# Trump attacking Amazon **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 1, 2018, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583 "2018-04-01T13:30:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/61 "2018-04-02T19:02:02Z")
Wait, the Post Office is a relic of the _Cold War_ era? You do realize that it’s older than the United States itself? And that the necessity of it was even included in the Constitution? Yes, a lot of its functions have been rendered obsolete, or close to it, by electronic communication, but there’s still plenty of demand for a service that moves stuff to people. Unless you’re saying that they just do a poor job at that service, in which case you have to contend with the fact that nobody else has ever been able to succeed at the same service the USPS provides, even at a much greater cost, and even without being sabotaged by vindictive politicians. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/62 "2018-04-02T19:10:24Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Or, to break it down to a more fundamental level, a major employer who provides decent pay and benefits poses a problem to a party that would prefer to push the middle class down the road to serfdom so that its wealthy patrons can have a world of cheap labor that has to put up with whatever the patrons care to dish out. Or put another way… Taxpayers and USPS employees are forced to pay for political activities they may not agree with. How would you feel if your union took $50 out of your paycheck every month and gave 25% of it to the Trump re-election campaign? Would you be happy knowing you are being forced to help Trump get re-elected as a condition of your employment? Given how union leaders have been aligning behind Trump, I’m guessing that this will start happening soon. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/63 "2018-04-02T19:14:25Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > Does “almost certainly” sound better? It sounds even more out-of-touch with reality. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/64 "2018-04-02T20:53:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Wait, the Post Office is a relic of the _Cold War_ era? You do realize that it’s older than the United States itself? Yes I do. They are and continue to be a relic of that era, in terms of the the outdated methods, equipment and unnecessary services they provide with wasteful inefficiency. The era of the 50s-60s was the last time period they were really relevant, doing a half-decent job. > [@Chronos](#): > > And that the necessity of it was even included in the Constitution? My aren’t you just a fountain of irrelevant historical facts? > [@Chronos](#): > > Yes, a lot of its functions have been rendered obsolete, or close to it, by electronic communication, but there’s still plenty of demand for a service that moves stuff to people. And the USPS has consistently demonstrated it’s inability to do that in any sort of efficient, cost-effective manner for decades. > [@Chronos](#): > > Unless you’re saying that they just do a poor job at that service, in which case you have to contend with the fact that nobody else has ever been able to succeed at the same service the USPS provides, even at a much greater cost,… Please provide one example of a service the USPS provides that is not now being done faster, better and/or and for less cost than the other players in the parcel delivery industry. > [@Chronos](#): > > …and even without being sabotaged by vindictive politicians. You’re gonna need to explain that one too. The government has been propping them up all along. Trump’s doing it now. Sheeesh. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/65 "2018-04-02T21:08:44Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > And the USPS has consistently demonstrated it’s inability to do that in any sort of efficient, cost-effective manner for decades. > > Please provide one example of a service the USPS provides that is not now being done faster, better and/or and for less cost than the other players in the parcel delivery industry. I can mail my IRS or mortgage check for 45 cents or so, and have close to 100% confidence it will arrive in a few days. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/66 "2018-04-02T21:14:07Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I can mail my IRS or mortgage check for 45 cents or so, and have close to 100% confidence it will arrive in a few days. This. And, if you want tracking, a registered letter, or such, it’s not tremendously more expensive. UPS and FedEx can’t come _close_ to that. Plus, I can mail something to, pretty much, every address in the U.S. for that amount. There are significant portions of rural America that aren’t cost-effective for private enterprise to service, and so, they actually subcontract with the USPS for the actual delivery. ---
