Imagine that the disciple refused to answer another question...

How about the mainstream media's ignoring the Fast & Furious scandal...not much on Solyndre (sp?) either. Soft handling of Obama.

I see, my mistake. I apologize.

I would be very interested to find out where your information for this statement came from; " You have preformed statements given to you ahead of time for everything." If you know something I want you to provide the details for all to see, I have nothing to hide.

RAF: That's not what I said. You need to go back to grade school.

How do you "performed statements"?

RAF: I think you really, really need to go and ride your motorcycle.

Troublemaker: I agree with you. The news media is not reporting enough about the Wall Street Protests. MUCH MORE should have been reported about this by ALL the news media.

Gazette staff: You can report more about this.

Okay, listen up! The entire media establishment has been ignoring the Occupy Wall Street protests that have been going on for two weeks. This protest has the potential to be the spark that starts anarchy and revolution in the US. It's huge news and the media avoidance of it is clearly a calculated conspiracy -- as bad an silencing the huge nationwide grass roots support for Ron Paul.
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Finally the Gazette has published an article with the headline "Over 700 arrested after protest on NY's Brooklyn Bridge." However, there is no blog available. What's that about?

" I DID NOT SAY PERFORMING STATEMENTS"
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You are so correct, you said "You have preformed statements". Since I left the root word intact and asked it in the action sense vs the past tense phrase you provided, performing instead of performed, I figured you were smart enough to understand...guess not. So I will ask it again.

How do you "performed statements"? Perhaps now you understand why it was changed, then again maybe not. Either way you're a tad bit out over your skis here.

It's a nice day out. Maybe you should take a break and go ride your motorcycle before the weather gets too cold to do it.

RAF: I DID NOT SAY PERFORMING STATEMENTS. I said "PROGRAMMED STATEMENTS" and "PREFORMED STATEMENTS." There is a difference. And you know EXACTLY what PREFORMED statements are. Maybe you just made a typing error.

CONcerndless what exactly is performing statements? Did you get all worked up wanting to type something and perhaps went to far? For your sake slow down, extemporaneous retorts has never really been your strong suit. As you have shown previously the only real thing you can do is, well you know what that is.

Will quit irritating you on this one for while RAF - going away for the day. Have a great one!

jvilleis86ed: There is no point in funding the retirement of postal workers for 75 yrs. in the future, and doing it in a 10 yr. period. This is crazy. I think the postal workers are correct when they speak of H.R.1351.

Oh, excsue me RAF, how about the "words you write." Typical RAF, echoing programmed statements by his Republican cohorts. You have preformed statements given to you ahead of time for everything. You can't think for yourself.

Another super power, "hearing" words typed...thinking they are spoken.

RAF, you tell all by your attitude and by the words you speak.

The disciple now claims to have x-ray vision. Are there other super powers in your clan of adherents or are you the only one?

"if we drain off the most profitable portion of the USPS, it will cause more stress on keeping the USPS viable and they may just disappear."
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Are you fully aware the reason it is the most profitable is through a government provided and protected monopoly?

"Did I say that I knew you? Maybe you could give me the reference for that."
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More than once to a degree, yes.

"FYI, I grew up with a person with the same personality and views as you so I understand a bit about what pleases you"

"further proof that the person I grew up with is just like you - you may be that person"

I see right through you RAF. And I can read just fine.

I think you might just be the guy that myviews2 has talked about.

So how do you feel about UPS / FedEx using the USPS as their home delivery service? That has happened fairly frequently with some of my lighter weight orders lately. I assume this reduces costs for the private carriers and brings up revenue/profits for the USPS. Good idea? It does delay the delivery by a day or so I believe. This could possibly be beneficial to the USPS so that may not be what you want.
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Have you given any thought to what the private delivery services would do for some of the outlying areas of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah.....pretty sparsely populated. Would the government need to mandate that these area be serviced by the delivery services if the USPS goes away? Or do we just let the people out there do the best they can on their own? I can't imagine a business plan that would give them regular mail service for less than we now pay for first class mail. Solution? Remember, if we drain off the most profitable portion of the USPS, it will cause more stress on keeping the USPS viable and they may just disappear. And have you noticed the amount of money that FedEx and UPS have contributed to the lawmakers? Wonder why they would do that.......
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Did I say that I knew you? Maybe you could give me the reference for that.

