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Comment by inthewoods | Hacker News Reader

Probably just me, but the line about 400 junk mailers being our customers seemed like a stretch of a comment from someone in the position of being postmaster general. I have trouble believing he or she would say that to these guys and not just give some other explanation.

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I don't have trouble believing it. People in positions of power like that often tremendously underestimate their danger of exposure. Often to flaunt their power or crush opposition, they will overplay their hands.

Look at the photos that Congressman Anthony Weiner sent on his cell phone. You'd think that a repeated error in judgement like that would be damned near impossible... but there you have it.

It's more than that - it's that I find it hard to believe that the Postmaster only considers junk mailers his or her customers - and doesn't pay any attention to anything else. So I don't doubt the arrogance, I doubt that they would have said something that excluded the ordinary consumer.

Based on my experience of working in the "junk mail" businesses I agree with you - the USPS had disdain for ALL customers, not just junk mailers. The certainly did not try to help in any way. I cannot imagine this quote being true. I want to defend them but cannot - postal mail is in secular decline but will survive as where you live will always be a useful key to your identity. Just get ready for change (and will take bigger ideas than Outbox to do it)

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