FedEx Plundering & Privatization of the U.S. Postal Service

FEDEX PLUNDERING AND THE PIECEMEAL PRIVATIZATION OF THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Global Revolution 1: American Revolution 2: Day 62: Communication 1
IronBoltBruce's Kleptocracy Chronicles for 17 Nov 2011 (g1a2d0062c1)
How many examples of greed and corruption must you see before you act?


"FedEx Corp [formerly Federal Express] is the world's top express delivery service, thanks in large part to its close relationship with members of Congress and the White House. For years, the company has been a major campaign contributor to both Democrats and Republicans and is famous for its unique lobbying tactics, including the fleet of private planes that it keeps on stand-by for lawmakers who need to jet off at a moment's notice. In exchange, the company has gotten unparalleled access to debates over international trade, tax cuts and rules that govern the business practices of its one-time competitor, the United States Postal Service [USPS]. In 2001, FedEx cemented a groundbreaking deal with the USPS to deliver all of the post office's overnight packages and express deliveries. In turn, FedEx was allowed to put its drop boxes in post offices around the country."

http://tinyurl.com/6p8rq7t

Since 1989 FedEx has made over $20 million in campaign contributions to both Republicans (60%) and Democrats (40%), and since 1997 spent a staggering $80 million lobbying the Washington elite. In return they have been "awarded" over $11.8 billion in federal government defense, transportation and logistics contracts over the past decade, and they have seated at least 29 of their employees on key federal "advisory" committees at the Department of Transportation and elsewhere.

http://tinyurl.com/876lzy3

http://tinyurl.com/7mmdxn9

http://tinyurl.com/6nhhmjo

FedEx has also benefited greatly in recent years from a series of legislative and regulatory changes that might best be described as the systematic piecemeal privatization of the U.S. Postal Service, key among those changes being the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA) that required the Postal Service to prefund the health care benefits of future retirees - a burden no other government agency or private company bears - and contained other provisions that made it difficult if not impossible for the USPS to operate at optimum efficiency and effectively compete with companies like FedEx and the United Parcel Service (UPS). Those "other provisions" contributed far more to the $5.1 billion loss the USPS reported this week than did the impact of the Internet on first class mail volumes.

http://tinyurl.com/6qtyvzh

Also contributing greatly to USPS losses are the billions of dollars that - thanks to crony capitalism - they have been forced to pay to big-name federal contractors for transportation, technology and other outsourcing and support services that could be done in-house for much less money. FedEx ranks #1 on Top U.S. Postal Service Suppliers List, raking in over $1.3 billion in 2010 alone:

http://tinyurl.com/85v8l7g

Audits released by the USPS Office of the Inspector General published last year disclosed that millions of the dollars funneled to FedEx were unnecessary and wasteful, proving that their deal with FedEx was only a deal FOR FedEx. Here is a quote from of those audits:

"It was more effective and economical in some cases for the Capital Metro, Eastern, Great Lakes, and Northeast Areas to use ground transportation and domestic air carriers as well as to sort mail at Postal Service plants than to use FedEx to perform these functions. Because the areas used FedEx, the Postal Service incurred about $35.3 million in unnecessary costs. If these areas implement our recommended changes, we estimate the Postal Service could save $170.6 million over a 10-year period."

http://tinyurl.com/7fwvhpy

On a combined basis, the OIG audits showed THE CONTRACT WITH FEDEX HAS SQUANDERED OVER $94 BILLION SO FAR, AND COULD WASTE ANOTHER $480 MILLION OR MORE if allowed to continue:

http://tinyurl.com/7jkajh4

The United States Postal Service cannot be expected to successfully compete with companies like FedEx when those companies are using political influence and payola to place undue financial burdens on the USPS, to force wasteful and unnecessary outsourcing, to mangle its business practices and to cripple its efficiency. To better understand what corporate greed and systematic kleptocracy have done to (take over) our mail service and how, these three references are must-reads:

The Strange Story of Postal Reform
http://tinyurl.com/6ufwdt3

How to Privatize the Post Office: Piece by Piece, Step by Step
http://tinyurl.com/7plyco6

