Dear Editor:

Here is something to look forward to from Congress to your local post office: bigger rate hikes, elimination of Saturday delivery, cluster boxes down the street instead of doorstep delivery, and driving to Staples or Walmart for all your postal needs.

These are some of the things that may be in the Senate bill S 1486 if we do not convince Sens. Angus King and Susan Collins not to give away the store. Our venerable 238-year-old postal service might be in need of some tweaks and some reform, but some of the proposals amount to giving away the store.

Many of the problems facing the United States Postal Service have been inflicted upon it by crony capitalists who see this as another government asset to be given away cheap. And they can afford to make the campaign contributions to see that their agenda of privatization continues. In fact, many of the problems facing the postal system are the result of the USPS being burdened with private contractors who have taken over functions that the USPS used to do in-house.

That is why it is important to call Sens. Collins and King to tell them to fix whatever is wrong with the USPS. There are many profitable services that can be added that could restore the USPS to financial health and preserve this great old American institution.

Fred W. Nehring
Boothbay