Preserving the People's Post Office

Preserving the People's Post Office PDF Author: Christopher W. Shaw
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 268

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Book Description
Christopher Shaw, the book's author said, "Through preferential postage rates for nonprofits the Postal Service facilitates civic involvement and a healthy democracy." Nader also noted, "Postal employees are fairly remunerated in an increasingly low-wage, low benefit 'Wal-Mart' economy." According to Nader, "Post offices serve as the heart of community life in neighborhoods and towns nationwide and the presence of postal workers on community streets make them safer, as the many beneficiaries of their frequently heroic efforts attest." "The lack of citizen-consumers' involvement in the recently passed postal reform legislation has highlighted the need for a public dialogue about the future of our postal system. The book provides a starting point for that conversation," stated Nader.

Preserving the People's Post Office

Preserving the People's Post Office PDF Author: Christopher W. Shaw
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 268

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Book Description
Christopher Shaw, the book's author said, "Through preferential postage rates for nonprofits the Postal Service facilitates civic involvement and a healthy democracy." Nader also noted, "Postal employees are fairly remunerated in an increasingly low-wage, low benefit 'Wal-Mart' economy." According to Nader, "Post offices serve as the heart of community life in neighborhoods and towns nationwide and the presence of postal workers on community streets make them safer, as the many beneficiaries of their frequently heroic efforts attest." "The lack of citizen-consumers' involvement in the recently passed postal reform legislation has highlighted the need for a public dialogue about the future of our postal system. The book provides a starting point for that conversation," stated Nader.

The People’s Post Office

The People’s Post Office PDF Author: Patricia L. Maclachlan
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 1684175127
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 393

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Book Description
"In 2001, Prime Minister Koizumi Jun’ichirō launched a crusade to privatize Japan’s postal services. The plan was hailed as a necessary structural reform, but many bemoaned the loss of traditional institutions and the conservative values they represented. Few expected the plan to succeed, given the staunch opposition of diverse parties, but four years later it appeared that Koizumi had transformed not only the post office but also the very institutional and ideological foundations of Japanese finance and politics. By all accounts, it was one of the most astonishing political achievements in postwar Japanese history. Patricia L. Maclachlan analyzes the interplay among the institutions, interest groups, and leaders involved in the system’s evolution from the early Meiji period until 2010. Exploring the postal system’s remarkable range of economic, social, and cultural functions and its institutional relationship to the Japanese state, this study shows how the post office came to play a leading role in the country’s political development. It also looks into the future to assess the resilience of Koizumi’s reforms and consider the significance of lingering opposition to the privatization of one of Japan’s most enduring social and political sanctuaries."

First Class

First Class PDF Author: Christopher W. Shaw
Publisher: City Lights Books
ISBN: 0872868559
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 267

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Book Description
Investigating the essential role that the postal system plays in American democracy and how the corporate sector has attempted to destroy it. "With First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat, Christopher Shaw makes a brilliant case for polishing the USPS up and letting it shine in the 21st century."—John Nichols, national affairs correspondent for The Nation and author of Coronavirus Criminals and Pandemic Profiteers: Accountability for Those Who Caused the Crisis "First Class is essential reading for all postal workers and for our allies who seek to defend and strengthen our public Postal Service."—Mark Dimondstein, President, American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO The fight over the future of the U.S. Postal Service is on. For years, corporate interests and political ideologues have pushed to remake the USPS, turning it from a public institution into a private business—and now, with mail-in voting playing a key role in local, state, and federal elections, the attacks have escalated. Leadership at the USPS has been handed over to special interests whose plan for the future includes higher postage costs, slower delivery times, and fewer post offices, policies that will inevitably weaken this invaluable public service and source of employment. Despite the general shift to digital communication, the vast majority of the American people—and small businesses—still rely heavily on the U.S. postal system, and many are rallying to defend it. First Class brings readers to the front lines of the struggle, explaining the various forces at work for and against a strong postal system, and presenting reasonable ideas for strengthening and expanding its capacity, services, and workforce. Emphasizing the essential role the USPS has played ever since Benjamin Franklin served as our first Postmaster General, author Christopher Shaw warns of the consequences for the country—and for our democracy—if we don’t win this fight. Praise for First Class: Piece by piece, an essential national infrastructure is being dismantled without our consent. Shaw makes an eloquent case for why the post office is worth saving and why, for the sake of American democracy, it must be saved."—Steve Hutkins, founder/editor of Save the Post Office and Professor of English at New York University "The USPS is essential for a democratic American society; thank goodness we have this new book from Christopher W. Shaw explaining why."—Danny Caine, author of Save the USPS and owner of the Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS "Shaw's excellent analysis of the Postal Service and its vital role in American Democracy couldn't be more timely. … First Class should serve as a clarion call for Americans to halt the dismantling and to, instead, preserve and enhance the institution that can bind the nation together."—Ruth Y. Goldway, Retired Chair and Commissioner, U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission, responsible for the Forever Stamps "In a time of community fracture and corporate predation, Shaw argues, a first-class post office of the future can bring communities together and offer exploitation-free banking and other services."—Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen

