2020 Essays

Five myths about the U.S. Postal Service: It’s not obsolete, and it’s not a business

John, Richard R.

The historic post office building across from New York’s Penn Station bears the inscription: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” But that’s not the Postal Service’s official motto; it’s actually a reference to an ancient Persian messenger service remembered admiringly by Herodotus. Misconceptions about the post office abound, especially as more Americans demand access to mail-in voting for the presidential election.