Yes you are easily confused. Do you remember your posed question to me? As I said in my answer to that question " your what if and 3 choices are hardly the only choice(s)". I never declared the usps should close down nor did I say I want it to tank. On the other hand I am not in favor of another GSE that will cost money now or later in some kind of bailout; look up fannie and freddie for a clue and the postal service is approaching the same http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal...

Ignoring the fact the same services could still be made by others completely negates the idea that people could not receive home services. But you would have known that if you knew me as much as you declared you did.

You seem to confuse me pretty easily RAF. So the first class mail is where the USPS makes the most money and you want to farm that out to a private agency that will charge who knows what but that is not relevant to you apparently. This should tank the USPS, right? When you destroy the postal service (along with destroying other government agencies) and turn the delivery over to UPS, Fed-Ex, Just-Call-Me-Bonded Delivery “We deliver piping hot pizzas, airplane carburetors and your absentee ballots within two business days” services, etc. and then the delivery prices sky-rocket and the quality of service tanks, what do you do then? Restart the USPS? And what are you really accomplishing by going this route anyway? How much tax money has the USPS cost you in the last 45 years? Do you think a delivery service will stop at your house to pick up a letter and deliver it the next day for 46 cents or less? Was the highly paid delivery person you know a union person? Are you a delivery person?

4

"you would like to see the postal service shut down"
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Another example of a disciple that can't read.

So RAF, you would like to see the postal service shut down. It's so sad to see you think that way.

"You do want to have absentee ballots delivered by private agencies with minimum wage workers."
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I do? Where did I say that? If you are asking if I am opposed to non GSA firms doing deliveries of any type, the answer would be no. Please explain what that has to do with a wage you predict these people make. Last guy I talked with that delivered sensitive materials where I work made well beyond minimum wage, just wondering where your guess or knowledge of this came from.

ahh, I see. You do want to have absentee ballots delivered by private agencies with minimum wage workers. Wouldn't you worry about voter fraud by doing that? I didn't know that all of these people were bonded but that may explain the propeller in my paper box the other day.

4

myviews based on your question and response to my answer, the question I asked was very appropriate.

Your declaration of not wanting your important information handled by any service but the USPS, your childlike phrasing "Jotter delivery type person, a newspaper delivery type person, a pizza delivery type person", is not only degrading to those in the delivery business it is absent of knowledge on their abilities and service. The services you rudely think of are also the services that handle important and sensitive items for the state and federal government. Their licensed and bonded delivery service that currently handle everything from state department documents to sensitive aircraft parts have a stunning record. Then again a person that follows others and doesn't think for them self would ignore this capability and think a simple ballot is beyond their ability; regardless of the point by law only the usps can deliver ballots at this point.

RAF - I feel that I still owe you an answer to your question also, but would you mind restating it so I can see the relevance to the USPS budget problems, the value and security of the postal service, reduction in postal services, absentee ballots, some wanting to shut down the postal service completely, etc.? You know...something along the lines of what this article and other posts have been about. I want to answer in the right context. So far what I see is the following:

“myviews and” concernedperson “answer this question, which of the following are you?
1. You are a disciple.
2. You cant think for yourself.
3. You enjoy blindly following others.

Step up it is a simple question, takes a simple answer. "A simple one number answer will suffice so don't spend a lot of time on this."”

Thank you in advance.

CONcerndless, why can't you simply just answer the question? It is a pretty simple, straight forward question. You probably won't answer the question because you don't like the answer.

Yes, RAF, laws can always be changed. We can get rid of the postal service and privatize it so that it will cost even more to ship and to mail things. Just what the Republicans want. That is what Republicans want, everything to be privatized.

RAF: Please do not ever complain about others on the blogs who do not answer questions. You have chosen to do the same and not answer questions. We know where you stand since you did not answer questions on this article.

