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Comment by olivermarks | Hacker News Reader

A package mailed to me in early June from the UK to California that touched down in Chicago in mid June is totally awol today. I used to have a tracking number that told me that it was in Chicago but since I reported it missing that has now disappeared in online searches.

I am not a fan of either of the two parties and putting politics to one side it is unclear why there is the reduction in equipment and force at the USPS at a time when there is a huge increase in deliveries due to the SIP directives.

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The decommissioned mail sorting machines are part of a long-term plan to respond to reduced demand for paper mail. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/08/20/postal-se... The USPS has been saddled with a series of unfortunate events and in my opinion should be full-backed by the US government. That said, this article seemed apt focus on hyperbole rather than attempt to articulate an accurate story. Dead animals, bugs, ballots... The same brand of doom and gloom so popular in the media these days. I suspect the problems reflects the capacity to accommodate increased demand but I wouldn't know because I have to read between the lines of several articles intended to get me riled up instead of telling me the real story of cause and effect.

It is extremely clear why this is happening. By reducing the efficacy of the USPS, they can delegitimize it. Then when voting time comes they can say "Hey look, they couldn't even get you your package, what makes you think that the the USPS can safely and securely handle your vote". And guess what, they'd be right because the USPS won't be able to do it safely b/c they actively ruined it. This has been the common tactic of the republicans for a long time and it is continuing to work.

And this policy has a name : Starve the beast.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starve_the_beast

Again, disregarding politics why is the USPS, which is well funded and overwhelmed with business delivering Amazon and Shopify packages, downsizing? This isn't a federal directive is it? You would think they would be expanding to meet demand.

It could just be that the monopoly online retail business models that broke the high street are now breaking the post office too. hiring a non postal service ceo/pmg sounds like a terrible idea also https://federalnewsnetwork.com/management/2020/07/usps-warns...

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