Ferrari Mailing List: Re: It's bad enough being ignorant, don't be hypocritical too

[Brian E. Buxton (BrianBuxton]

I understand your point completely.  BUT, the post office already HAS 
and DOES exactly what you mentioned ("It costs money to design software, 
build infrastructure, market, promote, sell, etc.").  They already have 
software to sell online, they already have a website, they already 
advertise in all forms of media, etc.  Plus, they as a business receive 
money from the Government to operate AND they make money from postage 
sales, etc.  So my question is why do the rates for the services keep 
going up but their speed, quality, and type of services does not also 
increase?  We are paying more every year for the same services and they 
still lose money!  Trust me, we are on the same page but looking at it 
from different angles.

Brian



Dennis Liu wrote:

> Brian Buxton wrote:
>
>  
>
> > Your points make sense, although your examples not so much ... but I
> >    
> believe what Dr. Steve was trying to explain was that he feels the US
> Government (i.e. the USPS) should provide the service he requires as part of
> the mail service that he already pays for.  What is currently provided and
> what he wants are one in the same, but as things are now he has to pay an
> outside source more money for something he already pays for through taxes.
>
> ================
>
> Brian, you're missing the point yet again.  
>
> Let's say the USPS collects $100 from all of its postage sales, and spends
> $100 to deliver all its mail.  Well, to be more precise, let's say that the
> USPS spends $100 to deliver all its mail, so it asks for permission to raise
> its rates to collect $100.  Either way, the system is in equilibrium.
>
> Now, you are demanding that the USPS INCREASES its services.  And don't kid
> yourself, it is definitely an INCREASE in services, because the USPS does
> not offer those services itself today.  It costs money to design software,
> build infrastructure, market, promote, sell, etc. (the stockholders of
> Stamps.com and Endicia certainly know that).  So the USPS needs to make the
> investment to offer the services you want, making the cost side of the
> ledger now, say, $110.
>
> But you don't want to pay any extra for the increased services you're
> demanding from the USPS.
>
> So where does the USPS get that extra $10 to cover its extra costs?
>
> Bingo.  It now collects $110 by raising its prices.  And now EVERYONE who
> uses the USPS has to pay extra, to cover the new services, because YOU
> didn't want to pay for the services that you're now enjoying.
>
> And therein lies the fallacy that liberal democrats enjoy - hey, its only
> money from the government - *I'M* not paying for it!  (or, "hey, the rich
> are paying 87% of all the taxes, so I'm getting $1 worth of benefit for only
> $0.13 out of my pocket!!"
>
> Seriously, Brian, if you're STILL not getting the point after all these
> years, SteveK, JimC and I will chip in and buy you a good book:  "The Road
> to Serfdom" by Friedrich Hayek or "Free to Choose: A Personal Statement" by
> Milton & Rose Friedman.  Spend some time.  It's a worthwhile investment.
>
>