Mail service reduction would hurt economy

I write to correct a myth about the U.S. Postal Service. The majority of American people believe letter carriers' salaries come from tax dollars; this is not true. The USPS is self-supporting, funded entirely by postage revenues. No federal tax dollars support letter carrier operations, salaries or benefits.

Why does the letter carriers union oppose the change to five-day delivery? Millions of businesses and households rely on Saturday delivery. In fact, business in America operates 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Cutting service would be disruptive to many businesses, the elderly and those who live in rural areas who depend on the USPS for payments, correspondence, medications, etc. A reduction in work force, which now supports the economy with their salaries and pays federal taxes, would become part of the burden upon taxpayers.

Had the economy not spiraled downward, the USPS would not be running in the red. When you are trying to grow business and survive economic decline, you don't cut services.

I am the mother of a letter carrier and spouse of a retired letter carrier. Through it all, they make sure the mail is delivered six days a week, the way it should be.

Kathleen Miller

Tipton