Originally Posted By alexbook >>Next thing you know you'll tell me to bank online and use ATM's and debit.<< 26% of American adults still aren't online, according to Pew's December 2008 survey. It's worth noting that those least likely to be online are also those least likely to be able to afford to support a for-profit postal service. If communication is a human right, then we as a society need to continue subsidizing postal service. <a href="http://pewinternet.org/trends/User_Demo_Jan_2009.htm" target="_blank">http://pewinternet.org/trends/...2009.htm</a>
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy The U.S. has the most expensive internet service in the world, and lags the rest of the world in broadband penetration. Of course, all of our internet access is controlled by virtual monopolies in the cable and telephone industry. Recently, Verizon spent over $10B on wireless spectrum that could be used for broadband wireless networks across the country. Are they moving forward on any plans to develop this spectrum? No. They essentially bought it up so no one else could use it and they can continue to charge high prices for all of their communications services.
Originally Posted By utahjosh Why doesn't the govt just print another 8 billion dollars to keep the USPS from failing? Isn't it too big to fail?
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Recently, Verizon spent over $10B on wireless spectrum that could be used for broadband wireless networks across the country. Are they moving forward on any plans to develop this spectrum? No.<< Errrmmmm ... "Verizon has said it is ready to start testing its 4G wireless service on the channels it won, in hopes of rolling it out by the end of the year." <a href="http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/162250-House_Bill_Backs_June_12_DTV_Date.php" target="_blank">http://www.broadcastingcable.c...Date.php</a>
Originally Posted By vbdad55 <I'm surprised (not at you personally, but I would think most people would have updated their methods by now...checks aren't even necessary in this day and age!). > far from true - I still write anywhere from 20 - 40 checks per month. Many organizations - especially those tied to schools and sports clubs etc- are not equipped to handle all electronic ( or any) payments for things like updating funds in school lunch monies- payments for sports camps - field trips - school pictures - some charities that come door to door-- take your pick. Also I find more vendors picky about accepting debit cards ( some car rental companies will not take them)- but they will take checks - go figure.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy ^^ I write like 2 checks a year. If I do need to send a check, I usually log onto my bank's website and have it sent directly to the recipient via mail.
Originally Posted By mawnck >>Believe it when I see it.<< Until the DTV transition takes place, talking about it is all they can do.
Originally Posted By avromark See in Canada the Debit card (Interac) Is everywhere. However it's true Sports registrations/scouts etc Still require the good ole cheque. Of course Personal Banking is so much nicer than Online Banking.
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< Why do we have a government office for it? Japan recently privatized. America should do the same. >>> <<< It's not exactly a government office. It's a private corporation wholly owned by the government. Weird, huh? >>> Mr X, the USPS was privatized in the 1970's. Well, kinda, as described above. So, unlike a regular government agency, when it has an annual deficit, the USPS has to borrow the money. The USPS actually gets very little in money directly from the government other than fees for services provided. So, when it runs a deficit over a period of time, it keeps borrowing more money, which it's responsible for paying back at some point. This is unlike a regular gov't agency. Take for example the National Park Service. If it runs a "deficit" in a particular year (that is, its expenses are more than what it takes in through park admission fees and such), then it doesn't go out and borrow money to cover it - it just gets money from the general fund as appropriated by Congress and doesn't incur any forward obligation to pay it back. The USPS has been operated ostensibly as a private company for a few decades now. It actually was doing well toward the end of the 1990's and IIRC it came close to turning a profit and paying off its accumulated debt. Then the dot-com bubble burst, 9/11 hit, anthrax got sent through the mail, and consumers increasingly adopted electronic means for commerce and personal communications, and it's been pretty much downhill since then. If they decide that it's necessary to reduce service to 5 days a week in order to balance the postal budget, I'm all for it if the alternatives are to start subsidizing it with tax money or just continue to run up more debt.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<^^ I write like 2 checks a year. If I do need to send a check, I usually log onto my bank's website and have it sent directly to the recipient via mail.>> Yup. We write 26 checks a year... every two weeks to our housekeeper which we stick under a refrigerator magnet. Otherwise we do everything on line through our bank. The bank prints and mails checks to those vendors who are not set up for electronic payment. The bank offers the bill paying service at no cost, which I think is a great deal.
Originally Posted By Ursula I would be okay with having no mail on Tuesdays. But, to those of us who sell stuff on eBay and have jobs, I need a Post Office open on Saturdays, even if just for two hours or so. I often use the Postal ATM (I don't know the real name but that's what I call it) most of the time but it doesn't work for special handled items and international post.
Originally Posted By SuperDry ^^ Good point. Having Saturday hours but not Tuesday would probably be a good balance to serve all of the postal service's customers. Having business wait an extra day one day a week to get customer payments is reasonable if the alternative is to not have any hours any day of the week outside normal business hours.
Originally Posted By Ursula ^ Not only that, but think about how much gas and emissions alone closing down one day a week would do for the world.
Originally Posted By EdisYoda One problem with closing on Tuesdays. From the perspective of a postal employee (no not me). One work day, one day off, 4 work days, then one day off. I would rather see them close on two consecutive days such as Sunday and Monday.
Originally Posted By Mr X ***<I'm surprised (not at you personally, but I would think most people would have updated their methods by now...checks aren't even necessary in this day and age!). > far from true - I still write anywhere from 20 - 40 checks per month.*** No, it's true. Note that I said "in this day and age", not "in this day and age in America". Riddle me this, how does the second largest economy on Earth manage to get by without any system of checking in existence whatsoever? It's certainly doable. The U.S. system is just somewhat antiquated (there's that infrastructure thing again), and that coupled with some of the elder generation who are none too happy to part with the old ways I suppose. But it certainly is NOT necessary nor even very logical. Someone made a good point about the lack of access to banks for poorer Americans and the fact that they are forced to purchase Money Orders and mail them (that sort of expense adds up over time). Where I live, it is cost free to pay your bills using several convenient and simple methods (one example...you can pay your bills at the cash register of any local convenience store, no bank account, checking account, or money order required..just cash).
Originally Posted By Mr X ***Mr X, the USPS was privatized in the 1970's. Well, kinda, as described above. So, unlike a regular government agency, when it has an annual deficit, the USPS has to borrow the money. The USPS actually gets very little in money directly from the government other than fees for services provided. So, when it runs a deficit over a period of time, it keeps borrowing more money, which it's responsible for paying back at some point.*** Interesting info. Thank you.
Originally Posted By avromark " The bank offers the bill paying service at no cost, which I think is a great deal." Well here our banking act is different, unless you have 30,000 sitting in your account or you're over 60 you pay a fee for pretty much everything and all transactions. Oh to have more than half a dozen banks would be divine For those of you who eBay, uh no Satuday post here. See the convenience you get? The one thing though is with everything instant these days (except for release of funds in which some people get held for 20 days after deposit here). Also I'd love to see our institutions let you get by more than 1 late payment. When I was non administrative, I always got to hear about how my telephone would be cut off I'm one month behind, or I'd get a tensor bandage (no longer covered under OHIP thank you so much The Unhonourable McGuinty) but my cheque won't clear for 20 days. See your system could be so much worse.
Originally Posted By mickeymeg Not all banks here make you pay fees for everything Avro. At least not in BC. I have had fee free banking for some time now. Just thought I would throw that in there so not all Canadian banks looked bad.