Mouse.......Your analogy makes no sense--which I guess should not be a surprise at this point. Whether or not we should concentrate on new technology should be dependent on how efficient and how effective that technology is. The so called "high speed rail" that you allude to would most likely be used by under 10% of the state's population and end up costing the entire population a minimum of $5 million a year, every year to keep operational. An estimated 70% of households currently have internet access. An advantage of that access is the ability to take care of what was once done though the USPS for free. Advancements such as the internet and fax machines have made USPS obsolete in all but a few situations. I realize that there will always be a need to have the service available, but I can easily see it scaled WAY back as technology continues to make it less and less viable.

Mouse you can fund any train you want...

For the uninformed ballots are sent via first class mail; in this country first class mail can only be sent by the postal service due to existing law. Hint, laws can always be changed.

916WI: It's like this. There are many, many people who cannot afford a computer or internet. Senior citizens for the most part use the USPS. In Washington and Oregon, that is how people vote. Absentee ballots are a must. How do you think people receive them? Via the USPS. The USPS will always be a necessity.

I honestly can't see the point of the USPS anymore. With the advent of e-mail and on-line billing, I can't believe there hasn't been a call to seriously reduce the size of the organization. Every transaction I make is done on-line. The last thing of any importance that actually came in my mailbox was a month and a half ago--it was a replacement credit card because I lost the original.......

On a previous blog a couple months ago, RAF, you accused someone of not answering questions. Well, RAF, the same applies to you. LOL

Seriously CONcerndless, is that the only answer you can come up with? Why can't you simply just answer the question? It is a pretty simple, straight forward question. You probably won't answer the question because you don't like the answer.

There is NO LOGICAL REASON for funding 75 yrs. of retirement benefits in 10 yrs.

oops..before the spelling police come after me. serious

Zoom.....Are you certain you want to ask these posters a seriuos question? I believe they are stuck in the "I am right and your are a turd" mode, not able to put real thought in anything they are posting. Very sad......

What is the argument FOR funding 75 years of retirement benefits in 10 years?

When RAF resorts to namecalling he knows he lost the debate.

Sorry, RAF, but I do think for myself. And that is what your problem is with me. I do not just blindly follow you, RAF. You are fine with those who follow your garble.

Most of the people do not want post offices closed or postal workers to lose their jobs. The postal service is the most reasonable way to go. Why should UPS take small packages and then have the USPS ship them? Just take your packages to the USPS in the beginning.

So, RAF, are you against the postal workers or for them?

I read the article RAF - please send me a Christmas card first class so you can support the cause.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/w...

RAF - "Now if you want to discuss the issue(s) in a rational manner step up." I would but then you would want to interject non-relevant and nonsensical questions and comments and then it would go to name calling and we would be right back here. So this time, since we are here already, I thought I would just join you at the bottom. Do you really have a vinyl bomber jacket? Pretty retro......
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You go first.....

See, you don't want to answer a dumb question with a select answer either. What was that about knowing who I was?

Now if you want to discuss the issue(s) in a rational manner step up.

RAF - I asked first so you go first..

myviews and CONcerndless answer this question, which of the following are you?

1. You are a disciple.
2. You cant think for yourself.
3. You enjoy blindly following others.

Step up it is a simple question, takes a simple answer. "A simple one number answer will suffice so don't spend a lot of time on this."

You have lost this debate, RAF. Everyone sees that you do not want to answer a question when it is not in your best interests. Myviews has you boxed into a corner. You can't have everything YOUR WAY.

further proof that the person I grew up with is just like you - you may be that person :)

Your style of response/non-response is so predictable!

Typical disciple...echoing of others with no original thoughts of your own.

Seriously RAF, is that the only answer you can come up with? Why can't you simply just answer the question? It is a pretty simple, straight forward question. You probably won't answer the question because you don't like the answer.

myviews your what if and 3 choices are hardly the only choice(s) or reality as of right now.

So RAF, when you get over your ROLFing gig, will you answer me a simple question:
If the quality of the postal service is dramatically reduced or the USPS is eliminated as some on here advocate, will it make absentee voting:
1. Easier
2. No difference
3. More difficult
A simple one number answer will suffice so don't spend a lot of time on this.

Voter suppression. ROFL...

It is a Republican who proposed this crap in the beginning, nonetheless. Too bad a record was not kept of their vote. Why wasn't it kept?

