Politics The Postal Service, Voting, and Covid

[wizenheimer]

* "The U.S. Postal Service removed mail collection boxes in at least three states and is eliminating automatic letter-sorting machines that speed delivery ahead of an expected surge of mail-in ballots in the Nov. 3 elections.


As the Postal Service began to dismantle its own process for speedy mail delivery, it sent a letter to 46 states warning that voters could be disenfranchised because their mail-in ballots may not be delivered in time to make vote deadlines, The Washington Post reported Friday. Some states are quickly moving up deadlines, forcing voters to request or cast ballots sooner.


The startling actions appear to support accusations by Democratic lawmakers and voting rights groups that Postal Service management — now headed by major Donald Trump contributor Louis DeJoy — is sabotaging mail delivery before Election Day.


The USPS has removed mailboxes in Oregon and Montana and in Manhattan. Trucks filled with the blue metal boxes alarmed Oregon residents in Portland, where four were removed, and Eugene (28 boxes) this week. A USPS spokesperson said they’re being removed because of “declining” mail volume, The Oregonian reported Thursday.

"The USPS is also currently eliminating 15% of mail sorting machines that have significantly speeded up mail processing. "


https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trum...ballot-louis-dejoy_n_5f36f7adc5b6959911e471de

 

[wizenheimer]

Never resisted it.


Just offered a suggestion as to how I think the future of voting should look like. Also during covid or a pandemic thats transferable in a similar way, I think my suggestion would work better than mail in, or in person.

What are any of our posts here gonna do to make it so that, people can vote easier? Lol

Edit Im not sure how the penguin got there but Im leaving it, cause he looks neat lol

hey man...sorry to come at you so hard

I'm pretty aggravated that trump and his corrupt party are doing everything they can to steal this election. In a time of a deadly pandemic, nothing makes more immediate sense than to make it voting by mail easy, safe, and accessible. It's in the best public interest in several different ways

problem is way too many people, who can see the crime being committed in real time (since it's so blatant and obvious) are not saying anything. There should be outrage and lots of it.

 

[Lanny]

There are a lot of disabled people ...some from war wounds who live in rural areas and rely on a mailbox to get meds and all sorts of things they need and many cannot drive to a wireless hotspot or even walk ...I think the travel to vote option is a bullshit idea...with a few miles of my place there are a few dozen homesteads with mailboxes...one person brings all their mail...not 24 people driving to the library or post office to get a gift coupon from Fred meyers....the whole idea that everyone has all this technology and access or even wireless access is not reasonable

I'm one of those people.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

hey man...sorry to come at you so hard

I'm pretty aggravated that trump and his corrupt party are doing everything they can to steal this election. In a time of a deadly pandemic, nothing makes more immediate sense than to make it voting by mail easy, safe, and accessible. It's in the best public interest in several different ways

problem is way too many people, who can see the crime being committed in real time (since it's so blatant and obvious) are not saying anything. There should be outrage and lots of it.

Well, I did say I didnt like it. Being angry on the internets not going to make much of a difference.

 

[Chris Craig]

it's happening all over the country....trump is killing the postal service:

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https://www.oregonlive.com/news/202...d-and-eugene-cites-declining-mail-volume.html


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https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/13/donald-trump-usps-post-office-election-funding

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LOL...."just routine actions"

Trump even openly admits he is trying to fix the election.

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[barfo]

Being angry on the internets not going to make much of a difference.

So you are saying our lives have no meaning.

barfo

 

[BigGameDamian]

 

[crandc]

Under pressure, post office agreed to stop removing mail boxes but will not replace those already removed.

Mail sorters cost millions of dollars. The ones removed have been not put into storage, they have been destroyed or taken to dumpsters. So if a court injunction stops removal they can't be quickly replaced. Sorters removed are in high population centers which have high mail volume and also trend Democratic.

Oh yes, cookies I sent Monday have not arrived and probably aren't good any more.

