In a column called Postal Service Goes on Offensive in Fight With Senators Over System to Set Mail Rates in the Washington Post, Stephen Barr described efforts by the officials of the US Post Office to block legislation requiring the USPS to pick up the tab for military retirement benefits of employees that were earned before their postal careers.

In yesterday's blog, I described the long-term plan that USPS had posted on to address concerns with the declining use of first class mail due to Web bill paying and other services.

To focus on the price of a stamp is simplistic. The US Postal Service, if allowed to run like a business without the burden of paying benefits that should be the responsibility of the part of government that had the benefit of the workers' service and without the need to involve the Senate in operating decisions, can not only survive, it can thrive.