RAF: You have not proven a thing. People are able to use their brains to see through you. And I will agree with myviews2, that what was done is wrong, wrong, wrong, no matter the political party.

And, by the way, RAF, what myviews2 supplied for the readers of this comment section is not "supposition" though you would like to believe that.

This is voter suppression of the highest order. We cannot and must not lay off 120,000 postal employees. That would be utter nonsense and devastation for our nation. Most people realize this, RAF, why can't you?

RAF – I reviewed these sites before you posted the links but thanks anyway. I guess you are objecting to my usage of the word “vote” with unanimous consent. If it makes your day then I agree with you on this. (An FYI, I grew up with a person with the same personality and views as you so I understand a bit about what pleases you so I will admit that I make mistakes unlike you and your ilk. Feel like a superior genius now? Good – now we can move on). I do hold all who allowed this to happen as effectively voting for it and I covered that with my statement “Stupid is stupid and negligent is negligent no matter what the party.”

Interesting supposition myviews. During that session of congress the bill was first introduced Jan 4th 2005, http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd...

After all the wranglings, agreements and amendments the final version passed through in december 2006, http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd...

If you need help understanding unanimous consent passage in the senate, when there is NO opposition to passage let me know; I will gladly provide a link for you to read.

This is voter suppression. This is the Republican agenda: to do as much as possible to discourage people from voting.

Well, RAF, I guess Myviews2 gave you an answer to your post of 11:12 a.m. Sept. 29. I might add that it was well articulated and well thought out too, as compared to what I am seeing from you lately. I can believe and so can others. Save the postal workers! We don't need more layoffs in this nation.

- Was this passed by the lame duck congress in 2006? Yes
- Who controlled that lame duck congress? Republicans - they set the agenda
- Is it an anti-USPS anti-worker law? Most definitely – what is the purpose of funding 75 years of pension over the next 10 years. Do you fund all of you retirement needs in 10 years?
- Was the vote recorded? No - so we don't know how many actually voted for this and from what party but we do know the Republicans were still in charge of the house and Senate.
- Were Democrats complicit or negligent in this? Yes, as there were two Democratic sponsors to this bill and obviously a unanimous consent vote in the Senate. Stupid is stupid and negligent is negligent no matter what the party.
- Can it now be fixed with no cost to the taxpayers and can we keep the USPS viable along with decent paying jobs? Yes, so why not do it?
- Do I want my tax returns, social security information and checks, payroll information, pension information, medical records, ABSENTEE BALLOT (voting in Washington and Oregon is conducted entirely by mail), and a host of other important information handled by a Jotter delivery type person, a newspaper delivery type person, a pizza delivery type person all making minimum wage so the job is not really that important to them? Not a chance. It may be cheaper but it has even less value and could be very damaging.

Thanks for the answer mouse.

mouse with all your hate filled rants why is it your are questioning other for doing what you do?

concerned...READ the facts! 2 of the 3 sponsors of the bill were DEmOCRATS! So if the Dems didn't want the bill why did they sponsor it?

Hey PEOPLE! This Post Office debacle is another phony crisis. If we let the Republicans take it away, how much do you think it will cost to maintain your mailbox? If it were not for the '06 Republican lame duck Congress, the Post Office would have turned a PROFIT last year, and they use NO Fed or tax money. 120,000 American jobs are at stake. Ask Paul Ryan how he stands on this issue.

IMO we should sunset usps or let them go bankrupt and end the natural way. Why does our country continue to support such obsolescence?

RAF

1-thanks for your service

2-I didnt realize there were 410 republicans in the house when the original bill passed? Neither did Concerned person!

well done. Facts are the enemy of "truth".

