Re: Government competition

["Norm" <normanmo@clark.net>]

On Thu, 10 Dec 1998 05:43:36 -0500, Steve Cohen wrote:

>> It has been suggested that governments should not be in direct competition
>> with private sector businesses.  I was wondering how the US Postal service
>> fits in with this view, particularly with respect to its agressive ads
>> comparing its priority mail service with FedEx, and UPS.
>>
>> Should the government shut down the post office?
>>
>> --Joe
>
>Although there is some tie-in still between the government and the post
>office, the United States Postal Service, is now, I believe, a corporation
>and not a branch of the government.  If the position of Postmaster General
>even exists anymore, its holder is no longer a member of the cabinet, I'm
>fairly certain.


     Actually it's still a federal agency, but it's what they call 'off
budget'.  What this means is that its' budget isn't considered part of
the 'federal budget' (albeit any profit made by the USPS goes back into
the general fund) and its' managerial hierarchy is somewhat autonomous.
 The PMG position still exists though, and a matter of fact a new one
was appointed (he's appointed by a 'Board of Governors') just a couple
of months ago.

--
 ...Cheers,

 ...Norm

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