Alaska’s senators asked for but did not receive a hearing in Alaska on the U.S. Postal Service’s plan to reduce deliveries to five days per week. That’s a disappointment not only to the senators but also to Alaskans who might have wanted to share their perspectives in person.
The Postal Regulatory Commission said it could not fit an Alaska hearing, or one in Hawaii, into its schedule. It found time for such hearings at seven places in the Lower 48, though.
Instead, the commission invited Alaska’s senators to testify at a hearing in Washington, D.C. Our congressional delegation should take up the offer, but the impact of their testimony will no doubt be less vivid than that which could have been offered by residents, business owners and government officials in Alaska.
Mail service in Alaska is a complex business, intertwined closely with numerous enterprises across the state. Dropping a day from the required delivery schedule could have all sorts of implications here that might not be similar to those experienced elsewhere in the United States.
The cancellation of Saturday delivery might be a necessary step, given the Postal Service’s terrible financial condition nationwide. And certainly Alaskans cannot complain of any neglect on the part of the service at present — we are unquestionably the biggest beneficiary among all the states of the universal service model.
Nevertheless, the postal commission should be well informed of the effects of dropping Saturday delivery in Alaska before deciding one way or another. Coming to Alaska, where the Postal Service plays such a different role, would have helped to ensure that.
Instead, Alaskans who have strong views on this subject will need to travel across the country to Washington, D.C. And our congressional delegation will need to speak for us.
Businesses are forced to cut expenses and even lay off employees. Why shouldn't the federal government do the same?
Mail service is, of course, important to everyone, as noted by Kamen, but the impact of cutting mail to five days a week cannot be as catastrophic as this editorial suggests. In my opinion, the post office should go to 4 day a week mail service.
Put a huge fee on the junk mail that goes right from mailbox to trash, rather than letting it be sent at a cheaper bulk mail rate. That might cut down on some of the load.
We complain about congress taking "junkets" to exotic places for hearings and "fact finding," and in the eyes of most Americans, trips to Alaska and Hawaii to talk about mail service would fit that definition.
We also advocate for privatizing services as much as possible. If it would be financially worthwhile, then let some private carrier pick up the slack. If it's not financially worthwhile, then government needs to start trimming down.
There is zero difference in the effect of dropping Saturday mail service in Alaska then there is in the lower 48.
Plan ahead to get vital supplies before you run out of the previous order.
If you can't plan ahead, be ready to pay a private company for your inability to plan ahead.
It is no different here then anywhere else.