The United States Postal Service is running out of money to operate.
My dad was a postal clerk in Hamtramck, Michigan, zone 12,
Before the use of zip codes, yes I am that old,
Zip codes were enacted by the time I was eight.
One of the Postal branches in New York City has; neither snow…..,
Though, - the US Postal officially has no motto.
My dad went on a strike back when the US Postal System was run by the government,
It was called a wild cat strike,
He feared for his job but the union "wanted" him to strike for better pay,
I believe he was making $8.25 an hour,
while the auto workers were making $11.50 per hour or so,
But he had to compete as far as cost of living,
Then the US Postal Service became an independent an entity from government, sort of,
Then the parcel companies came in the; UPS, FedEx, DHL, (which folded in the US)
And later on the internet, emails were the final straw that broke the US Postal back,
Like dominoes, the printing of newspapers have succumbed to the eventuality,
That we are not in the 1950's anymore,
On line purchasing versus brick and mortar,
News on line that you can reach via your cell phone,
No need for postage stamps when send email,
Going Postal has nothing to do with it.
But like other corporations The US Postal Service will be bailed out,
Upon the trillions of dollars we have printed so far,
What's a billion or so, nothing new;
Except, the lingering IOU;
letter passed on to later generations,
"Postage Due."

(3-26-09)

Joe Rosochacki

http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/neither-rain-nor-snow-nor-sleet-nor-hail-shall-keep-the-postmen-from-their-appointed-rounds-but-the-lack-of-money-may/