Post Office

In his March 24 letter, Gary A. Robb gets up in arms over the prospect of a government-administered health care program. He offers the post office as the kind of management he fears.

Actually, what he should fear is the reverse: having the health care guys running the post office. Between 1967 and 1990, hospital care costs rose 1,200% while the cost of a first-class stamp went up only 417% (6 cents to 25 cents)--about equal to the consumer price index.

TILDA DE WOLFE

Monterey Park

Once again, a government agency can’t balance its budget, so it’s raising prices. This time, not surprisingly, it’s the post office. One can easily see why this monolith is losing money: The competition provides better service. The post office simply can’t deliver as fast as the phone, a fax, or Federal Express. And raising the price of stamps is just going to drive away more customers.

Instead, why not cut back on delivery? Most households and even businesses do not need mail delivered six days a week. Those that do can pay extra for it. Or how about charging more rather than less for junk mail? The post office, particularly in urban areas where there are several forms of “information delivery,” will simply price itself out of existence unless it does some streamlining.

ELAINE MORRIS

Los Angeles