‘Stamp of Approval’ for Postage Hike

I do not quibble with the raise in postage rates. As your editorial pointed out, it is a small enough price to pay in an ever-increasingly expensive world. However, I do quibble with--and am outraged by--the Postal Service’s cutback in hours and staff.

Cutting the heart out of the system is an unconscionable way to comply with required budgetary reductions. Why don’t they cut the frills first?

Frill No. 1: How does a government agency that is a virtual monopoly have the audacity to advertise on prime-time television? Why should it be advertising at all?

Frill No. 2: Why should the announcements of new issues of stamps be presented in the most expensive way--with full-color posters? Wouldn’t less expensive black-and-white posters serve the same purpose?

The money saved by cutting these two obvious and very expensive frills would go a long way toward keeping the post office from degenerating--which is exactly what is going to happen as it stands right now. It is the people who make the system work as well as it does; eliminating them, and cutting the hours of service is an utter disaster--and must not be allowed.

SUE ALEXANDER

Canoga Park