Starting Today, 39 Cents Just Wont Do
As of May 14, USPS has raised the cost of first class mail to 41 cents. Postage rates will be determined by shape now, not just weight. The postal service says, The new price structure will create a [more efficient mail system]. But not everyone thinks so. [Neopost](www.neopost.com), the self-described fastest-growing worldwide provider of mailing and shipping solutions, issued a press release saying, This change will cause inefficiency in mailing processes, higher labor costs and up to 90 percent increases in postal costs, unless companies are able to automate mailing operations and change the way mail is processed. Theyre offering companies postal workshops in 26 cities nationwide. Gee, that sounds like fun; maybe they'll even have one right here in New York City! One possible plus is the issuance of a 41-cent forever stamp. No matter what the future cost of a first class letter, the postal service says the forever stamp will cover it. Aw, that's nice. According to USPS, the increase is needed to cover rising fuel costs and [employee health care](usgovinfo.about.com/b/a/217602.htm). Sure, blame it on the postal workers. Why shouldnt they be uninsured like the other [47 million Americans](www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml) reported by the Census Bureau? But not to worry, we doubt this will make post office lines any longer or postal workers any crankier.