Key background: This is not the start of the USPS’ troubles. Although the Postal Service is allowed to act as a monopoly, it does not receive tax dollars and is self-funded through postage. It has substantial debt resulting from the requirement that it pre-fund retiree health benefits. Still, coronavirus is a fresh new challenge that could reduce delivery volume by 60%.
Fearing that the Postal Service’s demise would make voting more difficult and destroy the livelihood of its workers, supporters of the agency got hashtags including #SaveTheUSPS and #BuyStamps were trending over the weekend.I would certainly prefer to vote by mail, especially during this pandemic--which will still be dangerous for months to come. I love writing letters to friends and family, but have been refraining for about 5 weeks now. Although I already buy a lot of stamps, I find it difficult to resist the new ones and have pre-ordered two sets of stamps and one set that I can receive right away.
So...I'm am writing postcards and letters again. I love getting real mail and am willing to apply some Lysol and keep mail in quarantine for a while. As I continue to practice precautions, I appreciate the mail that does arrive. #SaveTheUSPS
There are still groups requesting letters for seniors like From the Heart and nursing homes are also requesting letters. My guess is that they give incoming mail a spray of Lysol and put mail in isolation for at least 3 days. Some teachers are using letter writing to connect with students--I love this idea.
I have received a few letters (the personal kind) lately and will be answering them after their quarantine in the garage ends. A letter to my daughter went out yesterday and some postcards will join today's mail.
One of my greatest memories from childhood days is, "going to get the mail." When we were out of school for summer vacation, two or three friends and I wrote back and forth. What fun! One of our favorite guys ever is our current mail carrier, who just happens to be one of my former students.
ReplyDelete:) A former student, huh? It is always nice to know what our former students are doing. I came out of a store in another town several years ago and this good looking young State Police officer came up to me--another former student! It makes me smile to think about it. The ones I know about make me very proud.
DeleteYou are so right-mail carriers are heroes.
ReplyDeleteI'm grateful for our mail carriers--and all of those who are doing their jobs in this crisis. :)
DeleteI am so mad I could scream about EVERYTHING going on in that white house. I am sending mail and buying stamps. I always vote by mail and have many years before we retired. I can't believe how quickly this guy has torn up our country I just can't put it into words.
ReplyDeletexx, Carol
Voting by mail is certainly good for most people. Avoiding illness from CV-19 or the flu would be good for everyone, but mail in ballots for people with disabilities or whose polling places are distant from their homes would also be beneficial.
DeleteYes, definitely key workers!
ReplyDeleteAll key workers deserve our appreciation. The things we took for granted such a short time ago...
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for posting the links for the seniors! I have got to send some mail. I worked for a nursing home several years ago and I just know how much something as small as this can mean the world to them.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, a big shout-out to the mail carriers!