For the partisan ignorant (disciples) that believe the original bill the postal workers are hoping to change was rammed through by one side of the isle, as is always the case, the truth is a vastly different story. The original bill passed the house 410-20 and passed the senate with unanimous consent.

for information on the current staffing in the usps go to minot daily news and join up, and look in archives at postal politics, also the grand forks herald had an artical called the mail must go throught by ryan bakken in his collumn in jan of 2009 about the atttrition issue. IN the revolutionary war, many were called to sacrifice for the sake of freedom in our country, in 1917 collective bargaining came in to being becasue congress would not listen to postal workers concerns, this has been ongoing to 1970 as well, they are not allowed to strike and now must endure perhaps the final insult,by congress, made to prefund, loose workers to retirement and not have them replaced, and yet told they are going broke because they have paid in and now can not make another payment that no company would do in these times anyway. Somehow the voice of reason is missing and must be reflected back by the very postal workers they want to blame , instead of taking responsiblity for the paea actions.

in 2006 the postal accountabilty and enhancement act was passed, with that postal office across the land had a change in direction of management within the usps, for information on how that effected the working enviorment of usps workers everywhere you can go to the tricounty frist area local awpu 3800 and look up library and read the stress in the workplace artical by clerk joy goldberg , copywritten in 2008. Before that most office were about friendly service . Most people do not know it is the us labor dept that is in charge of usps, and along with the paea act, understaffing resulted in the usps with attrition or retirement. That meant while funding for retirement at the same time postal employee's were essentially held accountible for loss by retirement and they were replaced, causing a heavier workload on employees, espeicaly in the letter carrier crafts. Essentially I have my knowledge due to the fact I had a spouse in the usps, for 16 years in 2006, who essentially went throught that in his office, of non replacement of retires and eventually got new hires in but did a last ditch effort in a grievance proceedure of removing one injured who had not worked for a year off the rolls, that was illegally denied and then illigal retaliation took place of removal of a casual newly trained in order so more staff could not be hired, at cost to the usps, even though the casual was cheaper, they took the casual away to put a nalc letter carrier in his place for doing collective bargaining and the resulting factor is he worked short handed for food drive illegally and died the next day after from may o6 to may o7 enduring a work situation that no one should have to endure. Essentially the paea is still causing massive problems in the usps, and becasue of this the usps is being looked at as a cash cow to take the prefunded amount and use it elsewhere, and cause the usps to go under, it can be stopped with the help of the H.R. 1351, instead of the issa bill that is put forth to attack collective bargaining right, and postalworkers benifits and also jobs. The USPS is the 2nd largest employer in the USA and no other company has to put in an account to prefund for workers not born or hired yet, the oxy moran of this situtiaon .

donnaw: THIS IS HOW IT WAS.

The lame duck Republican congress that lost their leadership in 2006, passed this and made the postal workers fully fund their pensions for the next 75 years and told them they had to get it done in 10 years.

Nothing fair about that, now was there?

This is another way for Republcians to get rid of unions, plain and simple. Repubs. had to get it done because they were afraid then that they were going to get a Democratic president.

Grandys: Here is the definition of "rally" from the dictionary. NOTICE THE WORD "PROTEST".

noun /ˈralē/ 
rallies, plural

1.A mass meeting of people making a political protest or showing support for a cause.

The post office is showing support for it's cause, but it is still a "protest" against what the postal employees feel is UNFAIR.

Protesting in front of Ryan's office will do no good anyway because Mr. Ryan does not listen. He has his own agenda and that is to further fill the pockets of his corporate donors. His agenda flies in the face of the postal workers or for any working class person in this nation. Corporate welfare at it's finest!

@concernedperson: "Republicans are against the postal service. Republicans are against all the working people, period".
@zoom: "To be more acurate, Republicans aren't against the Postal Service, as much as they are for private enterprise that will line their pockets".
You two simply can't be such simpletons to throw out such gross generalities. You're both kidding, right?????
And let me guess - the Democrats are for the little guy, right? And they supported Civil Rights too! Hahahahahahaha. Too funny.

concerned...the Postal Accountability Act was co-sponsored by 3 congressmen consisting of 2 DEMOCRATS and 1 Republican! It was passed in both chambers by a voice vote so there are no records of who voted for it or against it. You should get your facts straight before you blatantly blame the Repubs. But then that never stopped you before.

Junk mail will become less and less of a marketing tool due to data gathering sources like Facebook to target specific consumers online, at a very inexensive rate. The postal service unless it is changed will become less and less needed. Are we suppose to continue to prop up something that loses money when it's usefulness is not what it once was? Sadly since it is part of government it looks like we will.

