 over the past decades! To cut government subsidies and expenditures, the Congress is cutting programs that benefit large numbers of people, but is continuing to subsidize a few. If people want to live of the gird, they should pay for the right and not expect the rest of us to do it for them.

See: http://www.washingtonpost.com/polit...1e3-afc6-a1dd9407abcf_story.html?hpid=z1

Yup
Cheers

I can't speak to whether this is true or not, but I hear that the reason that you can buy stuff delivered to your door, from China, cheap, is because the US Government is subsidizing the shipping. I know that I bought a whole carburetor, for the motor on my tiller, from China and it was $19 to my door. If you have shipped anything lately, you will think that there is some truth to this, as I do. miles

I guess you approve of the continuous subsidies for people to rebuild year-after-year on the same flooded land following river floods and hurricanes? You ARE in favor of big government!

I did not know this and it sucks.

Lots of .gov sudsidies up in the Big Ice.

Well my son works for the postal service in nw alaska -he makes a good living serving the people up there.
Not many jobs up there with retirement and healthcare etc. he'll be retiring soon and people had better not start complaining about this stuff now because he needs that retirement money.

We all need retirement money; it is just plain wrong that the Congress compels the USPS to waste money on subsidizing Coca Cola (12 pack) deliveries to rural Alaska at the expense of all of us.

We'd prob all Schitt if we could see an itemized list of what .gov subsidizes!

I agree, kill ANYTHING that funds anything rural. The sooner we can get everyone out of the sticks and jammed into a city, the better it will be for the government.

Link


Phil

Well said.

DJS why don't you go after welfare, billions spent on illegal immigrants etc. if you want to make a name for yourself.

Yes it's true, and yes it sucks. Glad to see someone in the media pointing it out. This crap won't change until we vote out the good ole boys club who show up for work with lots of taxpayer dollar bills ready to stuff in lobbyists g-strings.

Well gee, since there are so few people in Wyoming, the feds out to not subsidize building any highways there then.

I don't think it's a big deal and something to fret over.

What would you have the USPS do?

Charge by the mile for every rural delivery everywhere in the US of A?

What about the West where people live hundreds of miles from an airport and the main mode of delivery is by vehicles driving hither and yonder across the wide open prairie?

Would you charge them more?

If you're mailing a letter across town would you pay less?

Wyoming even with its low population is far far from the worst of the states as to receiving federal dollars!

As to the link I posted Wyoming receives only $0.91 in return for every dollar sent to the federal government... and federal spending is only 39.8% of its state revenue.

There are quite a few more states much better at relying on federal dollars!


Phil

And Washington DC has the highest GDP, much higher than Alaska. That's some funny shiet there.

I wonder what it cost to deliver the mail to Virginia for example? Duh.

Reckon it may have exceeded what Alaska costs were over the past 30 years?



Stupid article and even less informed input from some here...

This is actually one of the things the government is doing that FOLLOWS the U.S. Constitution.

http://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2012/08/the-u-s-postal-service-and-the-constitution/


With all the illegal activities and government atrocities that come out weekly, if not daily, that are in direct violation of the constitution, can't anyone find anything better to bitch about?

Moochelle's lobster budget is more than that...

That don't matter, Vigina folks are entitled to mail. Seems since there are so many jammed together, with so much PUBLIC transportation, they should have to GO to the PO to get their mail.

A-L from 8am till Noon, M-Z 1pm till 5pm.

Well I also support services to rural America at an affordable price...at the same time, I don't support the billions of dollars in welfare abuse in this country.....

Everyone ought to take it upon themselves to visit a welfare office and get a visual look at who that money is actually going to...and many collecting it under multiple aliases also..

What about the Hawaiians?

Think of much we pay to subsidize mail for those phat bastids.

Jets flying here, jets flying there, island hoping jets flying everywhere.

The federal government should do nothing but protect those unified states which comprise these United States, to include policing the national borders, North, South, East and West. Individual states should do ALL the rest pertaining to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all their citizens.

[bleep], we drop $30 billion a year plus in Puerto Rico, set them adrift and we can keep mail going to Alaska.

