Bob;

The United States Post Office is an interesting entity. I would call it a monopoly and that is what it is. The Post Office sees fit to advertise on the media and support such activities as the Olympics and this costs money. Guess how they pay for such things? Why they just raise the postal rates to allow spending for whatever reason.

The Post Office has also gone into competition with small businesses that provide wrapping and shipping materials. Unless this has changed within recent days (which is possible) junk mail is subsidized by First Class postage – you know the postage rate we mere mortals pay.

Junk mail exists because of bureaucratic decisions involving business. According to the Post Office business must have a means of advertising to the general public. So 50% of the cost to mail junk mail is born by First Class mail.

It is a violation of existing postal laws for the delivery person to place any First Class mail inside of junk mail. However, many people I know including myself will find important first class mail inside of junk mail.

I would prefer to have business pay First Class postage rates. After all there is “no free lunch” but we help pay for the existence of junk mail every time we buy a First Class stamp.

By the way there have been several attempts in recent years by the United States Post Office to “own e-mail and on line payments”. The contention is that the Post Office looses business due to the non-regulatory aspects of the Internet. Do not be surprised if the Post Office one day “owns the Internet”. If that happens even in part it will be accomplished with our tax dollars.

I do not know how the Post Offices in the rest of the nation are operating these days. Here in Silicon Valley Post Offices were open on Saturday’s but most are now closed. The reason the Post Master gave me was, “Our employees are subjected to anthrax and we had to close facilities”. I suggested to the Post Master that, “It must be alright for postal patrons to get anthrax, but we must protect the postal workers”! The mail must get through - even with anthrax contamination .


Tom






>Marcia,
>
>Junk MAIL and Junk Email are in a different class. I NEVER complain about junk mail, it keeps the cost of postage down! I ALWAYS compalin about junk e-mail, it keeps my internet costs high.
>
>There are many ways to advertise and publicise things without pissing people off. I would never do it, even if I knew that everyone on the list REALLY put themselves on the list.
>
>Just becuase something is well targeted and SOME people who get it are interested doesn't make it OK, and doesn't make it NOT SPAM.
>
>Did you get any emails about buying the Mini RC Racer this year, what about the Electric Scotters? Were those emails SPAM? You did buy Holiday gifts, didn't you?
>
>BOb
>
>
>>-- If they went trolling around the UT or experts-exchange or wherever, than I would factor that into any decision to write them a check for their services. It wouldn't disqualify them automatically, but it would factor into the decision of which of the half dozen potential conferences I should spend money on this year.
>>
>>Then, I'm afraid that you would wind up missing all of the conferences this year. All of the conference organizers send e-mail to potential attendees.
>>
>>IMHO, this is a good thing. The first GLGDW (WhilFest) that I attended was because I got a post card from Whil advertizing the event. I had never heard of it and after getting that card, I asked around to see if it was a good value.
>>
>>I am so glad that I got that post card! If I hadn't, I would have missed one of the best VFP conferences I have ever attended.
>>
>>Essential Fox is a great value as well. I was at the first one last year, and Russ did a great job. As is typical in this community, Whil was right there helping Russ to make the conference a great success.
>>
>>Just my $.02