Now that the privatization people who caused our post office problems are not in the majority it is time to let our legislators know what we want and demand that we be treated fairly. We bailed out banks that caused our problems, saved the auto industry, but the post office that serves us daily, which has been voted the most trusted agency in government, crucial to people without transportation and bank accounts is being dismantled.

Hundreds of thousands of postal-related jobs will continue to be lost because of postal closings and cut backs. Even worse, our lives could be at stake. Planning exercises have been done in some major cities to be ready for an anthrax attack or other emergency, to ascertain how well postal workers respond quickly to a public health emergency. Mailing antidotes would take pressure off medical centers and service those without transportation. What would happen to rural America without post offices?

It’s time to hire creative, dedicated leadership and build up the post office with more convenient hours, provide broadband since 50% of our nation doesn’t have it and save the yearly 1 trillion in economic postal-related industries.

When a post office closes a town can lose its identity and often dies.

Joan Kern

North Branch, NY