“If the post office was a private company, it would have been bankrupt a long time ago.” This sentiment, echoing Elon Musk’s view, highlights the financial struggles of the United States Postal Service.
In a recent discussion on Newsmax’s “Carl Higbie FRONTLINE,” Carl Higbie and former Trump attorney Christina Bobb explored potential solutions, focusing on whether private sector strategies could rescue the USPS and Amtrak from their ongoing deficits. Could privatization be the answer, or are there other ways to address the systemic inefficiencies plaguing these institutions?
Video summary generated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
The Postal Service’s Financial Crisis
The Postal Service has faced financial losses since 2007. These losses are not small. In 2022, the net loss was $950 million. In 2023, it ballooned to $6.5 billion. Even more surprising, they hired 80,000 people last year, with losses totaling $9.5 billion. How can an organization lose more money as it hires more people?
Christina Bobb pointed out that the Postal Service operates on a “1970s at best model.” Today, people communicate in different ways. The volume of mail has decreased. So, is the USPS adapting to the modern era? How many of us lose our stamps before we even get a chance to use them?
Can you trust the Post Office? Carl Higbie jokingly challenged listeners to mail $10,000 to themselves. Would it arrive? This raises questions about the reliability of mail delivery, especially when it comes to important items like ballots.
Privatization: A Possible Solution?
Elon Musk has suggested privatizing the Postal Service. Christina Bobb agrees with Musk. She believes that 80% of Americans feel the same way. But is privatization even possible?
Christina Bobb explained that there are constitutional issues that could prevent complete privatization. However, some services could be parsed out to private companies like FedEx and UPS. These companies already handle mail. So, there are ways to make changes without fully privatizing the USPS.
The private sector has incentives that could be applied to government positions. This could improve efficiency. For example, the $9.5 billion loss from the Postal Service could be examined. Where is that money going?
Amazon’s Role in USPS Losses
A closer look at USPS contracts is needed. How much taxpayer money goes to Amazon deliveries? Are taxpayers subsidizing Amazon shareholders? Implementing private sector changes could benefit these government programs.
Amtrak’s Financial Troubles
Amtrak is also struggling. Last year, Amtrak lost $705 million. Can any private company sustain those losses year after year? On Amtrak trips, one might see an employee microwaving a hot dog. That employee receives union benefits and a $70,000 salary. Are there ways to cut back on spending?
Amtrak needs to reassess its contracts, maintenance costs, and hiring practices. Are taxpayers getting what they pay for? The answer may be no.
Corporate America’s DEI Shift
Big corporations are seemingly following the Federal government’s lead. Disney laid off DEI employees. ABC shut down its polling group, 538. BlackRock ended its DEI programs. JP Morgan Chase’s CEO wants employees back in the office.
These changes happened soon after Trump won. Were corporations prepared for a Trump win? Did they have an alternative plan? Rewriting HR policies takes months. It appears that the American public pushed back against DEI initiatives. Companies are now catering to their customers. They are acknowledging the need to cater to those who pay their bills.
Hunter Biden’s Lawsuit
Hunter Biden filed a lawsuit. He now wants it dismissed because of his financial troubles. The lawsuit was against a former White House aide over the laptop. Some say the lawsuit was designed to cause pain. It didn’t work. Now, they are stuck. Should they go all the way? Should he pay?
Conclusion
The Postal Service and Amtrak face significant financial challenges. Privatization and private sector solutions may offer a path forward. Scrutinizing contracts, reassessing business models, and incentivizing efficiency could lead to improvements. What are your thoughts on privatizing the Postal Service? Share your opinions in the comments below.
Thank you to Christina Bobb for her valuable insights.