Nixon was an evil evil person but given a final choice of leave office or burn down the country he left office. For Trump the country doesn't exist except as background for him.

 

[theprunetang]

Under pressure, post office agreed to stop removing mail boxes but will not replace those already removed.

Mail sorters cost millions of dollars. The ones removed have been not put into storage, they have been destroyed or taken to dumpsters. So if a court injunction stops removal they can't be quickly replaced. Sorters removed are in high population centers which have high mail volume and also trend Democratic.

Oh yes, cookies I sent Monday have not arrived and probably aren't good any more.

Nixon was an evil evil person but given a final choice of leave office or burn down the country he left office. For Trump the country doesn't exist except as background for him.

This is the most blatant attempt at fascism a president has ever attempted in this nation. I certainly hope that the people will stop it. I don't get my hopes up though after reading this site.

 

[Road Ratt]

Good to see.

 

[Chris Craig]

This is the most blatant attempt at fascism a president has ever attempted in this nation. I certainly hope that the people will stop it. I don't get my hopes up though after reading this site.

It is ridiculous that he can openly get away with this

 

[andalusian]

It is ridiculous that he can openly get away with this

If there is one good thing that the Trump presidency has brought to light is where things really need to fixed to limit the power grab of the executive branch.

 

[crandc]

It is ridiculous that he can openly get away with this

Because the Republicans decided tax cuts for the rich and hard right judges are all they care about. They enable everything he does no matter how corrupt, illegal, or damaging.

 

[wizenheimer]

Because the Republicans decided tax cuts for the rich and hard right judges are all they care about. They enable everything he does no matter how corrupt, illegal, or damaging.

it's also because the Senate is obsolete, unrepresentative, and undemocratic....just like the electoral college

the 2 million people of North Dakota, Alaska, and Wyoming have the same clout as the 51 million people of California, Washington, and Oregon. Oregon has twice as many people as those first 3 states but only 1/3 of the senators. (and yeah, I know, Texas vs Oregon)

 

[crandc]

it's also because the Senate is obsolete, unrepresentative, and undemocratic....just like the electoral college

the 2 million people of North Dakota, Alaska, and Wyoming have the same clout as the 51 million people of California, Washington, and Oregon. Oregon has twice as many people as those first 3 states but only 1/3 of the senators. (and yeah, I know, Texas vs Oregon)

At present half the population lives in 15 states and gets 30 senators. The other half spreads among 35 states and gets 70. But mid century 2/3 of the population will be in those 15, so 2/3 of the country gets 30 senators and 1/3 gets 70. And those states are older, whiter, more likely to be Christian as the overall percentage of Christians declines, and less likely to be college educated.

 

[julius]

it's also because the Senate is obsolete, unrepresentative, and undemocratic....just like the electoral college

the 2 million people of North Dakota, Alaska, and Wyoming have the same clout as the 51 million people of California, Washington, and Oregon. Oregon has twice as many people as those first 3 states but only 1/3 of the senators. (and yeah, I know, Texas vs Oregon)

The House gets their #'s based on population, I don't necessarily think the Senate should too. BUT...having a lot of Reps doesn't necessarily make it any better, as you have more people squabbling over stuff.

It potentially leads to a lot of deadlock.

The electoral college bites though.

 

[ABM]

Shoot, why don't they just raise the price of a postage stamp to, say, $1. I'd pay that. Instant shot in the arm.

 

[julius]

Shoot, why don't they just raise the price of a postage stamp to, say, $1. I'd pay that. Instant shot in the arm.

Because they (Trump, DeLoy or whatever his name is, GOP) want to dismantle it and split it off among their own companies so they can profit.

