You’ve Got Mail, Maybe?
No Me Digas. Op-Ed: Keith Price
Man, who knew that the post office would finally get the recognition of being something so vital to this country? It has certainly proven itself worthy during this pandemic, and it also is written into the Constitution.
I know that there are a few people who can also admit that they are torn when they see that orange, yellow, or green notice in your mailbox saying that you HAVE to pick up something AT the post office. Trepidation sets in followed by a Florida Evans “damn, damn, damn” moment.
Not to call out any specific post offices, per se, but there is ALWAYS a twisting line that moves too slowly because there are 15 service windows and only three are open. That experience has always been met with window clerks who do not have time for you because they are going on break. There has also been at least one discussion/argument that could be witnessed, especially at break time, that leaves you flabbergasted. Your behind would be fired if you spoke to your coworkers like that. However, you are also a little envious, too, because you have a few coworkers who could use a good public cussing out, but I digress.
Among my many jobs during the college years, I had a brief stint at the USPS. It was a 3-month temp gig. I worked in between that late evening shift into the early night shift. It was everything that you can imagine and some days, worse. I was tasked with catching the mail as it came popping out of those different slots of the sorting machines. The very same sorting machines that somehow have been completely decommissioned with no plan of immediate replacement. Was it stressful chasing mail? Yes, it was the weirdest version of Lucy and the Candy Line. I then graduated to bundle tossing. It was like playing hoops at the carnival, except if you missed the designated basket for the matching zip code, then you had to retrieve it and place it in the right one, thereby slowing up the bundle moments. I wonder how the mail will get sorted now, especially since there have been removals of simple mailboxes, to even get the mail to the post office. After that job, I understood the genesis of what it means to go postal.
Experiencing all of those challenging moments as a customer and an employee of the United States Postal Service, I can freely admit that the knee-capping of this agency in order to steal an election without any regard to its repercussions, is abominable. What is even more abominable? That we, as Americans, are watching this happen in front of our eyes and feel as if we have NO recourse as citizens. It is clear that our Justice Department, whose basic function is to protect and uphold the rights of our country, is compromised. Read into that what you will, but the fix is happening, and the call is coming from inside the house. So, what are we to do?
I keep asking this question and coming up without an answer.
It seemed very clear that confidence was running strong through the cabal of leaders who run the Republican party. Once they allegedly get their hands somewhere near those reportedly “hackable” voting machines, then it will be easy to fix the results. However, this pandemic and the full “mail-in” voting campaign changed everything. Anyone remotely looking at the trail of crazy can see it for what it is. It is a runaway train heading for the terminal while we stand in the station watching it head towards us. We need to show up and show out at the Attorney General’s office. We’ll ask him to explain what he thinks about this whole situation and get it on the record, because it may come in handy later. I am almost certain the answer will not have a lick of consideration for any of us concerned Americans. The current Postmaster General should be fired and tried for something like breaching election laws or treason. As Americans, we should be screaming for something to be done, and we are the very same Americans that pay their respective salaries.
It has been suggested that we send angry letters to the Board of Governors of the US Postal Service and demand them to take action. Look at them. There’s no wonder that Viagra is covered by insurance. These appear to be entitled white men who do not care about you, and what this is doing to the country. If you think they do, then please feel free to flood their email AND snail mail. Let them know that this is not cool. Perhaps they can keep the Postmaster General in check?
As we continue to fight for the soul of this country, we must do our best to circumvent the crazy placed in front of us and use whatever tools that are available to stop the insanity. If you are reading this, then you can do things like fill out the census online. The deadline for enumeration has been moved from the end of October to the end of September. I have my theories as to why (wink, wink). If you have not done it, please do it now, even if you fled your homes during the pandemic. Make sure you also register to vote. Getting counted will hopefully ensure more representation and money go to places that are fully accounted for, and voting up and down that ballot can shift the leadership responsible for all of the things that are suffocating our Democracy. I hope that we can stop infighting, too, and get focused on a real plan that includes all of us.
Fingers crossed.
