Give The Devil His Due – PAEA Brought Down The Postal Service – Both Democrats and Republicans Are Responsible

4/16/18 – Postal Employee Network – Everyday I read headlines blaming President Trump for trying to bury the postal service – at least that’s what the publishers want you to believe. However, it just is not true. President Trump did not start the problems that have plagued U.S.P.S. (USPS) – that mostly started in 2006, and the blame for that can be laid at the feet of BOTH Democrats and Republicans. The devil I speak of is the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006.

Blame both parties for bad bill – I agree with this readers statements – “Since the law passed the Senate on a unanimous consent vote, all 44 Democrats and the one independent in the Senate consented to the bill. What is even more compelling is the November 2006 election provided the Democrats with a majority in both the House and the Senate, so the Democrats could have filibustered the bill and had it reintroduced in the 110th Congress to prevent its passage. Additionally, two of the three co-sponsors for this bill were Democrats.” Facts do not support blaming Republicans entirely for this bad law (PAEA).

The following image was taken from the 109th Congress – please notice that the sponsor was Republican and the co-sponsors were 2 Democrats and one additional Republican:

This devil of a bill passed the House by a VOICE vote on Dec. 8, 2006.

What about Amazon? President Trump does have a bad taste in his mouth for Amazon, and I believe it is mostly due to the fact that Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon, also owns The Washington Post – see this article from Politico Trump Is Right. It Is the Amazon Washington Post.

As for postal employees? The vast majority find Amazon a like/hate relationship…they like that Amazon gives them work through USPS, but many also constantly complain about the overtime that Amazon deliveries creates for them – yes, many do enjoy the fruit of overtime.

My thoughts? Amazon is helping USPS create needed revenue – PAEA is taking all of that revenue away – at least through USPS financial records. But Amazon also has a sweetheart deal with USPS that is giving them tremendous value for their dollar in regards to cost of delivery. So, who reaps the biggest return? Well, it seems Bezos does.

4 Responses to "Give The Devil His Due – PAEA Brought Down The Postal Service – Both Democrats and Republicans Are Responsible"

  1. Don’t get mad at Amazon for accepting a business deal. Wouldn’t you buy something on “sale”. All the blame is on the people at the usps who accepted the deal, and has hidden the facts of the deal by not making the deal public. Trump only cares because the Washington Post owned by Bezos is critical of him. Remember Bezos and trump are made from the same cloth, neither one pays taxes. Both of them negotiate the best deal possible, that’s called “business”. Has trump released his tax returns, who’s paying for the wall now, and who benefited from the middle class tax cuts, not the workers. This “deal” is over in November, and the usps can say no to amazon, period. November is also the month that the voters will decide our fate. If Trump wants to save the usps, then return the $$$the usps did prefund future health benefits, erase the balance of the debt owed on the 10 years of unpaid , prepaid $$$ and admit it was a mistake in the 2006 law, just like the tax cuts recently passed and our national debt spiraling out of control again. Thanks republicans for that.

    We were not blaming Amazon – we were blaming PAEA – which both sides voted in favor of. Trump can’t erase the debt – just like Obama couldn’t. Congress could – but they will not. Money (taxes) taken by the government is never returned and we know that. Nope – thank democrats AND republicans for spiraling out of control debt. Rick – PEN

  2. I am a contractor with the USPS and while I appreciate having work thanks to Amazon, I don’t appreciate having to do it for free! The last several years have seen HUGE volume increases that have overburdened our routes, our people and our vehicles. We’ve been forced to work 12 hour days while being paid for 5-8 hours, run multiple trips to get everything delivered and work well past dark which puts a whole new twist on things and has jeopardized our safety many times and managements response…..crickets!
    Now hearing that rural carriers have been given a raise in hours due to increased volumes while contractors are told to buy bigger vehicles, at our own expense of course. So, thank you President Trump for finally looking into this “deal” and finally putting a magnifying glass on this incompetent and mismanaged agency!

  3. RCA’s and CCA’s don’t even get holiday pay for delivering Amazon parcels on every Holliday and if they don’t go over 40 hrs during the week they don’t get overtime on sundays

  4. Regular carriers DO NOT reap overtime for delivering Amazon. As a matter of fact a regular carrier has been delivering Amazon for over a year and a half for FREE !!! We are NOT paid by the hr. It is an evualated system. We just got ” evaluation”. My rt went up 2 hrs !!! Still we won’t be pd by the new evaluation till at least 7 weeks AFTER the new evaluation. So ultimately it is the REGULAR carriers who are being screwed !!!

    I retired from USPS in 2007 and I may be partly incorrect – but, I feel very confident that the volume of Amazon parcels across the USA has generated thousands upon thousands of hours of overtime…either directly or indirectly. For rural routes I understand that it is different, but not for city carriers or clerks. Rick @ PEN

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