“A Republic, if you can keep it.” Benjamin Franklin -- The crisis in the venerable institution created by the senior Founding Father

 

Ben Franklin's statue in front of the Old Post Office Building on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC.  The building currently is under lease -- illegally, in my view (see https://davidfishback.blogspot.com/2017/03/this-day-in-collaboration-defiling-of.html) -- as the Trump International Hotel. 

This morning, we sent the following letter to the Members of the United States Postal Service Board of Governors.  (Thank you to Gary Kreps, from whom we appropriated some of the language.)

August 17, 2020

Robert M. Duncan, Chair

John M. Barger, Member

Ron A. Bloom, Member

Roman Martinez IV. Member

Donald L. Moak, Member

William D. Zollars, Member

United States Postal Service Board of Governors

Re:  “A Republic, if you can keep it.”  Benjamin Franklin

Gentlemen:

Thank you for your service on the USPS Board of Governors. We are writing to you as patriotic American citizens to request your help in addressing serious problems that are happening at the USPS.  

We are very concerned about the dangerous activities that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has taken that have significantly harmed operations of the USPS, such as slowing mail delivery, removing postal collection boxes, removing/dismantling mail sorting machines, eliminating overtime pay for postal workers, and removing and reassigning many long-term members of the USPS administration. 

These disruptive actions have reduced the effectiveness of mail delivery, with very serious consequences for the American public who depend on the mail, especially for the many elderly, disabled, ill, rural, military, and hospitalized people who depend on the mail to request and receive needed information, medication, and supplies. This is particularly problematic for the public during the COVID-19 pandemic when many people are not able to get out and travel around safely.  

It is even more alarming that this is happening in the middle of a Presidential election in a pandemic in which the Postal Service is more important than ever for the successful functioning of American Democracy. When the founder of the Postal Service, Benjamin Franklin, told a fellow citizen on the steps of Independence Hall in 1787 that the Constitutional  Convention had produced “a republic, if you can keep it,” he could easily have been speaking to you today. 

We urge you to use your authority, including the removal of the current Postmaster General, to reverse the actions which will interfere with the ability of the Postal Service employees to “complete their appointed rounds” in a timely manner. 

Sincerely,

Barbara and David Fishback

Olney MD

*********************

Here is the contact information for the Members: