Do We Still Need the Post Office?

COMMENTARY Budget and Spending

Do We Still Need the Post Office?

Jan 2, 2024 1 min read
COMMENTARY BY
Parker Sheppard, PhD, PhD

Research Fellow, Center for Data Analysis

Parker Sheppard is a Research Fellow for The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis.
The government should sell the post office and allow it to move forward as a private business. Andrew Austin / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

With modern technology and many companies performing similar services, the government doesn’t need to be in the mail delivery business.

Nearly 250 years later, we no longer rely on the post office to deliver news or communicate with people in other states.

Since 1970, it has generally operated at a deficit—meaning it costs more money to run than it makes. The situation is predicted to get even worse.

NO. Mail should be delivered by private companies.

With modern technology and many companies performing similar services, the government doesn’t need to be in the mail delivery business.

The post office is one of the few federal agencies called for in the Constitution. Why? At the time of the American Revolution (1775-1783), most political discussion happened through newspapers, which had to be delivered to readers. The Founders authorized a post office in part because a democratic nation requires informed citizens.

In 1787, James Madison brought up another key role for the post office: securing communication between the states. That made sense in a young nation that was uniting 13 independent colonies—especially since radio, TV, and the internet had not been invented.

But now, nearly 250 years later, we no longer rely on the post office to deliver news or communicate with people in other states. Bills are paid online. Most of my mail is unwanted advertising. In fact, the average U.S. household receives 848 pieces of junk mail a year.

Meanwhile, USPS costs have grown. Since 1970, it has generally operated at a deficit—meaning it costs more money to run than it makes. The situation is predicted to get even worse. The government should sell the post office and allow it to move forward as a private business.

This piece originally appeared in Junior Scholastic

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