The People's Post Office

The People's Post Office PDF Author: Patricia L. Maclachlan
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 9780674062450
Category : Japan
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Exploring the postal system's remarkable range of economic, social, and cultural functions and its institutional relationship to the Japanese state, this study shows how the post office came to play a leading role in the Japan's political development.

Post Office Modernization, Relocation, and Historic Preservation

Post Office Modernization, Relocation, and Historic Preservation PDF Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Governmental Affairs. Subcommittee on Federal Services, Post Office, and Civil Service
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Post office buildings
Languages : en
Pages : 91

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Book Description


Keeping Post Offices Public

Keeping Post Offices Public PDF Author: Katherine Victoria Coffield
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 153

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Book Description
The United States Postal Service (USPS) plans to close thousands of its facilities over the next decade in response to a steady decline in patronage and severe budget deficits. Many of the buildings under review for closure and sale are historic post offices. These venerable civic structures often boast distinctive architectural designs and occupy prominent downtown locations. Given their favorable characteristics, historic post offices deemed to be excess by the federal government are prime candidates for redevelopment. Their closure and sale raises the important question of how these buildings can best be reused in the future. Local post offices are icons of civic culture and a source of community pride. Traditionally, the buildings acted as civic and social centers. Everyone visited the post office on a regular basis to retrieve their mail, making it a place to meet neighbors and share news. Post offices continue to serve as true democratic spaces that allow equal access to all citizens and foster a greater sense of community identity. They are special places that revive poignant memories in the hearts of many. Optimally, historic post offices that are declared surplus will remain public amenities due to their vibrant civic legacy. Keeping Post Offices Public examines how the disposal and rehabilitation of historic post offices for public purposes enables their civic legacy to be preserved. The opening chapters present evidence for why these buildings should continue to act as civic institutions while the closing chapters express how interested parties can acquire historic post offices and rehabilitate them for new public uses. The history of the postal system and its buildings was studied to show the important role post offices have played in the lives of individual citizens and in the greater community. The disposal process for historic post offices was also researched to provide a better understanding of how surplus properties are conveyed to new owners and the mechanisms put in place by the federal government to protect the defining characteristics of these resources after disposition. Three case studies were then presented to illustrate the rehabilitation process and to evaluate the outcomes. The case studies in Ithaca, New York; Rockville, Maryland; and Beverly Hills, California reveal that the civic and architectural legacies of a historic post office can be preserved through rehabilitation for a public use. The new uses have protected both the public nature of the buildings and significant architectural features. The case studies further demonstrate the need for community involvement in the rehabilitation process and the importance of commissioning qualified preservation professionals. The lessons learned from these case studies can be applied in other communities faced with the closure of a historic post office.

