Mail delivery.
For as much crap that USPS receives for being in the red, while also having limited opportunity to change pricing and funding laws, the fact that it isnt more in the red is impressive.
I have read multiple analysis articles that showed the same things if mail were privatized- fewer deliveries to rural addresses and higher prices overall.
So basically, to be profitable we would have to allow a private model to operate differently than the current model, which means apples would be compared to oranges.
USPS being viewed as a profit/loss center within the Federal Government is an absurd way to view the service.
- It is limited by laws what it can charge for a lot of mail it is forced to transport and deliver.
- It is forced to deliver to areas and addresses that create clear financial losses.
- For 16 recent years USPS had to pre-fund benefits, even for people who didnt yet work there.
Not all services need to be or should be profitable. I dont expect my town's Parks Department to be profitable. If they can figure out a way while providing excellent experiences, then cool. But their priority needs to be providing spaces for people to use, so that may mean they are in the red at the end of the year.
USPS exists to deliver mail and the cost of stamps and packages is a way to reduce the overall expense. If USPS must be in the black, then allow USPS to set their own pricing and schedules and delivery contracts with overseas vendors/postal services.
Make UPS or FedEx deliver under the exact same parameters as USPS and see how long either of those companies renews that contract.