The Postal Service as an American Lifeline
As we, as a nation, continue to navigate through this pandemic, we must reflect on the triumphs and defeats we faced along the way. Although the sheer volume of defeats may cause us to lose hope in the system we have cultivated over 245 years, America continues to shine bright in many ways. One of those ways is through the United States Postal Service, a constitutional institution that has prevailed and continued to support an ever growing population, despite both internal and external attacks. From the outset, the Post Office was designed to connect and inform the electorate, as an informed electorate is necessary for a stable democracy. In this article, I am going to explore two distinct ways the Post Office has achieved and expanded on its beginning purpose, its outreach to rural communities, and its marvelous efficiency during times of crisis and confusion.
The United States encompasses a plethora of geographic diversity, from the great urban landscape of Los Angeles to the beautiful Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The great geographic diversity of the United States includes a fairly significant proportion of its population that live in rural communities, with decreased access to communication and infrastructure. As a result, many delivery companies such as FedEx and UPS refuse to deliver to these remote towns due to profitability concerns, and they rely on the USPS to reach these places. Without the Post Office, these rural communities would not be able to connect with the nation at large, and would suffer from various problems such as a lack of means to partake in civic duties like voting and access to medical care. In fact, one of the most important aspects of the Post Office is their supply of prescribed medication to rural areas, since many hospitals and prominent sources of medical care have either shut down or downsized, and the mail is the last hope for many patients. Not only does this add to the importance of the post office, but it also encourages them to perform efficiently. In many ways, the Postal Service is a lifeline for many small towns who require medical service, and despite the many claims that a private Postal Service could perform at a higher capacity, we observe here that that is false, and the Post Office should not be replaced.
Another way the USPS supports rural communities is through the creation of a community center. Small towns across America don’t have access to large YMCA locations or popular tourist attractions, and thus there is no natural community gathering spot. With the introduction of a post office, this can all change as the addition will attract those who need to get their mail, and this contributes to a greater sense of community through a shared commute. This certain source of support is not tangible, as it cannot be quantified or measured, but it still has a very visible effect on the people who live there. The Post Office serves both physical and emotional purposes, something not common in other government institutions, and that is what makes it a beloved and relied upon service.
The Post Office is also present in times of crisis, such as during natural disasters. One prominent event that proved the USPS’s importance and efficiency was Hurricane Katrina, a deadly hurricane that uprooted lives and created mass confusion. Many homes were destroyed, and with that, addresses, telephone lines, and other means people used to communicate with family and friends. Recognizing the terrible effect of the hurricane, the Post Office set up checkpoints that could help families mail letters to loved ones to alert them of their situation and status, receive social security checks that helped purchase groceries, medication, and other goods. Without the quick response of the United States Postal Service, Hurricane Katrina would have been much more detrimental for the American people. Since then, the USPS has continued to prepare programs and plans to respond to natural disasters, and we saw one of those plans come to fruition during the most recent natural disaster, the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to this past year being an election year, the USPS was needed, even more, to function at a level capable of processing all the mail-in ballots. Despite the many internal attacks orchestrated by the president and postmaster general, they were still able to successfully handle the amount of mail-in ballots, and properly execute the election.
Many signs point to the importance of a present and functioning Postal Service, especially its role as the backbone of our nation throughout American history. Infrastructure, communication, expansion, and unification are all themes directly related to the Post Office. In the words of Alexis de Tocqueville, a French diplomat, “It is difficult to imagine the incredible rapidity with which thought circulates in the midst of these deserts.”
In essence, it is important that we continue to support the Post Office, respect those who work for it, and remember its importance throughout history. The attacks on it may never cease, but it shall endure as long as the electorate remains informed and we vocalize the need for this institution in our country.
Written by CAHSD member Oliver Charat-Collins. Edited by TGP National Correspondent Evanna Hasan.
