Asked my mailman how he is going to cast his vote. Got more than I asked in return

[dogknob]

He seemed to have faith in vote-by-mail. Then, in a "I shouldn't tell you this, but..." moment...

HE TOLD ME THAT THE GOVERNMENT COVID-19 UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS HAVE BEEN PAID FOR BY TAKING $$$ FROM THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE'S FUNDING!

WTF??? They raided the USPS to pay for the stimulus? He says yes.

Talk to your mail carrier if you get a chance and see if you can corroborate this.

[captain queeg]

1. I wouldn't be surprised if they raided the postal service pension fund

I believe theirs is separate from other federal employees. I don’t know that for sure but the postal service pension obligations are supposed to be part of the reason the postal service is suffering financially. A few years ago they passed a law that it must be fully funded so the USPS had to raise its rates a lot. If the govt then turned around and treated it like a piggy bank that would be terrible but I wouldn’t be surprised.

I think there is a real crisis looming with pensions in general, both public and private. And we’ve all heard about coming shortfalls in SS. I’m retired and getting SS which is my biggest source of income so I worry about it but try not to dwell on it. There’s nothing I can do beyond living frugally.

[Buns_of_Fire]

3. We're both thinking along the same track, I see.

Yes, congress forced them to pre-fund their pension obligations some 75 years into the future. They're having to set aside money for employees who haven't even been born yet.

[True Blue American]

6. Darryl Issa

Last edited Sun Aug 2, 2020, 06:03 PM - Edit history (1)

Owned stock in a company, wanted them to compete with the PO. If I remember right it was Office Depot. Democrats have tried ever since to get the 75 year funding repealed.

Now Trump and his flunky are trying to privatize it. Trump hates anything good.

[Rebl2]

5. It is separate

When Bush administration made p.o. fund 75 years into the future I figured it was a slush fund for them to pay for the war. Now it’s being used in a different way. Anyway that is what I think. What company would fund 75 years into the future? None.

[True Blue American]

7. A Darryl Issa bill

Voters voted him out, now he is running in another District.

[Scarsdale]

11. Did he run out of buildings

to burn for the insurance? Vile, repulsive "man".

[True Blue American]

22. Used car theft, too

Him and his brother.

[Scarsdale]

23. Great member of the gop.

He couldn't run on the (D) ticket, they would not approve of his morals and ethics. The scummier they are, the more welcome they are in the gop. The party of crooks.

[Scruffy1]

13. It's not true.

The USPS pension and health benefits are administered by Benefeds which is the federal employee program for employees. This means that payroll pension deductions and the health iinsurance actually go into the federal pot and that these funds are fully backed by the "faith and credit" of the US government. The federal Ofice of Personnel Management issues my tiny pension check. By the way they are Letter Carriers not mail men and members of the NALC for the most part. Of course, they gave been hiring mainly temps for the last several years and they get no benefits. The USPS has been independent and self funded for since 1973 and yet most people don't seem to know this. The prefunding requirement was put into place under the Shrub and it is the only member of Benefeds to be required a 75 year prefunding for retiree health insurance funding. I would certainly recommend that people "believing" shit and learn how to verify information from any source including MSM. As soon as I hear the words "I believe" I generally discount anything said after the phrase and about the here BS from the mentally lazy or crazy.

[Drahthaardogs]

16. The federal TSP was already raided by Bush to fight his war

That is the federal 401K. Think about that for a second. They took their 401K. Not a pension, but their personal 401K.

There has been an IOU for years.

[Buns_of_Fire]

2. I thought the USPS was self-funding, these days.

It wouldn't surprise me if RumpCo was skimming from the pension fund, though.

[dogknob]

4. Like I said. Talk to your mail carrier...

I just asked about voting and he volunteered this info. I'm sure these people have some very real inside info and opinions about it.

[Scruffy1]

15. These days started in 1973.

Even I had no grey hairs then.

[A HERETIC I AM]

8. I would take that with a grain of salt.

Sounds like something out of the rumor mill, frankly.

I'm in no position to know for certain either way, but the USPS is like any other large organization, in that rumors can start easily and spread quickly.

[deancr]

9. pre-funding postal retiree healthcare

It's not the pensions that the postal service has to pre-fund for 75 years, but the retiree health benefits. The pension is the same as other federal employees. https://about.usps.com/who-we-are/financials/annual-reports/fy2010/ar2010_4_002.htm
The end result is the same-kill the PO and give the profitable parts to the economic barbarians.

[lastlib]

10. Privatize the profits, socialize the losses.

The corporate right-wing MO.

[ms liberty]

12. When the GOP passed that lame duck bill in 06, this is what I expected

Why else would they make the USPS collect and hold all that money if they weren't going to steal it all? They've done it with social security, and pension funds are being raided by companies all over the country. It gave the repukes ideas.

[Hortensis]

14. Googling does not find any discussion. Likely an untrue rumor.

It would make sense that requiring the USPS to cut back on services would generate internal suspicions that funding is disappearing, fueled by fears among postal workers for their jobs.

But investigative journalists are all over this administration. Don't ask your carrier who spends his days on the streets -- watch information sources whose days are spent uncovering things like this.

We know the anti-progressivism forces determined to destroy our big government service programs believe their time has come for the USPS, a primary target.

We also know the Trump admin would steal and divert anything they could get their hands on. But could they get their hands on USPS funds, even with their own criminal in charge? This administration has been an education in the corrupt things criminals with the best will in the world have not been able to do because our institutions were structured to prevent them, and of course about finding holes that need to be filled with prevention.

“Social Security and the Postal Service are the face of the American government.” They are both beloved. They both work extremely well for the American people.” Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works.

To convince people to let go without fighting, the Republicans first have to destroy belief that what remains of them is worth saving.

[USALiberal]

17. You need to research it, one postal worker is not a great source, post your research! nt

[GemDigger]

18. I think that is why the OP said

Talk to your mail carrier if you get a chance and see if you can corroborate this.

[gristy]

19. two postal workers a not so great resource either

Sounds like an unfounded rumor.

[GemDigger]

21. Unless that person is talking to only one or two of us on DU, I would agree.

There are thousands and thousands of us on DU.

[Lulu KC]

20. If you can do Twitter--

This is a long thread about the USPS going back in time. It is a complex topic, and I don't have the goods on it, but it seems this person does. @File411 does her homework!

Link to tweet