Did you see the news today February 23, 2025? I read the Minneapolis Star Tribune paper as I often do on Saturdays. According to the Trib, The United States Postal Service (USPS) just reported a profit for the first time in a long time! That should be a good thing, right? Well, maybe not for long.
There’s talk that Trump wants to take control of the USPS—not to make it better, but to weaken mail-in voting.
In the 2020 election, mail-in voting saw a significant increase, with 46% of voters casting their ballots by mail or absentee methods, up from 21% in 2016. (ABC reporting 2016) This surge was particularly notable among young voters aged 18 to 29, with 45% reporting they voted by mail or absentee ballot drop-off in 2020, more than double the 19% in 2016. (Tufts.edu)
The partisan divide was also evident: 58% of Democrats voted by mail, compared to 29% of Republicans. (Elections.Blog.edu, 2020)
These statistics highlight the critical role USPS plays in facilitating mail-in voting for a diverse and significant portion of the electorate.
But this isn’t just about politics—many people rely on mail-in ballots because they’re traveling, overseas, snowbirding, disabled, sick, or simply unable to get to the polls. If USPS is weakened, voting will be harder for millions.
Upon researching I would like to share that the United States Postal Service (USPS) wasn’t always the independent agency we know today. For most of its history, it was a direct part of the federal government, operating under the Post Office Department, which was founded in 1792. For nearly 200 years, it functioned as a taxpayer-funded government service, ensuring mail delivery across the country.
However, in 1970, everything changed with the Postal Reorganization Act, signed by President Richard Nixon. This law transformed the Post Office Department into the United States Postal Service, an independent agency that operates more like a business. The goal was to make USPS free from political influence while still serving every American and also more efficient and self-sustaining.
The government wanted USPS to run without relying on taxpayer dollars. Instead, USPS would fund itself through postage and services. At the time, this seemed like a great idea—mail volume was high, and the agency was profitable.
But over time, challenges arose. Congress still had control over USPS’s pricing and policies, limiting its ability to compete with private shipping companies like FedEx and UPS. In 2006, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act made things worse by requiring USPS to pre-fund retiree health benefits 75 years in advance, something no other business has to do. This financial burden pushed USPS into long-term debt, even though it still provides critical services, especially for rural areas and small businesses.
Now, with discussions about weakening or privatizing USPS, we must ask: Do we really want to lose this essential service? The consequences could be severe—not just for voting access, but for e-commerce businesses, small shops, and everyday Americans who rely on affordable mail.
That’s why it’s so important to understand USPS’s history and fight to protect it before it’s too late. Complaining helps no one so please get involved.
But here’s why this really matters to you and to all e-commerce businesses, including us, Etsy sellers, independent shops, and so many more:
Without USPS, the biggest companies win, and small e-commerce businesses lose and their communities. Here’s why:
In Minnesota at Hears Hearing & Hearables ship a LOT of hearing aid chargers to people who need them. With the rise of rechargeable hearing aids, chargers have become a crucial part of the solution. If your charger breaks or gets lost, you can’t hear. You need a working charger just like you need batteries for your TV remote! We also help people with hearing aid accessories that help them with accommodation.
But here’s the problem: If USPS is weakened or goes away, shipping costs will go up—a lot. We already hear complaints about shipping prices, but if we lose USPS, things could get even worse. Private shipping companies charge way more, and we don’t want to raise prices on people who already struggle to afford hearing healthcare.
It’s not just hearing care businesses like ours that depend on USPS. Pharmacies ship medications, newspapers deliver important news, and small shops on Etsy and other online stores rely on it to send their products. If USPS is taken down, only big companies like Amazon, Walmart, and Target will win—because they already have their own shipping services. Small businesses and the people who rely on them will lose.
Newspapers and magazines, especially small, independent publications, depend on USPS for affordable delivery to subscribers across the country. Legal and financial services—such as law firms, accountants, and local banks—use USPS for sending official documents, contracts, and sensitive paperwork securely.
Nonprofits and charities also heavily rely on USPS for fundraising efforts, mailing donation requests, newsletters, and thank-you letters to supporters. Even government agencies, including the IRS and Social Security Administration, send essential documents like tax forms, benefit statements, and voter registration materials through USPS. If USPS is dismantled or privatized, these organizations will face higher costs, delays, and fewer reliable options, disrupting the services that millions of Americans depend on daily. Our thoughts on why Trump really wants to disable the USPS!
Millions of Americans rely on USPS for receiving critical medications, especially from local and independent pharmacies. According to the National Association of Community Pharmacists, over 20 million people get their prescriptions by mail each year, with many depending on USPS for affordable and timely delivery. This is especially crucial for seniors, veterans, and people in rural areas who may not have easy access to a pharmacy. Unlike big chain stores, small, independent drugstores often rely on USPS to ship medications at a lower cost, ensuring their customers get life-saving treatments without excessive fees. If USPS is weakened or dismantled, delays and higher shipping costs could put millions of lives at risk, forcing people to turn to larger corporations with higher prices and limited accessibility.
Not you. Not e-commerce businesses. Not small entrepreneurs trying to build something.
The only winners will be billion-dollar corporations that already have private delivery services, their own credit card systems (like Amazon and Target), and the money to dominate the market. Meanwhile, everyday businesses and middle-class Americans will pay more for everything.
If you don’t want higher shipping costs and fewer e-commerce options, speak up! Contact your legislators and tell them you support USPS and the small businesses that rely on it.
And please, if shipping prices go up or packages get lost, don’t blame us—this is bigger than one store. We’re fighting to keep prices fair for you.
We know this is a big issue, and we hope you don’t hate us for speaking out. But this directly affects you, us, and every independent business trying to compete fairly. Please take this seriously—we need to protect USPS before it’s too late.
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