Postal Service - Stuck Between a Rock and a Mailbox.

"Even though many Americans can’t remember the last time they visited their local post office, the mere suggestion of closing post offices guarantees an outcry. Postmaster General John Potter says the USPS is considering replacing some post offices with postal facilities in high traffic venues such as the supermarket and large retail stores," writes Sharon Ryan in a guest Op-Ed that appeared on the PennLive.com website.

Sharon goes on to pen, "Virtually every hamlet across this nation has a post office. In many smaller towns, it serves as the hub of the community. The nearly 37,000 retail outlets run by the USPS outnumber all the Starbucks, McDonald’s and Walmarts combined. Unfortunately, many of these post offices were designed and built many years ago for a different type and amount of mail.

"When postal service began, delivery was seven days a week, sometimes several times a day. Economic realities have changed this through time. The USPS believes it will save $3.5 billion annually by delivering only five days a week, a request made by Potter to Congress as a part of the effort to improve the financial outlook.

"Individual customers might prefer to pay higher postage rates to keep Saturday mail delivery, but postal rate increases have a far-reaching impact," according to Sharon who is is president/owner of Dasher Inc., a full-service direct mail company based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Shown above, "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" by an unknown sculptor.

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