In a recent letter, a U.S.Postal Service employee made some outrageous claims about the service provided by his employer, comparing it favorably to UPS and FedEx. This was done as an example of how the federal government might also do well as a provider of medical services. Inever thought I would find an American citizen who would offer the Post Office as an example of excellent service by the government, but there you go. As a freight pilot who has worked under contract to both FedEx and UPS for over 20 years, and as a customer of all three, perhaps Ican shed some light on the absurdity of his claims.

First, he claims that the Postal Service will deliver anywhere, even where UPS and FedEx will not because of lack of profitability. Interesting claim since, as a resident of Solen, the Post Office refuses to deliver my mail at all. Iam forced to pay several dollars a month to rent a box at the office that won't even fit a standard 9x12 envelope, while the rural residents have their mail delivered free of charge.

In contrast to this, both UPS and FedEx routinely deliver packages directly to my door more than 40 miles out of town.

The difference in cost to the customer that Imentioned above is typical of government services. A P.O. box at the Post Office is a one-time expense to build the boxes, yet is charged for annually in perpetuity. Delivery to those on a route is an ongoing expense, yet they are not charged for that service. The cost of the ongoing expense is subsidized by the continuing payments for the one-time expense. This kind of absurd cost transfer will end up in the health care system as well.

The Post Office enjoys a government-protected monopoly in the business of first-class mail. When they tried to compete against private business in the area of guaranteed overnight delivery, they failed and had to abandon that service.

The government is never a better provider of services than private business, and the U.S. Postal Service, where they have competition, is a perfect example of that. We need to get government out of the business of medical care, not deeper into it.