A Landmark Repurposed

A Landmark Repurposed PDF Author: Christine Kreyling
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781735441665
Category : Historic buildings
Languages : en
Pages : 88

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Book Description
"This book was originally published in conjunction with the exhibition "From Post Office to Art Center: A Nashville Landmark in Transition", April 8, 2001-February 24, 2002. Published to mark the occasion of our twentieth anniversary, this newly revised edition includes a preface from William R. Frist, current chair and president of the Frist Art Museum's board of trustees, and an epilogue from Susan H. Edwards, executive director and CEO"--

The History of the Post Office from Its Establishment Down to 1836

The History of the Post Office from Its Establishment Down to 1836 PDF Author: Herbert Joyce
Publisher: Double 9 Books
ISBN: 9789362202994
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
"The History of the Post Office, from Its Establishment Down to 1836" by Herbert Joyce is a captivating exploration of postal history, chronicling the evolution of communication through postal services. This historical nonfiction work delves deep into the development of the postal system, examining its growth and transformation over time. Joyce meticulously traces the historical development of postal routes, mail transportation, and mail delivery methods, shedding light on the role of postmasters and the introduction of postage stamps. Through vivid descriptions and meticulous research, he brings to life the early postal networks and the challenges faced in establishing efficient mail communication. This authoritative account also delves into the significance of postal reforms in shaping the postal system, highlighting its impact on communication and societal development. From the establishment of early postal routes to the introduction of innovative delivery methods, Joyce's narrative offers valuable insights into the evolution of postal services up to the year 1836. With its blend of historical scholarship and engaging storytelling, "The History of the Post Office" serves as an indispensable resource for anyone interested in understanding the crucial role of postal services in shaping communication networks and fostering societal connections during this pivotal period in history.

Preserving Access to Post Offices in Rural Areas

Preserving Access to Post Offices in Rural Areas PDF Author: Great Britain. Postal Services Commission
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Postal service
Languages : en
Pages : 33

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Book Description


How the Post Office Created America

How the Post Office Created America PDF Author: Winifred Gallagher
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0399564039
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 336

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Book Description
A masterful history of a long underappreciated institution, How the Post Office Created America examines the surprising role of the postal service in our nation’s political, social, economic, and physical development. The founders established the post office before they had even signed the Declaration of Independence, and for a very long time, it was the U.S. government’s largest and most important endeavor—indeed, it was the government for most citizens. This was no conventional mail network but the central nervous system of the new body politic, designed to bind thirteen quarrelsome colonies into the United States by delivering news about public affairs to every citizen—a radical idea that appalled Europe’s great powers. America’s uniquely democratic post powerfully shaped its lively, argumentative culture of uncensored ideas and opinions and made it the world’s information and communications superpower with astonishing speed. Winifred Gallagher presents the history of the post office as America’s own story, told from a fresh perspective over more than two centuries. The mandate to deliver the mail—then “the media”—imposed the federal footprint on vast, often contested parts of the continent and transformed a wilderness into a social landscape of post roads and villages centered on post offices. The post was the catalyst of the nation’s transportation grid, from the stagecoach lines to the airlines, and the lifeline of the great migration from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It enabled America to shift from an agrarian to an industrial economy and to develop the publishing industry, the consumer culture, and the political party system. Still one of the country’s two major civilian employers, the post was the first to hire women, African Americans, and other minorities for positions in public life. Starved by two world wars and the Great Depression, confronted with the country’s increasingly anti-institutional mind-set, and struggling with its doubled mail volume, the post stumbled badly in the turbulent 1960s. Distracted by the ensuing modernization of its traditional services, however, it failed to transition from paper mail to email, which prescient observers saw as its logical next step. Now the post office is at a crossroads. Before deciding its future, Americans should understand what this grand yet overlooked institution has accomplished since 1775 and consider what it should and could contribute in the twenty-first century. Gallagher argues that now, more than ever before, the imperiled post office deserves this effort, because just as the founders anticipated, it created forward-looking, communication-oriented, idea-driven America.