Battle Over USPS Future Enters Critical Period
http://tinyurl.com/7o75v3j


Related Image:

http://ldrlongdistancerider.com/images/FedEx_USPS_Privatization.jpg

Related Videos:

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUisfLtGN2A"]The Great Postal Heist - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UJGS_1oFXU"]US Postal Service Vs. FedEx & UPS - YouTube[/ame]


This document contains links shortened using http://tinyurl.com to facilitate emailing. If you are concerned that we would use them to cloak phishing or malware, you should open them with this: http://longurl.org


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OCCUPY WALL STREET: NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION 17 NOVEMBER 2011

http://occupywallst.org/action/november-17th/

http://november17.org/


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SHOW ME WHAT KLEPTOCRACY LOOKS LIKE! THIS IS WHAT KLEPTOCRACY LOOKS LIKE!

Kleptocracy [klep-TOK-ruh-see]: A government or state in which those in power exploit national resources and steal; rule by a thief or thieves. See also the United States of America where, as Goethe said, "None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." Want documented examples of the corporate greed that corrupts our government and fuels the Revolution? Find dozens here, with more to come:

http://kleptocracychronicles.com


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IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT OF THE LAST 14 U.S. PRESIDENTS, 7 HAVE BEEN DEMOCRATS AND 7 HAVE BEEN REPUBLICANS.

Our Kleptocracy-controlled media focuses on America's two-year election cycles as if who wins or loses in the swinging of the pendulum was a matter of life or death, when in fact even at the Presidential level it makes no more difference than the outcomes of Monday Night Football, American Idol, Dancing With The Stars, Hillbilly Handfishing or the trial of Michael Jackson's doctor. U.S. elections are staged primarily to give Sheeple the illusion of control so they will (a) vent their frustrations and expend their energy, emotions and resources supporting or attacking the Puppet on the Left hand or the Puppet on the Right, and consequently (b) never recognize and challenge the common omnipotent Puppetmaster.

There was no real change in 2008. There was no real change in 2010. There WILL be real change in 2012, but it won't be coming from tele-brainwashed couch potatoes, manipulated voter lists, rigged voting machines or predetermined ballot counts. It will be coming from us...

The 99 Percent

http://corporategreedchronicles.com


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I AM NOT ANONYMOUS. I AM AN AMERICAN.

I am not just a Consumer. I am a Citizen.

I will no longer be labeled Left or Right, Liberal or Conservative, Demopublican or Republocrat.

I will no longer follow Puppets labeled Left or Right, Liberal or Conservative, Demopublican or Republocrat.

I am the People. And I am coming for the Puppetmasters.

I am part of the 99 Percent. And I demand the following:

1. End the Fed.
2. Reverse Citizens United.
3. Repeal PATRIOT Act.
4. Expose 9/11 Truth.
5. End Profit Wars.
6. Refund Taxpayer Trillions.
7. Imprison the Kleptocrats.
8. Single Term Limits.

Or, if these demands are not addressed promptly:

1. Regime Change.

http://ironboltbruce.com


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LABELS (A POEM OF PROTEST)

"Democrat", "Republican",
The parties of the system;
Puppets both, for sale their votes,
No character or wisdom.

"Liberal", "Conservative",
For change or status quo?
Pick either one, the change is none,
All charlatans and whores.

Far "Left" we place the Anarchists,
Libertarians claim far "Right";
Yet both decry the government:
False continuum brought to light.

For oil, "We" bomb their mud huts,
Strip them bare, then offer "Aid";
And fake their retribution as
Pretext - a false flag raised.

Unarmed hundred thousands killed
By weapons of "Defense",
While rights are lost for "Freedom" sake -
On profit, all depends.

With stroke of pen, the "Patriot" Act,
And patriots' gifts are taken;
Then "Citizens United" leaves
Our citizens forsaken.

We protest loss of liberties,
Put "World Wide Web" to use;
Cloudmark Authority censors us
For "messaging abuse".

