Name: Trump wants to destroy the United States Postal Service. McConnell needs to stop him
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Trump wants to destroy the United States Postal Service. McConnell needs to stop him

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GERTHLouisville Courier JournalView CommentsIf you had any doubt that Donald Trump is trying to ruin the Postal Service in an attempt to hold onto the office that&nbsp;— if the polls are correct&nbsp;— appears to be slipping away from him, you need to&nbsp;watch the he did Thursday with Fox Business News' Maria Bartiromo.&nbsp;In the interview he suggested he would block funding to the U.S. Postal Service because he feared additional funds the agency receives could be used to process and deliver mail-in ballots for this year's November election.&nbsp;Trump, claims that such voting opens the doors for fraudulent elections without any evidence of widespread fraud.Combine Trump's actions with the actions of the new postmaster general to slow the mail&nbsp;— and the apparent refusal of Kentucky's Mike Duncan, the chairman of the USPS board of governors, to rein him in&nbsp;— and it looks like a big ol' conspiracy.&nbsp;If we had a functioning United States Senate, Mitch McConnell would gather together a veto-proof majority to pass a Postal Service funding bill to provide the agency with the money it needs to carry out a successful mail-in voting effort in states that choose to go that route.&nbsp;More:But we know that McConnell has long given up on the Senate being a functioning, deliberative body. We learned that when he refused to allow the Senate to do its constitutional duty during the Trump impeachment trial.&nbsp;The fact is,&nbsp;McConnell has allowed the Senate to become merely an arm of Trump's corrupt administration.&nbsp;But here's the thing: The Postal Service needs protection and, yes, it needs funding.&nbsp;This year, its debt is expected to be $11 billion and it's been losing money ever since 2006 when Congress passed a law requiring it to pay up front for employee pensions —&nbsp;something that few government agencies and no private companies are required to do.&nbsp;That's put a huge burden on the Postal Service and made it nearly impossible for the service to invest in new technology that could help it streamline functions and save money.&nbsp;But what I've never understood is why we expect the Postal Service to pay for itself.What other federal agency has&nbsp;to do that?&nbsp;We don't turn our military into a mercenary force and rent it out to foreign countries that need a little more firepower to defeat their neighbors to pay for the F-35s and cruise missiles it needs.&nbsp;We don't expect the federal Transportation Services Administration&nbsp;to hold bake sales just beyond the metal detectors at the airport to pay for the uniforms and salaries of its officers.&nbsp;Opinion:If we truly expected government to pay for itself, McConnell would be required to bus tables in the Senate Dining Room when the Senate isn't in session. "Senator&nbsp;Schumer, if you're finished with your corned beef sandwich and bean soup, I can take your tray."But we don't do that. We know that government services cost money.And the Postal Service provides a much-needed benefit.&nbsp;Unlike UPS and Federal Express, mail carriers from the Postal Service come to virtually every home and business in the United States six days a week.I can walk to the mailbox in my front yard, flip up the flag on it and stick a card or letter in it and expect that it will be delivered to the intended address on the other side of the country a few days later for just 55 cents.At least I could before Postmaster General Louis DeJoy started monkeying around with the Postal Service a few weeks ago. Now I have no idea if, or when, it will get there.According to UPS'&nbsp;website, it would cost me $8.25 to send that card or letter to one of the other 47 contiguous states. If I wanted to send it to Alaska or Hawaii, it would cost more than $30.&nbsp;Are you kidding me?&nbsp;The fact of the matter is, the USPS is a bargain. Even if we have to supplement it with $11 billion every year. That's less than $40 per person.&nbsp;More Gerth:I don't know about you, but my family&nbsp;saves at least that much each year in the 25%&nbsp;off coupons from Bed Bath &amp; Beyond that show up in the mailbox every month or so&nbsp;— or at least used to&nbsp;show up in the mailbox every month or so before DeJoy started monkeying around with the mail.&nbsp;But as the pandemic rages, the most important role of the Postal Service is going to be moving ballots.&nbsp;All but a handful of states are now allowing for no-excuse mail-in voting in November.That's essential&nbsp;because it's unclear whether election officials will have enough volunteers to staff polling places. It's important because so many voters are elderly or have health problems that make them susceptible to death or serious illness if they catch the coronavirus.&nbsp;Trump's acknowledged plan to damage the Postal Service because he's afraid mail-in voting will cause him to lose the election is simply despicable&nbsp;and McConnell needs to step up and, for once in his life, do the right thing.&nbsp;Joseph Gerth&nbsp;can be reached at 502-582-4702 or by email at&nbsp;jgerth@courierjournal.com. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today:&nbsp;courier-journal.com/josephg.View Comments

GERTHLouisville Courier JournalView CommentsIf you had any doubt that Donald Trump is trying to ruin the Postal Service in an attempt to hold onto the office that&nbsp;— if the polls are correct&nbsp;— appears to be slipping away from him, you need to&nbsp;watch the he did Thursday with Fox Business News' Maria Bartiromo.&nbsp;In the interview he suggested he would block funding to the U.S. Postal Service because he feared additional funds the agency receives could be used to process and deliver mail-in ballots for this year's November election.&nbsp;Trump, claims that such voting opens the...

Trump wants to destroy the United States Postal Service. McConnell needs to stop him

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