I'm fairly certain Alaska provides more high paying jobs, oil and seafood than PR.

Ask yourself if we'd be better off if the US population was all located in a few dozen metropolises. Also, ask yourself what your direct and indirect government "charity" allotment is. As with just about anything costs are less per unit as magnitude increases. From that standpoint, nothing rural can be justified - anywhere in the US. If you want to make the USPS more efficient, why even have personal mail delivery at all? What's wrong with dropping by the local, centralized mail depots (like all rural people in Alaska do?)

Now, excuse me while I enjoy a meal made with subsided ultra-pasteurized 'fresh' milk and fresh mushrooms: 2 gallons milk/ 8 oz mushrooms; $32.35.

And the next time you fly on a plane carrying mail - you do know when your plane carries mail, right?- make sure you are grateful for the subsidy since that mail helps to keep the costs of passenger tickets lower. Oh, and don't buy the cheap tickets either 'cause the person next to you might easily be carrying the difference on a much higher priced ticket.

DJS is just a liberal idiot troll. Worrying about what likely amounts to less than 250 million a year in federal funds is like worrying about a hang nail after getting your throat slit.

You don't think everyone who drinks that stuff is getting a government subsidy? Coca-Cola in 12 packs is $12.49 - at least when it's on sale... close to $15 regular. Yeah, I'm sure there's probably a subsidy in there but I'm not foolish enough to pay that much for nothing. (And I wish that a lot of subsidized things weren't, but who gets to choose?)

now you are writing like Sherp?

the usps is so screwed up they can't even get my mail delivered.
they send it back with a sticker saying the right address is wrong and with a wrong address on it. I call the postmistress once a week and she promises to fix it. wrong

Why does Alaska even need mail and stuff?

There are a lot of rules there that will not allow rebuilding unless specs are met... it ain't quite what you are making that out to be.

Point!


Heck, mail wouldn't be some darned expensive out here is the government hadn't built that silly railroad so that millions of dollars of coal couldn't have been shipped out, military 'junk' couldn't have been brought in (to wreck and despoil Alaska), and supplies for an 800 mile oil pipeline (which the gov't shares profits from) to suck Alaska dry. That darned railroad ruined a perfectly good, efficient (annual) marine and river delivery system which was no longer profitable after the railroad and planes came on the scene. Matter of fact, I blame those two clowns down in the Carolinas for screwing things up. Heck, we probably might not even need Alaska's oil -or the wars in the Mid-East- if we weren't running those god-awful, fuel-guzzling, huge planes........two Wrights might have been Wrong! Most of all, it's the darned gov't fault for doing stuff!

Billions wasted in Iraq and people are complaining about a couple of eskimos receiving subsidized Mail?

Wouldn't that fall under that hazardous, liquid, or perishable thing?

Not directed at FieldGrade but there is a lot of ignorance shown on this thread. Better to compare actual dollars than to percentages for one. Those who use the percentage comparison are falling into the liberal mindset.

While discussing USPS, I still don't get why they feel the need to deliver mail on SATURDAY... WTF.

Plus I"d be fine with 2 times a week for mail. Put it on a route, you hit different routes every few days.

Makes a lot more sense.

Ain't a damn thing I need from the mail that can't wait a few days.

And if there were... there are a few otehr services....

I'd be willing to bet, though it wouldn't save that much money likely, that most rural folks, even in AK, would be ok with 1-2 times a week delivery. I wonder how many even could or would get their mail every day if it was delivered that way.

But of all the places to complain about, rural Alaska is the least of my worries about wasted money.

Its the hell hole cities that folks choose to live in that waste the most by far IMHO. Just so many liberals in them and on teh dole...

Urban welfare accounts for less than rural welfare.

Put the crack pipe down and walk away slowly...

YES! If people choose to live in inaccessible places and it costs more to serve them should pay higher fees. Just as you if you live in a hurricane prone coastal area, you SHOULD pay higher insurance fees to address the higher potential damage.