They label us to finger-point,
With labels, "They" deride us;
Their labels keep us all at bay,
For with labels, "They" divide us.

http://ldrlongdistancerider.com


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JOIN THE GLOBAL REVOLUTION!

Occupy Wall Street/OWS:

http://occupywallst.org/

Occupy DC/Stop the Machine:

http://october2011.org/

Occupy Together:

http://occupytogether.org/

Watch these Videos:

http://tinyurl.com/kleptocracytutorial

Take this Pledge:

http://wp.me/p19dS3-9o

How many examples of greed and corruption must you see before you act?

http://corporatecriminalsexposed.com

 

The US Postal Service is like the dinosaurs. Doomed.

 

I totally agree. Its really pretty obvious by the OP. If Fedex can make millions of dollars, doing what the government loses billions doing...

WTF are we doing?

 

The US Postal Service is an independent agency of the Government which does not receive tax money; but the USPS is subject to congressional control on large aspects of its operations. In other words, the USPS is not an "independent agency". The USPS, like Government itself, has become a tool of corporate and business interests.

The Internet has of course, greatly reduced the need for communication by snail mail; but a parallel reduction in the volume of "junk mail" has not occurred. Don't believe it? Check your mail box! If the USPS was truly an "independent agency" postage and shipping rates would go up to whatever level is required to meet expenses and demand for service. But this will not happen as long as corporate and business interests are in control of Government operations, e.g., the Postal Service.

Some say the 2012 election will be all about unemployment and other measures of economic activity. But maybe not. The neo-conservative movement that brought the Postal Service (and everything else) to the brink of ruin is the real issue. One is "cause", the other is "effect". One would expect a real conservative to advocate a truly independent Postal Service; and that may be the case. But "neo-conservatives" march to a different drummer. They advocate a right to freeload by law at the expense of those who actually pay for Postal and other Government services.

 

Postal closings delayed till May`12...

Postal Service Delays Closings Until May
12/16/11 - The Postal Service is postponing branch closings, but cuts still loom.

 

Ridiculous, why not just post the regular URL's to begin with.

NOTICE to all PF posters, do not click any tiny URL links, they are dangerous and can lead to malicious websites as it hides the true destination URL. Since the PF already shortens long URL's there is no need to use Tiny Url unless.............

 

Thanks for the heads-up Pea...

... ya is a real Pro.

 

The USPS gets taxpayer money as bailouts every year. I haven't checked in a few years but the USPS had two unions and employees could join both and get the best of both contracts.

The USPS has brought itself to the brink of ruin. In the city in Colorado in which I lived we had a Mailboxes R Us right across the street from the main Post Office. I and others went to Mailboxes because service was faster and people were polite. Go figure.

Your rhetorid about neo-conservatives is ludicrous. Continuing more and more bonuses and benefits to an operation that is doomed is strictly a liberal strategy for "investment".

 

Pathological Pea' wrote: "NOTICE to all PF posters, do not click any tiny URL links, they are dangerous and can lead to malicious websites as it hides the true destination URL."

You're certainly not in any position whatsoever to question the integrity of another member! I didn't click every link, but I did click quite a few and find your contention to be what it often is, a pathetic misrepresentation of the truth.

Albert Di Salvo wrote: "The US Postal Service is like the dinosaurs. Doomed."

PatrickT wrote: "The USPS has brought itself to the brink of ruin."

BestViewedWithCable wrote: "I totally agree. It's really pretty obvious by the OP. If Fedex can make millions of dollars, doing what the government loses billions doing... WTF are we doing?"

No, the OP does not say that! It is an extraordinary, well-researched and irrefutable treatise on the matter of the fiscal plight of the U.S. postal service. Contrary to popular belief, it has outsourced a considerable percentage of its operation TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR! Further, it delves into the postal service' subsidizing its competitors, the aggressive lobbying tactics of those competitors and government policy that hinder the postal service' ability to operate efficiently. I've only found one mistake, where Bruce says internal audits have recognized unnecessary expenses totaling $94 billion, when it's actually $94 million, which pertains to its contract with FedEx.

