Let the post office offer more, not less, service

True, the postal service is suffering heavy loss of mail volume, generally due to the wide use of email and banks taking care of utility bills. However, these losses could be replaced by profit with a little imagination.

What is wrong with the nation’s thousands of mail vehicles carrying advertising display signs? Millions of dollars could be gained by such a policy.

Further, there is much room in the larger offices for the sale of everything except prescriptions. Why not make use of this space for additional profit?

The USPS is broke because of an antiquated law that requires it to maintain billions of dollars for future retirements. Change the law, make full use of vehicle billboards and start having items for sale other than postage stamps.

If the postal service requires all patrons to pick up their mail at the curb or at the corner cluster box, millions of handicapped people could be severely inconvenienced.

Of course, this so-called saving would cause the layoff of about 50,000 carriers and other postal workers.

JAMES H. RADEMACHER
President Emeritus
National Association of Letter Carriers
ROANOKE

Weather Journal

4 hours ago

1. 41-vehicle wreck ties up traffic Sunday on I-81 in Rockbridge County 

2. Virginia Tech football roster has holes on picture day

3. Medicare penalties hit hospitals in Roanoke, New River Valleys

4. Microfestivus beer event gets downtown Roanoke hopping 

5. McFarling: 2 little numbers are a big hurdle for Virginia Tech football 

6. Arrest made in case of missing Nelson County teen

7. DAN CASEY: Copter cost still stirring up dust

8. Roanoke farmers markets making local foods more accessible

9. Virginia attorney general's office grows under Ken Cuccinelli 

10. Man's drowning is 5th in Lynchburg area