Preserving the People's Post Office

by Christopher W. Shaw

"Preserving the People's Post Office" by Christopher W. Shaw exposes how numerous forces are intent on undermining an essential government agency's public service commitment. "The book demonstrates the crucial importance of the Postal Service's historic role as the one universal means of communication," said Consumer Advocate Ralph Nader. "The Postal Service also fulfills other functions vital to our society," Nader added. Christopher Shaw, the book's author said, "Through preferential postage rates for nonprofits the Postal Service facilitates civic involvement and a healthy democracy." Nader also noted, "Postal employees are fairly remunerated in an increasingly low-wage, low benefit 'Wal-Mart' economy." According to Nader, "Post offices serve as the heart of community life in neighborhoods and towns nationwide and the presence of postal workers on community streets make them safer, as the many beneficiaries of their frequently heroic efforts attest." "The lack of citizen-consumers' involvement in the recently passed postal reform legislation has highlighted the need for a public dialogue about the future of our postal system. The book provides a starting point for that conversation," stated Nader. Nader said, "Instead of focusing on new ways for our government to serve its citizens through the Postal Service, service reductions - such as closing post offices, removing collection boxes, and ending door delivery - have shifted emphasis to business practices that fracture public service policies of equity and fair cost allocations." "The Postal Service is further threatened by promoters of a corporate postal system who would ultimately like to steal the Postal Service from its owners, the American people," he added. Nader and Shaw want to provide residential postal patrons with a mechanism to facilitate the organized and skilled consumer participation required to protect their Postal Service. Shaw said, "An independent nonprofit Post Office Consumer Act

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Thicks1]

Should government be run like a fortune 500 company? Maybe or maybe not. This book is a great example of a lot great reasons why some endeavors need not meet a bottom line. You will appreciate your local post office and mail carrier a lot more after this book. Two book marks way up...

[Ronald Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author did an O U T S T A N D I N G job presenting a dynamic case for preserving the best Postal Service in the world. He should be a motivational speaker that facilitates continuing education lectures to employees of the United States Postal Service. This book should be mandatory reading for all employees, especially those aspiring to management, or leadership positions from the workroom floor of the processing center, all the way up to those who prefer secluded isolation.

As a postal employee the information presented by the author has significant historical value that will probably never be presented to you in a "no training" zone due to the urgency to chase numbers. Nothing will ever be more important than understanding where the numbers come from and how to keep them alive through employee cooperation, teamwork, participation and treating others with dignity and respect. That is probably the only subject not talked about in this fine manuscript.

I never knew about the animosity toward our services by our largest competitors and the warm and fuzzy relationship with the biggest mailers. Mr. Shaw broke it all down to the simplest form of comprehension.

After reading this book I got a better historical understanding of this government agency and a panoramic perspective of our role as an effective Postal SERVICE in American society. You'll learn the meaning of acronyms like; BOG, PRC, CUBs, POCAG, and a bunch of other stuff "you need to know and understand."

Preserving the People's Post Office is a terrific read and builds a compelling case for "Never privatizing" the United States Postal Service. Christopher Shaw did a great job and I agree with his reality check.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why it's worth preserving?
#1 - Only the USPS provides universal service. USPS delivers to every address in the country 6 days a week. This knits the country together. No other delivery service comes even close.
#2 - #100 - read the book and why we need this beloved, ever-present public service now more than ever. Mail-in, tamper-free voting, anyone?