The OP in this thread is by far, the most informative, most thorough report I've ever read on the subject! To other readers, do yourself a favor, ignore the peanut gallery and take the time to read the OP. It's very insightful. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

Bruce, thank you for your extraordinary piece of work!

 

Can Fedex send a letter for 47 cents?

 

Does it matter?

I can send an email for free, it arrives instantly and I receive it on my mobile phone.

Snail mail is obsolete, let it die.

 

In my opinion the USPS should have been privatized long before now.

 

Exactly. I work for FedEx. I am part of the evil capitalist empire and I'm proud of it.

We just purchased a fleet of 777s making us the most energy efficient aircraft shipping company in the world.

And we did it for the best reason. Profit!

 

Can you send a check via email?

 

USPS would make profit if it wouldn't have to fund pensions for employees who are not even born yet...

 

I am not so quick to drop the postal service. I would like to find away to keep it alive. It is a critical service for me and many others.

 

Sort of...its called a wire transfer.

 

I do bookkeeping for about 20 companies, just one of them once in a while pays few bills via wire transfer, 99.9% do it by checks.

 

The USPS is outdated in design. They need to be fully privatized.

 

Yes it matters.

Written correspondence is equivalent to sending an email using a digital signature. That means your email address must have a unique certificate. That certificate has to be aquthenticated.

It is clear there is a subversive effort to undermine the USPS.

 

I have to say I do know some business owners who still are resistant and distrustful to the modern day technology available to them...but I doubt its the love of paper checks and govt postage that holds them hostage to the past.

Expect that number to grow...the trend is going to reverse itself. Last 4 years USPS has lost 20% of its volume...while internet driven transactions have been begun to mainstream.

Add that to the bloated bureaucracy that is inherent to federal institutions and the entitlements/legacies inherent to union contracting....USPS doesnt stand a chance.

 

No, FedEx can't which is why it doesn't attempt to do that. Of course, unlike the USPS if something is sent by FedEx it actually arrives at it's destination and even arrives when it's supposed to. I've had way too many instances using the USPS where an item I sent or that was sent to be didn't arrive as promised or didn't arrive at all.

Of note one of the complaints by US Postal Workers is that the Post Office is now being required to fund it's pension plan. They actually misrepresent the truth because they claim that private industry isn't required to do this. In fact private pension plans must be funded in advance by all major US corporations.

BTW I've had a suggestion for "balancing the books" at the USPS.

Reduce delivery, except for priority and express mail where additional charges pay for expedited delivery, to Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. This will reduce the normal labor requirements by 50% for most mail resulting in a significant cost reduction.

Keep Post Offices open from Tuesday thru Saturday allowing for a normal 40 hour work week for Postal Workers staffing these offices. We can live without the Post Office being open on Sunday and Monday.

Express and Priority mail would only be delivered on Tuesday through Saturday and with all other USPS services not being required on either Saturday or Monday we don't have to pay US Postal Workers for five federal holidays that occur on Mondays in 2012.

These reductions in service are minor but they would allow for a smaller USPS employee base and a service that is more efficient without causing any serious problems for the customers.

 

Its not just that. They are incompetant.

Example. I purchased a 600 dollar 400 disk blue ray DVD changer for my Godfather on ebay.

When I went to the Post Office to pick it up this tiny little woman was literally kicking the box down the hallway. Her reason? It was too heavy for her to lift.

Of course there was a huge dent in the display when I opened it up and it wouldn't power up so now the poor guy who sold it to me is having to fight with them for the insurance money and I was out time and money because I had to buy brand new online to make sure he had it for Chirstmas.

They are slow, incredibly apathetic and incompetent. That is why they are failing.

 

One question related to the initial OP. It discusses FedEx seeking favorable treatment by the US government often related to tax treatment under the law.

How much does the USPS pay in taxes to the US government annually?

The answer is, of course, zero and, in fact, the USPS is spending tax revenues that it could be said are coming from FedEx which does pay taxes.

 

I do agree they suck at delivering packages, why don't they stick to what they do best - delivering mail? Also why would the guy send it via USPS, I don't ship anything with them after they lost my computer without any traces.