Collin DonnellMay 10
It’s bizarre we talk about USPS and Amtrak as operating at a “loss.” They are public goods, so I don’t know why there’s an expectation that they turn a profit. Whatever the shortfall is should be considered the operating cost of the service, like every other agency.
yousedMay 11
Show threadCollin Donnell

The total operating cost of USPS is something like $3.5 billion, and Amtrak is around $1 billion. That seems like a hell of a deal for what they provide. If it’s that cheap to operate Amtrak, we should put a couple more billion dollars into it, make it nicer, and lower ticket prices.

Edit: The USPS number is quarterly, but, still.

May 10 at 11:16pmWeb
Show threadMorél E. FernbyMay 10

@collin If they’re that low… we should shove an even $10 billion at both of them!

Especially Amtrak.
Pull the cash from the military budget lol

Show threadCollin DonnellMay 10
@fernby Pull the cash from anywhere, add it to the deficit, whatever. That’s such a low cost. Imagine how awesome Amtrak would be if we made it even 5 billion. The military just accidentally dropped $100 million worth of jets in the ocean.
Show threadMorél E. FernbyMay 10

@collin Oof… did not know they lost jets like I lose my keys 😂

That’s gotta suck.

Show threadCollin DonnellMay 10
@fernby I don’t think it’s common but they hilariously did it twice in like a week 😝
Show threadMorél E. FernbyMay 10
@collin 😂🤣
Show threadLovesTha🥧May 11
@fernby @collin you lose your keys multiple times a week? (And not lose find lose, just straight permenant lose)
Show threadMorél E. FernbyMay 11

@LovesTha @collin It's almost always lose & spend up to an hour trying to find them.
I've only "straight permenant lose" twice in the past year.

Often they end up in the fridge or in a cubbord or in my medicine cabnet...

*laughs in ADHD*

Show threadMorél E. FernbyMay 11
@LovesTha @collin I DID lose them in the ocean once if that counts. 😂
Show threadLovesTha🥧May 11
@fernby @collin well, that is where the US Navy is losing them :)
Show threadLevkaMay 13

@fernby @collin

They lose wars, too.

Show threadMorél E. FernbyMay 10

@collin Hell, setup an Amtrak - USPS pipeline!
Add a car or two per train that’s just mail.

Note: I wouldn’t be surprised if they already do this… 🙃

Show threadLuke T. ShumakerMay 11

@collin Without disagreeing with your thesis: Both of those numbers are way off?

For FY2024:
Amtrak : $3b opex + $5.3b capex (-$3.6b revenue)
USPS : $89.5b opex (-$79.5b revenue)

https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/nationalfactsheets/Amtrak-Company-Profile-FY2024-032425.pdf
https://about.usps.com/newsroom/national-releases/2024/1114-usps-reports-fiscal-year-2024-results.htm

Show threadCollin DonnellMay 11
@lukeshu I guess it was quarterly so that’s probably why the usps number was off. https://www.aol.com/news/us-postal-reports-3-3-144538963.html
US Postal Service reports $3.3 billion quarterly net loss

The U.S. Postal Service on Friday reported a net loss of $3.3 billion for the three months ending March 31 as the money-losing agency continues to hike stamp...

AOL
Show threadRandall LeeMay 11
@collin @lukeshu media has never said the office of the president had a 3q loss of $30 billion. The war department lost $259 billion in 3q . It's right wing propaganda to report on the USPS as if it were a capitalist entity.
Show threadJoyful JonnyMay 11
@lukeshu sigh
Show threadyousedMay 11
@collin problem is, that is too close to helping people who need help – we are only allowed to help people who barely notice being helped and let those who need help develop the ability (somehow) to not need help so that we can then help them
Show threadGatekeeper..May 14
@collin
DeJoy lost over 9 billion for us last year. I blame Biden.