Yeah! All them damn natives should move to the city like everyone else! Why should the fact that their families have lived on the edge for hundreds of years get them special services like mail? (TIC)

White, non-urban residents account for greater welfare costs than urban residents. Also, highway and other subsidies are higher in rural areas (just think of the Interstate highway costs for Wyoming (big land area, small population). Or, think of Eastern Washington State - http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/welfare-state/Content?oid=6686284

I know - they should shut down I-80 and all those billions in interstate goods can magically be transported by executive order.

I have no problem with them living wherever they want; I do have a problem with subsidizing air delivery of Coca Cola.

Interesting point. I was involved in the development (planing) of the Interstate highway system and raised this issue in the mid-1960's. My boss, Ross Kruser (father of the Highway Trust Fund) just looked at me and said "The nation needs a continuous highway system, not a patchwork. Products are shipped across the nation and they need to be moved expeditiously. If we don't fund a continuous highway system, commerce will grind to a slow march"

So - are YOU the asswhipe that is responsible for I-80 taking the shortest route through a horrible vortex of wind at Arlington, Wyoming rather than following the path of the railroad further north, resulting in the most-closed section of interstate in the country?

Fish, really?

Nope, the Bureau of Public Roads (now Federal Highway Administration) just outlined destinations between major cities that the states needed to connect. The individual states picked the actual routes based on state/local politics and costs (environmental considerations were not considered at the time). If you have a problem with the I-80 routing in Wyoming, take it up with your state highway department.

My role was to analyze the estimated costs and ensure that the Interstates would link up at state borders. You'd be amazed at some of the proposed alignments; many were off by dozens of miles; a lot of negotiating was required (in which I did not participate in).

My brother is an engineer with WYDOT. He's said many times how stupid it was to put the road there. It cost much more trying to keep it open that going an extra 15 miles north.

We don't, keep those IRS forms and Alaska Magazines in Seattle where they belong.

Well, it'd be delivered by truck, except there ain't any roads. Alaska has minimal, at best, infrastructure, and as such most rural communities are serviced via air.
We kinda like the remoteness up here, and as Uncle Ted once said, we're about 100 years behind the Lesser 48 in regards to roads and public services. Hell, there are villages up here with honeybuckets as there is no sewage system available, and you've got your thong in a twist over subsidized USPS service?
Tell ya what, we'll sell our oil to the highest bidder, as opposed to the U.S at their set prices, and then we'll be happy to cut the USPS subsidy.
There's a chit load of gubbiment waste, and programs, ain't no argument here. But bitching about folks who've lived Out There since before Alaska was even on a map getting a basic service like mail sure do show your inability to grasp much....

Federal Mineral Mining Act has taken more than 50 Billion out of Alaska. They tax the gross oil revenues and not the net that Alaska taxes. They have taken much more than they have given.

Sincerely,
Thomas

No argument there, however, how would you suggest they control that? Would you be okay with presenting any or all of your mail for inspection upon request?

BTW, I have a much greater problem with the fact that "food stamps" funds things like Coca-Cola and other soda, along with a whole bunch of other virtually worthless items that some people consume and call food. There are plenty of places where waste could be cut. The US Postal Service is not where I'd start; and yes, I'd be more than content with mail a couple times per week. It wouldn't be much of a savings out here however and they'd need a bigger building to store the mail.

BTW, the "hazardous, perishable, liquids" deal only references a line of questioning that can be pursued. There are limitations and restrictions, not an all-out ban just because they fall into one of those categories.

Damned straight. Then it will be just me and the musk-ox out there . Feck the Natives!

Although I have to say, I am all in favor of eliminating soda from the by-pass mail subsidies. As a ramper in Kotzebue, I'd estimate that nearly 40% of the bypass mail weight of "food products" is soda-pop, which is an unnecessary and unhealthy "food product". Heavy. And often tipped over, so require restacking, which galls all our butts...

While we are at it, lets eliminate subsidies to ports, airports, and interstate highways all across America. Who needs food delivery and interstate commerce anyway?

