Post by connielee on Mar 14, 2010 0:21:48 GMT -5
In this cartoon, we see the quote “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” on the building named the “Post Office”. The words “except on Saturdays” are added into the quote with a carrot right after the word “completion”. We also see a man on the sidewalk with a letter in hand staring at the building. In the street we see a person in a car putting mail in the mailbox. The cartoonist is showing that the post office is changing by showing the change in their motto (though that is not the official motto of the US Postal Service).
If post offices were to close on Saturdays, not many people would be upset due to the increase in electronic communication. From 2008 to 2009, the volume of mail has decreased by 26 million pieces. This, in addition to other factors such as type of mail being sent and rising cost of gas, has cost a 3.8 billion dollar debt. What is even more terrible is the projected loss for this year: 7 billion dollars. In an average week’s worth of mail, only a few letters are actually important, the bills and statements. Everything else is either advertisement or junk mail. You can even receive paperless statements and pay your bills on-line. Very few people write letters or send cards anymore since this is easily replaced by e-mail and even e-cards. Without postal services on Saturday, letters would just accumulate over to Monday which, for many people, isn't a problem