I own a business that uses the USPS for a lot of shipments - hundreds of parcels every month. If they stop Saturday delivery, it's one less reason to consider using them over UPS. I can say for a fact that they will lose a fair amount of my business if Saturday delivery is no longer a tick on the side of the USPS in the USPS vs. UPS comparison.

Just curious, the guys in the picture, did they just stop long enough to get their picture taken? When the Rock Patriots hosted politicians of every stripe before the primaries, in the grassy area in front of the Milton St post office, where such rallies have been held for over a year, we were told that d/t complaints by Supervisor **** *** of the post office, we had to keep moving. Dedicated citizens and candidates literally hokey pokey'd to get the info they came for. Hope the same rules applied here. After all, we were blocking nothing at all with our rally. tho I guess we all should be grateful. This supervisor did more to unify us than anyone else. Also landed us a choice piece of property to use!

for the junk mail haters, if you read previous stories, the post office cant stop the junk mail. if that were to happen you wouldnt get mailed delivered to your street address, this mail is what pays for the gas to get it there . the po is only required to give you free delivery , they can however give you a free po box and you can drive their and get your mail on your own money .

What's Larry David doing in Janesville?

To be more acurate, Republicans aren't against the Postal Service, as much as they are for private enterprise that will line their pockets.

Zoom: The truth of the matter is that the Republicans got the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act through back in 2006, which is now hurting the Postal Service bigtime. Republicans are against the postal service. Republicans are against all the working people, period.

As far as I'm concerned they can deliver twice-a-week.

concernedperson, the USPS hasn't cost taxpayers a dime.

The real problem is that it's run by a Congress that can't seem to get anything done.

It's a good thing more people aren't like me. I'm the kind of guy that goes out of his way to stop junk mail at my house. Every single piece of mail I have no use for (credit cards, insurance, magazines, etc.) I go to the website of the comapany that sent it and send them a message asking me to take me off their mailing list. I started doing this in the spring and I rarely get anything anymore maybe 5-10 pieces of mail a week. Seriously those AT&T, Charter, and Credit Card ones were getting out of hand.

Like I said if everyone was like me the Post Office would have to resort to Monday and Friday delivery only. If anyone else would like to know more about getting rid of their junk mail feel free to send me a message. I'm always willing to help when it comes to junk mail.

Give 'em hell boys!

Stop Saturday delivery regardless of the money situation...Those that want mail on Saturday can pay EXTRA for exclusive service.

H.R. 1351 has more than 200 cosponsors, including a few Republicans, and would allow pension overpayments to be put back toward the Postal Service.

Funding retiree benefits is good. Requiring one agency to fund retiree benefits so far into the future that they're funding the benefits of people who haven't been born yet, while not requiring other federal agencies, let alone private businesses, to do so is decent evidence that the knives are out for the Postal Service, that this isn't about legitimate concern for retirees but about killing off a public good.

I love snail mail but I hate junk mail...thought about saving it up for a few months and returning it to the post office as my way of protesting...

Stop saturday delivery

Eliminate pensions for all new hires-go to a defined contribution retirement plan

Charge more for junk mailers.

Today I received 7 peices of mail-6 were junk only 1 was a bill. The 6 peices were immediately shredded. The bill was paid online. I buy stamps once per year-to send holiday cards-otherwise forget it dont use the postal service.

That being said-the postal service is great! Travel anywhere globally and see the level of mail service and compare it to the US-no comparision. However, the USPS hemoraghing money. Its time for radical reduction including, the elimination of offices, personnel, and real estate.

Stop Saturday delivery, there is no need for it.

If the problem can be resolved without more layoffs in this nation and without costing taxpayers anymore money, I would support that. We really have had enough job loss in this nation. But I really wonder why the head postmaster in our nation thinks all of this is necessary? Maybe he knows more than we do.

"Postal Service employees are putting their hopes in H.R. 1351, a bill that would recalculate those pension repayments, putting the Postal Service back in the black".
Huh?!? If you don't like the results of the original calculation, just change the assumptions?!?
And btw, is it hoe or hue? "Recently, United States Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said that the Postal Service is facing an $8.3 billion budget deficit. Donahue said that increased use of email has led to a drop off in traditional mail.
Donahoe’s ideas..."
You say po-tah-toe....:)

A rally IS a protest.