After all, those bananas, coffee, tea, and kiwi fruit just majically appears in the Safeways.... Those Mezkins will happily tote it across the desert regions on their backs...

Again DJS, what about the $30 billion + a year to Puerto Rico?

I do take comfort in knowing DJS is much older and I'll be breathing air LONG after he's gone.

Billions of taxpayer dollars are spent annually to keep the USPS in operation, regardless of where they deliver.

Hell, lets stop all city deliveries so that rural will be less expensive
City folk can just walk to the post office and pick up their mail.

Pretty simple ain't it? Besides, they have all the public transportation so imagine how much of a green impact it will make to have all city f*cks, I mean folks, walk or take the electric street cars to the post office.

No sweat Keith. I was just questioning the fact that 12 packs of soda pop are actually shipped to someone's front door via USPS.
As FUBAR as the postal system is I'd have to see some proof on that one before I believed it.

It is kind of irritating when an airline worker comes in and mails a couple pallets of water for 50 cents a pound. Then a little while drives around the back and picks it up and ships it to whatever village and gets paid $1.50 per pound to dump it out on the runway.

Something tells me that djs feeds rather heavily at the federal trough himself. Of course, don't gore that ox, as it's most important.

That makes way the Hell too much sense.

Good morning Steelhead:

I agree with you on the subsidies to Puerto Rico and oppose them also.

As for longevity, my dad lived to 101, so I might have 28 years to go; you might have a heart attack before I'm gone! Let me know if you do and I'll plan to attend the funeral.

While we may not look at sending a 12 pack of Cokes as being the most prudent thing to do, WHO are you going to put in charge of censorship about what is shipped and not shipped?

Have we not had enough of this kind of vilification out of the USPS with shipping guns or ammo, or primers?

While we may scoff at someone getting Cokes, how many people are out there that don't think we ought to be mailed firearms?

What is next? Mom can't send you cookies? Your buddy can't mail you a half gallon of your favorite bourbon?

Who the hell do you trust to be the censor on this?

Some of you that are normally conservative are sure starting to sound pretty "liberalish" on this issue.

Who really GAF if someone gets a 12 pack of Cokes in the mail? I sure think it beats the alternative...

I really don't care what is shipped from whom, to whom or, by what means; but I do care if I have to pay $13 or so to subsidize it. In fact, I think all folks need to take responsibility for their lives and pay for the services they receive and not live off the subsidies taken from others. This includes USPS subsidies, urban welfare, farm subsidies, disaster relief, etc.

By the math, we'l be subsidizing your Social Security soon, if we aren't already and most likely any .gov retirement, too. If we're going to start trimming fat, let's start there.

hey, hey, hey


he doesn't want his ox gored, just mine!


bypass mail is a huge racket.

but most anything .gov touches turns out to be that way

I don't approve of subsidies that you use either...

Farm subsidies to put ethanol in your gas, dairy subsidies to make sure your kids milk doesn't cost you $12 a gallon, I even hate you for driving on roads that are paved where you live that I pay for...

Get real. The double edged sword cuts both ways.

What you are whining about is about as funny as a peta protest group wearing leather jackets and eating a bucket of KFC.

Keep in mind that I paid into Social Security and the Federal Retirement plan for over 40 years, unlike some subsidy recipients.

True, farm subsidies DO put ethical in my gasoline, to the detriment of my gas mileage 9lower) and gas expenses (higher) and, it costs more to produce than the number of BTU�s it generates (a waste of money).

Your location is listed as: �Not in the city�, so I assume that you live in a rural area. As for the roads, rural states get more back in Federal Highway Subsidies than they pay in, but it's a price we pay to ensure a coherent, efficient transportation system. Also, the more populated states subsidize rural state�s highways.

Go home Dad.

It wouldn't be a problem if you scumbag L48ers would allow us to build roads to the villages.

USPS doesn't get any tax money, so unless you are buying stamps, it's not costing you anything at all

True, but it adds to the USPS deficit and at some point, either the Congress will have to give funds to the USPS or, postal service will have to be cut back. Unless you support welfare and subsidies in general, supporting selective subsidies is inconsistent.