**Author:** ![Jennshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Jennshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennshark)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/67 "2018-04-02T21:42:35Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Amazon stock has dropped–I gotta get to a broker. Oddly (or luckily - I think Amazon will go up again) I pulled out $10k of Amz stocks to fritter away on fun stuff. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/68 "2018-04-02T22:14:34Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I can mail my IRS or mortgage check for 45 cents or so, and have close to 100% confidence it will arrive in a few days. You should look into your bank’s bill pay service. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/69 "2018-04-02T22:16:39Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Plus, I can mail something to, pretty much, every address in the U.S. for that amount. There are significant portions of rural America that aren’t cost-effective for private enterprise to service, and so, they actually subcontract with the USPS for the actual delivery. These people will need to stop by the Fedex/UPS/DHL/whatever office on their way home to pick up stuff if they intend to continue receiving goods ordered online. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/70 "2018-04-02T22:18:28Z")
**BeenJammin** , if I repeat the same points that others in this thread have already made multiple times, will you read them this time? EDIT: > [@](#): > > These people will need to stop by the Fedex/UPS/DHL/whatever office on their way home to pick up stuff if they intend to continue receiving goods ordered online. And this is an improvement somehow? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/71 "2018-04-02T22:23:11Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Please provide one example of a service the USPS provides that is not now being done faster, better and/or and for less cost than the other players in the parcel delivery industry. Delivering mail to every single address in America. That’s not being done faster, better, or cheaper than any other “player” in the parcel delivery industry. What do I win? ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/72 "2018-04-02T22:35:07Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Delivering mail to every single address in America. This has been a bad idea for a long time. It is horribly expensive and inefficient. Do you know how rural postal carriers are paid? They are paid by the route, not the hour, mileage, volume of mail or anything else. Why? Because that is the way to do it LOSING the LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY on the service, driving all over the countryside delivering mostly JUNK MAIL. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/73 "2018-04-02T22:36:18Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > What do I win? Dunce Cap? :smack: ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/74 "2018-04-02T22:40:47Z")
You know, I don’t really give a fuck if the government turns a profit. IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO! It’s SUPPOSED to provide necessary services that AREN’T profitable because they are necessary but there’s no incentive for private industry to provide them. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/75 "2018-04-02T22:42:34Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > This has been a bad idea for a long time. It is horribly expensive and inefficient. Do you know how rural postal carriers are paid? They are paid by the route, not the hour, mileage, volume of mail or anything else. Why? Because that is the way to do it LOSING the LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY on the service, driving all over the countryside delivering mostly JUNK MAIL. What’s your solution? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/76 "2018-04-02T22:42:43Z")
So, by your own words, the USPS is doing it in the way that loses the least amount of money. Doesn’t that make them the most efficient? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/77 "2018-04-02T22:43:22Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > This has been a bad idea for a long time. That’s cool. I still answered your question. You, quite predictably, moved the goalpost. ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/78 "2018-04-02T22:53:46Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > You know, I don’t really give a fuck if the government turns a profit. IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO! It’s SUPPOSED to provide necessary services that AREN’T profitable because they are necessary but there’s no incentive for private industry to provide them. I don’t see where delivering junk mail to the end of a dirt road somewhere in the woods is a “necessary service.” ---
**Author:** ![BeenJammin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beenjammin/32/448_2.png) [@BeenJammin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeenJammin)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/79 "2018-04-02T22:54:57Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So, by your own words, the USPS is doing it in the way that loses the least amount of money. Doesn’t that make them the most efficient? Good point! To their credit they have been able to keep it going all these years with ingenious solutions that basically screw their employees. Doing dumb stuff, like delivering junk mail to the end of dirt roads in the middle of the woods. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2018, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583/80 "2018-04-02T23:03:08Z")
> [@BeenJammin](#): > > Good point! To their credit they have been able to keep it going all these years with ingenious solutions that basically screw their employees. > > Doing dumb stuff, like delivering junk mail to the end of dirt roads in the middle of the woods. 1. The junk mail is coming from a postal customer. Who pays for the service. 2. The wanted mail has to be delivered there anyway. The mailman has to go there so why not carry more revenue producing mail? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-attacking-amazon/811583.md?page=5)