3 Ways Donald Trump Could Profit from the Death of the U.S. Postal Service
Donald Trump could be heavily invested in the demise of one of the finest services dedicated to American citizens. | Source: (i) | Source: REUTERS/Bryan Woolston (ii) AP/Lake Fong. Image edited by CCN.com.
- The U.S. Postal Service just announced that it’s cutting back on hours across the board.
- This reduction will lead to delays in mail delivery.
- A decline in mail delivery will make it more difficult to envision a 2020 mail-in election. And that’s just one way Trump will benefit from the collapse of the USPS.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is showing early signs of extinction. Donald Trump is likely ecstatic.
The USPS just announced that it will be cutting overtime across the board. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, that could result in mail delivery delays “by a day or more under cost-cutting efforts being imposed by the new postmaster general.”
The U.S. Postal Service is a massive institution that helps form the bedrock of our nation. It uses zero tax dollars to function. It charges less money than UPS, FedEx, or DHL. The USPS is one of the only institutions that deliver to rural Americans. It’s a genuine service for the American people. And it’s in dire need of help.
Democrats have proposed a $25 billion boost to keep our mail moving. Republicans have kept that money in limbo.
Congress approved a $10 billion credit line, but the Trump administration has imposed harsh restrictions that have kept the money unused.
Why is the current regime so hellbent on choking the life out of such a vital American service?
Here are the three main reasons.
Three Ways Trump Will Benefit from the Collapse of the U.S. Postal Service
1. The 2020 Election
The 2020 election is likely one of the most pressing concerns for the Trump administration. His regime has tragically failed in its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, we’ve called for a mail-in election to mitigate the risk of gathering in-person.
And Donald Trump is giving it a hard pass.
He’s repeatedly blasted the idea, claiming it leads to voter fraud. His Republican colleagues disagree.
It’s worked well in Nebraska. We had tremendous turnout in the primary in May. No issues that I’ve heard from our secretary of state. It’s worked well.
Why is Donald Trump resisting the idea?
It’s simple. The more people who vote, the less likely he is to win. According to Monmouth University, more voters have ruled out Trump than Joe Biden.
Trump has been grooming his dwindling fanbase to have no fear of the virus. They will not be the ones staying home if we vote in-person.
And if the U.S. Postal Service continues its decline through November, Trump will say it’s not up to the monumental task of delivering the ballots.
The new Trump-supporting Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, is already falling in line.
2. Revenge on an Old Enemy
It seems as though Donald Trump has a personal vendetta against the richest man in the world.
He’s repeatedly attacked Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on Twitter. He’s called on the U.S. Postal Service to raise their prices on Amazon.
Despite Trump’s claims, Amazon has actually helped the USPS.
But Bezos owns The Washington Post, a historically anti-Trump publication.
In turn, Trump is trying to weaponize the USPS against Bezos and Amazon. If successful, Trump will get the type of massive ego boost that he so desperately craves.
3. What About that Pension Fund?
The U.S. Postal Service is bleeding money, that’s no secret. Trump would have you believe it’s because it’s not charging companies like Amazon enough money.
But a much bigger reason is the massive financial obligation it owes to its pension fund.
Everything changed for the USPS when they were forced to pre-fund their pensions.
U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio explains,
The pre-funding mandate policy is based on the absurd notion of paying for the retirement funds of people who do not yet, and may not ever, work for the Postal Service.
The USPS is required to pre-fund the retirements of not only their 600,000 employees but, apparently, people they haven’t even hired yet.
In 2006, Congress passed a law that required the USPS to pre-fund approximately $110 billion in retiree health-care services.
As this pension fund grows to epic proportions, it raises the question: If the U.S. Postal Service collapses, who gets all of that sweet pension money?
Mark Dimondstein, leader of the American Postal Workers Union, told In These Times that it could be friends of the president,
(In 2018) The White House openly called for an opportunity to sell off the Post Office to private corporations. Their agenda is to enrich a few of their private-sector friends at the expense of the people of our country.
The demise of the U.S. Postal Service could net Trump another election win, allow revenge against an enemy, and give him literally billions of dollars.
Next time he criticizes the USPS, remember what he stands to gain if you believe him.
Click here and here to help save the USPS.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
