by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
The United States Postal Service has a long history of a love-hate relationship with the American public. We appreciate, and sometimes take for granted, the fact that it delivers our mail, often to remote rural locations, most days of the year - and we are quick to resent the fact that postage rates seem to increase on a regular basis with no relief in sight. The first-class rate for sending a letter when I was a boy was three cents, and the public was outraged when that once stable rate was suddenly raised to four cents. People were mad about it - damned mad! Today with the advent of "forever" stamps, there is no price listed on individual stamps - but, just so you know - the price of an individual first-class stamp was recently raised from forty-nine to fifty cents.
Over the years, as the price of a stamp slowly rose from three to fifty cents, the post office itself underwent many changes. Somewhere along the line it became a sort of private corporation that was supposed to handle its own finances and not rely on government bailouts. But there is private, and then there is private - and the government did not completely cut the post office free of government control. Congress must still approve raises in postal rates, and a few years ago it put a major constraint on the USPS business model by mandating that the post office set aside money for employee pensions for decades in advance - a constraint that was destined and intended to hobble the agency well into the future.
And now Donald Trump also has the post office in his gun sights. Trump, who is in a personal war with the CEO of Amazon.com has announced a commission to study the business operations of the Postal Service. He seems to be particularly concerned with special deals that the USPS may have with Amazon in order to secure a big portion of its package business.
But, all of that economic and political and noise aside, the United States Postal Service contributes to our national heritage and dialogue through the choices it makes for subjects pictured on postage stamps. Unique aspects of science, nature, and history are elevated into the spotlight when they find their way onto millions of pieces of mail. Stamps are an art form that teach and inspire.
I always buy stamps that tell a story because I want to relive those stories myself and share them with others, particularly my grandchildren. Last month, on my birthday to be exact, the USPS issued a stamp that brought back wonderful memories of when my children were small. The new issue features the late television icon Fred Rogers, aka "Mister Rogers," along with one of his more familiar puppet friends, King Friday XIII. Mr. Rogers is clad in his familiar red cardigan and flashing his trademark welcoming smile.
And Mister Rogers' smile makes me smile - even after all of time that has passed since he welcomed us into his neighborhood. Thanks, USPS, for reminding America that it was always a beautiful day in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood!
The "Mister Rogers" stamp is fifty cents well spent!
Citizen Journalist
The United States Postal Service has a long history of a love-hate relationship with the American public. We appreciate, and sometimes take for granted, the fact that it delivers our mail, often to remote rural locations, most days of the year - and we are quick to resent the fact that postage rates seem to increase on a regular basis with no relief in sight. The first-class rate for sending a letter when I was a boy was three cents, and the public was outraged when that once stable rate was suddenly raised to four cents. People were mad about it - damned mad! Today with the advent of "forever" stamps, there is no price listed on individual stamps - but, just so you know - the price of an individual first-class stamp was recently raised from forty-nine to fifty cents.
Over the years, as the price of a stamp slowly rose from three to fifty cents, the post office itself underwent many changes. Somewhere along the line it became a sort of private corporation that was supposed to handle its own finances and not rely on government bailouts. But there is private, and then there is private - and the government did not completely cut the post office free of government control. Congress must still approve raises in postal rates, and a few years ago it put a major constraint on the USPS business model by mandating that the post office set aside money for employee pensions for decades in advance - a constraint that was destined and intended to hobble the agency well into the future.
And now Donald Trump also has the post office in his gun sights. Trump, who is in a personal war with the CEO of Amazon.com has announced a commission to study the business operations of the Postal Service. He seems to be particularly concerned with special deals that the USPS may have with Amazon in order to secure a big portion of its package business.
But, all of that economic and political and noise aside, the United States Postal Service contributes to our national heritage and dialogue through the choices it makes for subjects pictured on postage stamps. Unique aspects of science, nature, and history are elevated into the spotlight when they find their way onto millions of pieces of mail. Stamps are an art form that teach and inspire.
I always buy stamps that tell a story because I want to relive those stories myself and share them with others, particularly my grandchildren. Last month, on my birthday to be exact, the USPS issued a stamp that brought back wonderful memories of when my children were small. The new issue features the late television icon Fred Rogers, aka "Mister Rogers," along with one of his more familiar puppet friends, King Friday XIII. Mr. Rogers is clad in his familiar red cardigan and flashing his trademark welcoming smile.
And Mister Rogers' smile makes me smile - even after all of time that has passed since he welcomed us into his neighborhood. Thanks, USPS, for reminding America that it was always a beautiful day in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood!
The "Mister Rogers" stamp is fifty cents well spent!
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