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Say It Isn't So
Jim Sullivan My sincere sympathies to postal employees for having to endure the anthrax problem! Having said that, I must now take the mail service to task for another matter, their primary job. After each trip to the post office, which for me is a daily routine, a wild thought bubbles up in my old head. I try to dismiss it (the idea, that is, not my head) because it couldn't possibly be true. Certainly, the U.S. Postal Service, known in today's slang as the handler of snail mail, isn't getting snailier, or slower. Is it? Maybe it's just my imagination. I know for a fact, though, that first class letters sent to my son, who lives four hours away, take five full days, or more, to get there. After years of writing to him, I have lots of mailing experience. And it never used to take so long. Now, here's more of my wild thought: the U.S. Postal Service seems to be allowing, or maybe even causing, this mail slowdown. Why? Perhaps for good reason: maybe it wants to motivate customers to purchase it's pricey 'Priority Mail' service for two or three day delivery, or 'Express Mail,' for overnight service. Surely this can't be true. After all, no U.S. government allowed, first class mail delivery monopoly, one that has been partially privatized, would stoop so low as to let its inherited efficient delivery service go to pot. Would it? Why, if it did, privatization would get a black eye. Moreover, you'd think the monopoly would be yanked or that the organization would be publicly chastised. But none of that has happened. Did postal management see a quick, lucrative source of additional revenue? Remember, post office executives have been bragging about holding the line on mailing costs at 37¢ for first class service. Again, whatever the reason, it sure looks to this white haired gent as if the U.S. Postal Service should own up to some truths: like, for example, a first class stamp nowadays really brings with it just third rate delivery service. And if that's the way it is, maybe the postal service, to avoid temptation, should get out of the priority and express mail business. Then it could concentrate on improving regular mail delivery service. Otherwise, it has a built in conflict of interest. There's just too much incentive, like being able to charge 10 to 30 times the first class rate to get first class service. Let's face it: any group, like the U.S. Postal Service, that can afford to have a supervisor frequently accompany carriers on the rounds to make sure the mail is being delivered efficiently can obviously afford to keep mail delivery between cities up to par, too. So far, I've not found any investigative journalism type articles in magazines, newspapers, or books on this subject. But it should be examined. Something smells here. Admittedly, my ideas may be bubbling up from elsewhere. But I don't think so. The odor seems to be coming from the mail service itself. Please say it isn't so! Postal Pedigree Sam Aurelius Milam III Most people believe that the Post Office operates under authority provided by the U.S. Constitution. However, the only wording in the entire U.S. Constitution that deals directly with the Post Office is in Article 1.
That clause grants a power, but not a monopoly. However, the Post Office has a monopoly. The monopoly is granted in the Articles of Confederation.
I refer anybody who doesn't agree with me back to the U.S. Constitution.
The Post Office operates today not under the authority of the U.S. Constitution, but under the authority of the Articles of Confederation. It is only one of several examples of the continued validity of the Articles of Confederation.
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Letter to the Editor
Frontiersman I recently saw an interview with a former "Beverly Hills 90210" cast member on a late night talk show. The actress was complaining about how it is unpopular to be a Republican in Hollywood. She does not understand why it is okay to express Democratic affiliation and not okay to express Republican affiliation. Let me start off with the obvious. Hollywood is dependent on creativity. Creativity is dependent on free thinking. Free thinking is stifled by censorship. Censorship is a Republican agenda. Two, Hollywood is a diverse (today more than ever) community and racism is frowned upon. Republicans are racist. Three, in the wake of 9/11 there are concerns among educated people of the dangers of radical religious extremism. Republicans are religious extremists. Let me clarify my definition of extremist. If you literally believe in any religious doctrine and that belief dictates your actions (i.e. Pro-Lifers) you are an extremist. And therefore are mentally unstable and dangerous to those around you. I hope this helps anyone else who might be confused about this issue. I don't expect this actress will be reading this, so my goal is to help anyone I can. Another thing that freaks the hell out of me is the phenomenon of the average Joe blue collar citizen who actually believes he can relate to the Republican cause. These people are usually religious too, and this is where the evil political genius of the Conservatives has paid off by so shamelessly attaching themselves to a religious cult. You know, "you're with us or against us, you're with our God or against our God". Just another empty vote. Hey it works! Right? Well actually it didn't work, but the Law never stopped George W. from doin' coke either. — A message from OTAR
Religious extremists aren't a problem so long as they don't force their way of life onto other people. The Amish might be a good example. Religious evangelists, even conservative groups, are a problem if they force their way of life onto other people. The Catholics might be a good example. The problem isn't extremism, but evangelism. Remember, the repression of extremism is still repression, just as surely as the repression of anything else. — editor
Union House, Union Rules Original Source Unknown. Forwarded by Steve, of Fremont, California A dedicated union worker was attending a convention in Las Vegas and decided to check out the local brothels nearby. When he got to the first one, he asked the Madame, "Is this a union house?" "No," she replied, "I'm sorry, it isn't." "Well, if I pay you $100, what cut does the girl get?" "The house gets $80 and the girl gets $20." Mightily offended at such unfair dealings, the man stomped off down the street in search of a more equitable, hopefully unionized shop. His search continued until finally he reached a brothel where the Madame responded, "Why, yes sir, this IS a union house." The man asked, "And if I pay you $100, what cut does the girl get?" "The girl gets $80 and the house gets $20." "That's more like it!" the union man said. He looked around the room and pointed to an attractive young blonde. "I'd like her for the night." "I'm sure you would, sir," said the Madame. Then, gesturing to a fat sixty-five year old woman with warts and rotten teeth, she said, "but Mary there has seniority."
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Buck Hunter Shoots Off His Mouth Dear Buck I was in a wilderness area last month when the battery in my GPS went dead. I completely lost my bearings. Has anything like that ever happened to you? — Wilderness Hiker
Dear Wilderness Hiker I was in a parking lot once when the battery in my GMC went dead, but it didn't have no effect on the bearings. Acknowledgments
— editor
Frontiersman Cancellations — If you don't want to keep receiving this newsletter, print REFUSED, RETURN TO SENDER above your name and address, cross out your name and address, and return the newsletter. When I receive it, I'll terminate your subscription. You may also cancel by letter, e-mail, carrier pigeon, or any other method that gets the message to me. Back Issues — Back issues or extra copies of this newsletter are available upon request. Reprint Policy — Permission is hereby granted to reproduce this newsletter in its entirety or to reproduce material from it, provided that the reproduction is accurate and that proper credit is given. Please note that I do not have the authority to give permission to reprint material that I have reprinted from other sources. For that permission, you must go to the original source. I would appreciate receiving a courtesy copy of any document or publication in which you reprint my material. Submissions — I solicit letters, articles, and cartoons for the newsletter, but I don't pay for them. Short items are more likely to be printed. I suggest that letters and articles be shorter than 500 words, but that's flexible depending on space available and the content of the piece. I give credit for all items printed unless the author specifies otherwise. Payment — This newsletter isn't for sale. If you care to make a voluntary contribution, you may do so. The continued existence of the newsletter will depend, in part, on such contributions. I accept cash, U.S. postage stamps, prepaid telephone cards, and so forth. I will accept checks or money orders only by prior arrangement. I don't accept anything that requires me to provide ID or a signature to receive it. In case anybody is curious, I also accept gold, silver, platinum, etc. I'm sure you get the idea. — Sam Aurelius Milam III, editor
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