By Thomas M. Sipos Santa Monica
If Congressman Waxman wishes to speed up the postal system (SMDP, Feb. 13, page 1), he should work to eliminate the regulation that all packages weighing a pound or more be hand-delivered to a postal worker. This regulation was designed to fight terrorism, yet it has not only failed to protect us, it’s weakened our economy by wasting time and harming worker productivity.
Until 1996, I could enter the Santa Monica post office at 5 a.m., weigh my packages on one machine, buy stamps from another machine, and drop the packages in the mailbox. A time-saver for me, as I often mail manuscripts. A time-saver for other patrons, since they didn’t have to wait in line behind me.
Then in 1996, TWA flight 800 exploded. In the post-Oklahoma City atmosphere, anti-government terrorists were suspected. Clinton and Reno demanded tough new security measures to “fight terrorism.” Their brainstorming resulted in those mailbox stickers, the ones requiring that all packages weighing a pound or more be hand-delivered to a postal employee.
I never understood how this was supposed to fight terrorism. I guess it’s meant to prevent people from mailing bombs or drugs or whatnot. But wouldn’t an X-ray or bomb-sniffing dog be more effective? Can’t a terrorist as easily give a dangerous package to a postal worker as drop it in a mailbox? I’ve given packages to postal workers, and it’s not like they do anything different if it weighs a pound. No one checks my ID or takes my photo... Oh wait, better not give them any ideas.
Anyway, we now have this utterly pointless regulation. It was later determined that the explosion wasn’t caused by terrorism, but by mechanical failure. Naturally, even after terrorism was ruled out, the regulation wasn’t repealed. I guess the feds decided that it was still a great way to fight terrorism. Except that the regulation never made sense even before terrorism was ruled out. It didn’t prevent 9/11. It did-n’t even prevent anyone from mailing anthrax.
You may say this regulation is a small thing, so who cares if it’s ineffective? Can’t hurt. But it does hurt. It hurts our economy. And that’s one goal of terrorism. Weak economies create political instability. Weak economies can’t afford top security people or equipment.
In New York, I typically waste a half hour in line at the post office, my package all weighed and stamped, just to give it to a clerk who then tosses it into a bin without a glance. And although the Santa Monica post office is quicker, I can’t always go during regular business hours. So I burn fuel and add to traffic driving to the LAX post office, just to hand deliver a package I could as easily drop in a mailbox.
Now add up all my time wasted yearly just to hand deliver packages that could as easily be dropped in a mailbox. Multiply that by millions of others waiting on line for the same purpose. If only 10 million people waste 10 hours each a year due to this pointless law, we’re already talking 100 million work hours lost to the economy.
All that lost productivity, for a regulation that hinders people from doing honest business, but did nothing to prevent anyone from mailing anthrax.
But can’t I give my packages to my letter carrier? I wish I knew. I’ve tried. It’s worked sometimes. But I’ve also had the letter carrier accept my package, only to return it days later stamped “return to sender” because it wasn’t hand delivered at the post office.If they think it may be a bomb, why return it to me?
Yes, it seems a small inconvenience, but that’s the most effective way of destroying freedom — chipping away at it rather than taking it all at once. A frog will jump out of a pot of hot water, but if you place it in cool water, then bring it to a slow boil, the frog will remain there until it dies.
Yes, I know some idiots will scream, “Hey, in case you haven’t heard, we’re at war!” as they defend every law designed to “fight terrorism,” no matter how pointless and ineffective and even counterproductive. Such people don’t care about my personal inconveniences. They don’t even care about their own liberties. But why are they helping terrorists by weakening our economy?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 16, 2006. Read the original PDF.