Post Office Politics
July 11th 2011 15:26
I went to the Post Office this morning, as I do every day, to get the latest news and visit with the Post Mistress. A few months ago, the government sent their crews in to renovate the little building. Our post office is a little larger than the average living room, and the parking lot is half that size.
This morning the chatter was about the ATV accident in the next town that put 2 children in the hospital. They had to be care-flighted to a distant hospital. Truly a terrible thing! Then the talk turned to a town meeting that will be held this evening. It was the town meeting that provided me with the most thought-provoking notion.
The government in its "infinite wisdom" (LOL) has decided to close our little Post Office. AFTER spending a small fortune on fixing it up. One of the other customers was ranting that Fed-Ex and UPS are making money hand over fist and asking why the Post Office was so poorly run. I explained to him that the government wasn't designed to run any business, just to do those things that the Constitution requires. Government fails at everything outside that scope. He didn't seem to believe me, so I explained that the federal government had become the owners of the most famous brothel in Nevada and couldn't turn a profit. His wife looked embarrassed, but couldn't argue. They're both very loyal democrats (which explains a lot), and believers in big government. Perhaps the issue of the post office closing will get them to thinking...
In case you don't understand what the problem is with closing our Post Office, I'll explain. This is a very small town, 6 miles from the nearest town to the west and 7 miles to the next town to the east. It's a 300 mile round trip for WalMart, Target, or any other well known shopping destination. Our mail service would probably be a central box, somewhere in town or mail boxes in the driveways. Doesn't sound too bad, right? Try mailing Christmas packages from a box! Try buying stamps on the spot (if you miss the carrier). Try having something weighed to be sure it has enough postage. Or something registered or certified.
If seven miles doesn't sound far, think about having to walk it. Most of the locals are senior citizens who only go to town for limited shopping and business. Daily trips would be hard for them. I can't drive anymore, since my stroke, so my postal business would be very difficult for me.
The Post Mistress asked those who came in if they were gong to attend the meeting, to at least be heard before the office closes for good. One woman, another good democrat, said, "I won't be there. We're going out of town. Besides, if I don't go, I won't have to make any decisions." She laughed as she said it and went out the door.
I talked to another friend of mine later and asked if she would be going to the meeting. "Probably not. I don't vote," she replied. I reminded her that she DOES get mail.
Look, the biggest problem this country has is apathy, folks. If we just slide along with the idea that everything is fine or that we can't do anything about problems, they don't go away! They grow like weeds in a garden! If more people would pay attention and speak up, we wouldn't be in the mess we're dealing with today. Is it too much to expect people to learn the issues (especially those that effect them) and act accordingly? How about voting? Is it so difficult to find out about a candidate before casting your vote? Or registering so that you can vote? Is responsibility a thing of the past? If it is, our future is in dire straights.
This morning the chatter was about the ATV accident in the next town that put 2 children in the hospital. They had to be care-flighted to a distant hospital. Truly a terrible thing! Then the talk turned to a town meeting that will be held this evening. It was the town meeting that provided me with the most thought-provoking notion.
The government in its "infinite wisdom" (LOL) has decided to close our little Post Office. AFTER spending a small fortune on fixing it up. One of the other customers was ranting that Fed-Ex and UPS are making money hand over fist and asking why the Post Office was so poorly run. I explained to him that the government wasn't designed to run any business, just to do those things that the Constitution requires. Government fails at everything outside that scope. He didn't seem to believe me, so I explained that the federal government had become the owners of the most famous brothel in Nevada and couldn't turn a profit. His wife looked embarrassed, but couldn't argue. They're both very loyal democrats (which explains a lot), and believers in big government. Perhaps the issue of the post office closing will get them to thinking...
In case you don't understand what the problem is with closing our Post Office, I'll explain. This is a very small town, 6 miles from the nearest town to the west and 7 miles to the next town to the east. It's a 300 mile round trip for WalMart, Target, or any other well known shopping destination. Our mail service would probably be a central box, somewhere in town or mail boxes in the driveways. Doesn't sound too bad, right? Try mailing Christmas packages from a box! Try buying stamps on the spot (if you miss the carrier). Try having something weighed to be sure it has enough postage. Or something registered or certified.
If seven miles doesn't sound far, think about having to walk it. Most of the locals are senior citizens who only go to town for limited shopping and business. Daily trips would be hard for them. I can't drive anymore, since my stroke, so my postal business would be very difficult for me.
The Post Mistress asked those who came in if they were gong to attend the meeting, to at least be heard before the office closes for good. One woman, another good democrat, said, "I won't be there. We're going out of town. Besides, if I don't go, I won't have to make any decisions." She laughed as she said it and went out the door.
I talked to another friend of mine later and asked if she would be going to the meeting. "Probably not. I don't vote," she replied. I reminded her that she DOES get mail.
Look, the biggest problem this country has is apathy, folks. If we just slide along with the idea that everything is fine or that we can't do anything about problems, they don't go away! They grow like weeds in a garden! If more people would pay attention and speak up, we wouldn't be in the mess we're dealing with today. Is it too much to expect people to learn the issues (especially those that effect them) and act accordingly? How about voting? Is it so difficult to find out about a candidate before casting your vote? Or registering so that you can vote? Is responsibility a thing of the past? If it is, our future is in dire straights.
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Comment by RickB_GA
If your neighbors are all Democrats, maybe it is good they don't vote. Only thing is that means they don't care and that is not good. I saw a statistic which I cannot support, 93% of the black vote went to Obama because he was black, no consideration of his qualifications. I bet many of the 93% do not pay taxes either.
Good luck getting your mail situation resolved.
Comment by Lester Caudill
Round Politics
I still can't believe how little people care, even after they have been bamboozled, frog strangled, and hoodwinked in the past 3 years by the Government. Look what a mess we are in no jobs, and drowning in debt.
We live in a rural area also, we had a post office 5 miles away, but they closed it, and we have to drive 14 miles now to the nearest post office.
We sell Knives on Ebay and it cuts into our profit if we make a special trip just to mail packages out. Wal-Mart is a 45 mile round trip for us as well as the closest Grocery store.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
I seem to be surrounded by democrats around here, most of them don't know or don't care what happens, they think they can just relax and let someone else take care of everything for them. It doesn't really work that way, but they're pretty set in their ways and not interested in listening or learning. Of course, I keep trying...
Comment by PopulistConservative
Angry Electorate
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Can't help but wonder how many other post offices they renovated that were scheduled to close? Unnecessary expenses are the hallmark of government "efficiency", after all.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
If people can't get motivated to care about their own communities, is it any wonder they elect creeps and criminals on a national and state level?
Comment by Lester Caudill
Round Politics
Most democrats I talk to don't support abortion, or gun control, or high national debt, or the bail outs, but they still support democrats don't make much sense to me.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
It always amazes me when people are so set in their ways, in spite of a mountain of evidence that the democrats don't represent them at all.