Sticky stamp problems

Re “Stamp acts,” editorial, May 14

Yes, stamps are increasing in price. If 41 cents is too expensive, then use Federal Express or UPS, because both have lower labor costs, as the editorial suggested. But it will cost more than 41 cents to send a letter. The rising price of gas was just glossed over as a reason for rising postal rates. The question that needs to be asked is: How often have FedEx and UPS raised their rates during the same period? I’ll bet as much if not more, but it isn’t a news story when they do. Yes, UPS and FedEx have lower labor costs because they don’t deliver to every address in the U.S. on a daily basis.

KEN COOPER

Orange

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Here’s an idea: Make postal rate increases at constant increments -- 2 cents, 3 cents, whatever -- but constant. Then we can quit accumulating unused odd small stamps in our desk drawers.

DAVID KASE

Palos Verdes Estates

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The volume of first-class mail has been declining since 2001. Meanwhile, the cheaper standard mail -- mostly advertisements -- has been rising but is less than half as profitable as first-class mail. Doesn’t the U.S. Postal Service have it backward? Shouldn’t the price of first-class mail be decreased and the price for unwanted “junk mail” be raised?

DAVID MURPHY

Palos Verdes

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To infer that any worker -- who spends hours commuting because the only affordable housing is 40 to 60 miles from his work site, burning $3.25-a-gallon gas on congested freeways just to toil eight to 10 hours on a job five and six days a week for a little more than $20 an hour -- is overpaid highlights the divide between the affluent who demand tax breaks and the average worker who just wants a break. Ask any worker, whether it’s the person who delivers your mail, hammers nails or clerks at a checkout stand, and he’ll tell you there is no easy work and that $20 an hour is not overly generous. The problem is that there are not enough responsible employers and too few unions to represent workers.

CHARLES MILLER

President, Branch 1100

National Assn. of

Letter Carriers

Garden Grove