With all that is going on in the world it seems some things and companies are dependable. At a cost, of course.
I never would have guessed that it would ever cost me personally $74.00 to vote in a US election. That is only the primary, I will have to do the same for the general election this fall.
I don’t usually mix my blog and my political views but many who follow my blog know how deeply I feel about the trends in my mother country.
Shock…when I saw attacks by leadership towards the US Postal Service earlier this year. I joined the thousands of other Americans who purchased postage to show our support for a system so many rural Americans depend. Support for the US Postal Service that hires thousands of military veterans.
Shock…once again as the leadership placed someone in charge at the US Postal Service to make it more profitable. Instantly, I experienced change in the US Postal Service and how it approached customers services. Prices to send packages jumped, letter mail and packages to get to me here in The Netherlands now takes weeks and months to receive. Can we blame the delay in service on the current pandemic?
Last week that US Postal employees announced that their hours have been cut and undelivered mail is now piling up at facilities. How is that possible in these times where everyone is depending on package delivery to avoid shopping in stores?
The final straw for me was hearing that our US election would not be valid due to mail in votes this year. A shout to delay the US election went out.
I couldn’t believe it!!!
For the first time as a voting adult I chose this election cycle to pay to place my vote. I don’t care what it costs me. I know I can still exercise my freedom to choose who I want in office.
Hopefully, we (American citizens) will experience some change of leadership with the next round of elected officials.
Are you frustrated? Have you voted? We would love to hear how you are dealing with trying to vote this year. Please send us a personal message via our contact page or leave your comments below.
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I can understand your frustration. I noticed the same trend here in Canada with Canada Post going into the same direction: Charging more for less service.
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Sad but the capitalist way…I guess.
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I join you in your never-ending frustration. My daughter started working for the postal service several months ago after losing her job as an independent contract Spanish medical interpreter. Clinics and hospitals closed to all but emergency care, thus she was no longer needed. So…she landed a job as a letter carrier and package deliverer (on Sundays). She works 10-12 hours daily, six days a week. Or at least she did until changes in postal service leadership. She has shared some things I can’t share here. But suffice to say, your concerns are valid about the mail system. And most certainly on the political front.
I am so sorry you are dealing with these issues related to voting and package delivery.
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Don’t be sorry, but it is how the entire system of handling things recently has forgotten that we the customers are the ones that can and will vote if law makers refuse to do their jobs. I worked for the US Postal Service for a short time years ago and know the inner workings and dedication of most of their employees to deliver to the customers. As in any organization there are always a couple of bad eggs but most have worked their entire lives making sure that the communities they deliver mail to get it in rain, sleet, snow or dead of night without delay. Having to pay FedEx to get my vote to the US, on time and tracked is amazing crazy!!! But… I will do whatever it takes at this point!!!
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Absolutely will vote, absentee this year, and deliver to the town hall by hand as we can no longer trust the postal service.
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Good for you! I usually fly home to MN to vote in person but this year that is not a safe option. I encourage everyone to exercise the right to vote by any means available.
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We’ve been appalled at the way the USPS has been undermined by the Trump Administration and are considering where to deliver our absentee ballots this year, too. We voted by mail for the primary and tracked our ballots’ arrival via the Minnesota Secretary of State website. (Yes! They got there and will be counted!) Neither of us were surprised when Trump suggested delaying elections but heartened by the across-the-board pushback on that idea. He can’t anyway – that would take an act of Congress. But, damn, voting is an absolute must! Getting him out of there is essential! That you have to pay money to exercise your right to vote because you happen to be in the Netherlands is not okay. Not at all.
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My choice on the paying as it was the only way to make sure it went from point A to point B with no room for being delayed or misplaced. I don’t even trust the diplomatic carrier we as citizens can use as it also must go through the US Postal Service at some point to get to my county elections office to be counted. This way I can track it right to the courthouse door and like you said MN has a great system of tracking it once it arrives. Thanks for sharing your experience with us and hopefully the general election will go smoothly (but at this point I rather doubt it…). Stay safe and stay healthy!
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I’ve already voted by mail in the primary, here in WA state we have had mail in voting for years. Completely agree with you on the entirety of this post.
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