[jessriedel]

> The post office could actually let people see images of mass mailings before they are even printed or let people print them themselves with no delivery.

This makes as much sense as removing commercials from TV shows because people can now go to the network website and watch the commercials there. The problem isn't "how do we continue to provide junk mail cheaply?" it's "how do we continue to provide regular mail cheaply without being subsidized by junk mail?"

[stretchwithme]

Are you sure junk mail is subsidizing regular mail? This article seems to indicate quite the opposite.

"Of particular concern has been the decline in the lucrative first-class mail, largely consisting of personal letters and cards, bills and payments and similar items. First-class mail volume fell 6.6 percent in 2010, 8.6 percent in 2009, and 4.8 percent in 2008. Traditionally, this mail has produced more than half of total revenue.

Volume for standard mail – advertising and similar business items – improved somewhat, indicating some signs of economic recovery, but generates less income."

From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/12/post-office-lost-bi...