I'll just re-post my answer to your last "why is the post office in trouble" question:
The United States Postal Service, an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States is O. of the few government agencies explicitly authorized by the United States Constitution. (CONSTITUTION, anyone?)
And yet....
Many might be surprised to learn that the U.S. Postal Service is not in financial trouble. It isn’t in debt or losing money. Some would probably be shocked to learn that it costs taxpayers exactly zero dollars, as it is and has always been a self sustaining enterprise. The trouble miring our beloved Postal Service is the disfavor of a pro-corporate anti-government (when it is convenient) political party. Indeed the Postal Service’s problems are rooted in purely political machinations.
In 2006, the lame duck Republican-controlled Congress passed the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, requiring the U.S. Mail to pre-fund its retirement health care benefit account 75 years ahead of time. This is the only Federal Agency saddled with this requirement. Indeed the Postal Service is pre-funding retirement benefits for employees it hasn’t even hired yet. Why can’t the service simply raise its rates to pay for this burden? The Act also restricts the USPS from increasing its rates. How’s that for good business sense?
As O. might imagine, the USPS is objecting to this, and says its upcoming 5.5 billion dollar health fund payment might just be O. delivery it has to make late. Late, as in not early. Instantly some Republicans have seized on the issue they created and have begun to suggest that the Postal Service cut services and lay off workers. This is a strange recommendation for politicians who came into office on a job creation platform. But then, postal workers are guilty of a mortal sin, they’re unionized! The American economy is just now recovering from a devastating recession caused, at least in part, by short sighted Republican policies. Now they’ve burdened our mail service with a unique requirement and are using that requirement to call for reduced services and layoffs.
Right on cue are the additional suggestions that the Postal Service be done away entirely, since it isn’t running efficiently, and allow private corporations to deliver our mail. This would, of course, precede the privatization of our schools, prisons, and military. O. might come to the conclusion that privatization of our mail service was in mind when the 2006 Act was passed in the first place: place unworkable requirements on the agency and watch it crumble.
The U.S. Postal Service is run efficiently and without any burden to the American taxpayer. It is the largest employer of military veterans. It is a Godsend for mom and pop businesses all over the country, not to mention the average person wishing to send a letter. The Service has a proud history and shouldn’t fall victim to the political maneuverings of a political party.
(J., Keep in mind, many post office buildings were built during the New Deal in the 30's sooooooo...that make a lot of the buildings 80+ years old. When it's time, it's time. It's also an issue of function, service and convenience.)