Post office still the way to go for mail delivery

The Gazette's March 5 editorial “Postal service must compete better,” concludes with “Opening more of our mail delivery to private competition may well be the best remaining option.” No, it isn't. Stop spreading the anti-government, privatization-is-best nonsense.

You can choose a private option right now, so let's compare. If you want to send a letter by FedEx, the cheapest rate is $9.60 for three-day service (slower than the post office), plus $4 for home pickup (which the post office does for no extra charge) and $2.40 for delivery to a residential address (which the post office also does for no extra charge).

There you go. You can pay $16, or you can pay 44 cents. Do you think any private company would be willing to deliver a letter for less than $1?

I happen to think the post office is pretty efficient, more so than most people would like to admit. It gets a bad rap because so many people fib about when they put things in the mail and then blame the post office. It's a terrific bargain that provides an essential service in this country, especially for people who for one reason or another are not computer-savvy.

Carol Sheerling

Cedar Rapids