 

[wizenheimer]

At present half the population lives in 15 states and gets 30 senators. The other half spreads among 35 states and gets 70. But mid century 2/3 of the population will be in those 15, so 2/3 of the country gets 30 senators and 1/3 gets 70. And those states are older, whiter, more likely to be Christian as the overall percentage of Christians declines, and less likely to be college educated.

yep....like I said, the Senate is terribly obsolete and the opposite of representative democracy.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

yep....like I said, the Senate is terribly obsolete and the opposite of representative democracy.

Im not disagreeing but it’s a representative republic that we have not a democracy. States are somewhat democratic. The federal government is not and was never intended to be. Thats why I believe there should be far less federal, executive power over states and states should have more power to govern independently. I know thats not a popular take.

 

[wizenheimer]

States are somewhat democratic. The federal government is not and was never intended to be.

I don't care much about what it was "intended to be". It was intended there be slavery. It was intended that women couldn't vote. It was intended that treaties with Native American tribes be lies. It was intended that Japanese American be interned in WWII.

there have been a lot of evil and backward intentions by this nation, right from the beginning

But fortunately, we have the capacity to evolve. That's the process that added the Bill of Rights and 17 other amendments....because the original intentions were inadequate

that's why I'm saying the Senate, and the electoral college are obsolete....it's because the nation has evolved well past the 18th century agrarian culture where the senate made sense. It makes no sense any more as constructed.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I don't care much about what it was "intended to be". It was intended there be slavery. It was intended that women couldn't vote. It was intended that treaties with Native American tribes be lies. It was intended that Japanese American be interned in WWII.

there have been a lot of evil and backward intentions by this nation, right from the beginning

But fortunately, we have the capacity to evolve. That's the process that added the Bill of Rights and 17 other amendments....because the original intentions were inadequate

that's why I'm saying the Senate, and the electoral college are obsolete....it's because the nation has evolved well past the 18th century agrarian culture where the senate made sense. It makes no sense any more as constructed.

Ok so when I say that voting should evolve electronically, and that I think reform to the USPS over time would be good. You responded with its not relevant to an election in 10 weeks and mail in voting... So, just kinda giving you crap, but I was basically making the same argument that voting can and should eventually evolve, just like the senate should (though it wont).

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Establish @USMail.com email addresses for all US residents holding either a SS number or Tax ID number. Increase criminal penalties for all people sending malicious or fraudulent emails to those addresses. Charge legitimate companies to send advertising or spam like emails to people using those email addresses. Give Americans an optional safer and more secure email system.

This creates a better and safer system for regular Americans to conduct business. If it works out after a few years then require all online IRS filings to use only these addresses. This would reduce fraudulent tax refund filings. Eventually move other government to citizen transactions and communications to this system. After that then we discuss the possibility of online voting.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

I don't care much about what it was "intended to be". It was intended there be slavery. It was intended that women couldn't vote. It was intended that treaties with Native American tribes be lies. It was intended that Japanese American be interned in WWII.

there have been a lot of evil and backward intentions by this nation, right from the beginning

But fortunately, we have the capacity to evolve. That's the process that added the Bill of Rights and 17 other amendments....because the original intentions were inadequate

that's why I'm saying the Senate, and the electoral college are obsolete....it's because the nation has evolved well past the 18th century agrarian culture where the senate made sense. It makes no sense any more as constructed.

I think my suggestion of smaller federal government and more power to the states actually gives the more ‘left-leaning’ folks what they want in a lot of ways though. If your state wants state wide health-care, ok you have it. If you’re upset that Alaska has a say in your healthcare, now they dont.
If your state wants college debt erased and all college to be free, ok then they can make their institutions do that.
If the federal government has far less power and influence over what individual states want then the electoral college and senate seats are far less important in terms of dictating laws to you, and to your state.
The entire thing seems to be fueled by wanting to use the federal government to dictate to all the states in the union how they should be ran.

 

[Lanny]

At present half the population lives in 15 states and gets 30 senators. The other half spreads among 35 states and gets 70. But mid century 2/3 of the population will be in those 15, so 2/3 of the country gets 30 senators and 1/3 gets 70. And those states are older, whiter, more likely to be Christian as the overall percentage of Christians declines, and less likely to be college educated.

I don't worry about their preference in religion but I do worry about their educational level. It shows they're not into thinking.

 

[crandc]

I don't worry about their preference in religion but I do worry about their educational level. It shows they're not into thinking.

Not a matter of worrying about their religion as just an illustration of lack of diversity in those states.

 

[wizenheimer]

I think my suggestion of smaller federal government and more power to the states actually gives the more ‘left-leaning’ folks what they want in a lot of ways though. .

depends on what you are talking about and no, health care sure isn't something each state can handle

but I think the flaw in that thinking is gigantic and we have the past 6 months as the template. We had "smaller federal government" in the battle against Covid....and it's been a fucking disaster. The feds absolutely needed to take the lead on this. We desperately needed national policies. The states, except for Hawaii, maybe, can't lock down their own borders and can't prevent the lunacy of a neighboring state from spreading across state lines

each state can't maintain their own version of the CDC, NIH, and FDA; or develop their own testing infrastructure, fund vaccine trials, and distribute the drug

the 'smaller government' catch-phrase makes for a good sound bite but applying the phrase to reality almost always fails and is much more complicated than assumed

but that's probably a side-rail discussion. Smaller federal government has to be preceded by a careful examination of capacities and needs. And the cutting has to be done by scalpel not by machete. People always rah-rah for smaller government, but that's mostly because they are thinking lower taxes. But if all that's happening is a transfer of duties to the states, taxes won't be lower. In fact they'll be higher because instead of one federal bureaucracy managing a responsibility, you now need 50 state bureaucracies.

bigger isn't always bad

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

depends on what you are talking about and no, health care sure isn't something each state can handle

but I think the flaw in that thinking is gigantic and we have the past 6 months as the template. We had "smaller federal government" in the battle against Covid....and it's been a fucking disaster. The feds absolutely needed to take the lead on this. We desperately needed national policies. The states, except for Hawaii, maybe, can't lock down their own borders and can't prevent the lunacy of a neighboring state from spreading across state lines

each state can't maintain their own version of the CDC, NIH, and FDA; or develop their own testing infrastructure, fund vaccine trials, and distribute the drug

the 'smaller government' catch-phrase makes for a good sound bite but applying the phrase to reality almost always fails and is much more complicated than assumed

but that's probably a side-rail discussion. Smaller federal government has to be preceded by a careful examination of capacities and needs. And the cutting has to be done by scalpel not by machete. People always rah-rah for smaller government, but that's mostly because they are thinking lower taxes. But if all that's happening is a transfer of duties to the states, taxes won't be lower. In fact they'll be higher because instead of one federal bureaucracy managing a responsibility, you now need 50 state bureaucracies.

bigger isn't always bad

Sure there are complexities and issues with all forms of government. Never claimed otherwise, but big government and federal authority has its own issues.

I like basically 100% disagree with just about everything covid related posted on s2 to the point thats a rather worthless discussion, not because I think its a conspiracy or whatever right wing crap is out there just because I think it went political in an instant and there is way more lies out there then facts. My answer sure as heck isnt let the federal government and politicians have more control of health and science though.

 

[CupWizier]

Sure there are complexities and issues with all forms of government. Never claimed otherwise, but big government and federal authority has its own issues.

I like basically 100% disagree with just about everything covid related posted on s2 to the point thats a rather worthless discussion, not because I think its a conspiracy or whatever right wing crap is out there just because I think it went political in an instant and there is way more lies out there then facts. My answer sure as heck isnt let the federal government and politicians have more control of health and science though.

It's the ability to decipher the lies from the truth and in the case of covid we have the trump administration lying about it and you have the doctors and scientists telling the truth and giving the best advice. It really isn't that hard to see where the issue is. One only cares about the economy to boost his reelection chances and the others are saying what's actually best for the people.