United States representative, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez or AOC, proposed a progressive idea to aid the USPS as the 2020 election approaches.
What We Know:
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez D-N.Y. proposed a plan to aid the struggling USPS amid growing mail-in voting concerns. Her plan is to create a “progressive penpal program” as a way to help support the postal service.
- On an Instagram live she expounded on the plan saying, “One of the best ways to support the post office is to buy stamps. What do you all think–would you be down and excited if I set up a national progressive penpal program? [We would] do all the work of connecting you to somebody else we would offer maybe some conversation prompts or postcard prompts and even like a printable postcard format you just send it out.”
In a bid to revitalize the USPS, @aoc proposes a “national progressive penpal program” to boost stamp sales. pic.twitter.com/UzTNdz2Moq
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) August 17, 2020
- The idea has been met with many critiques amongst conservatives and progressives alike. Many wonder about the environmental concerns of the penpal program especially given her public support of the Green New Deal.
- AOC’s plan to help the postal service is in response to the ongoing feud between the USPS and Trump administration. USPS Postmaster General and Trump donor, Louis DeJoy, has established significant cost-cutting measures, ultimately causing mail backups and concerns of efficacy come November.
- Earlier this week, Congress announced a call for the USPS postmaster General Louis DeJoy, and another postal official to testify this Friday, August 24th. In response to this, Louis Dejoy put out a statement yesterday (Aug. 18) suspending all of his previous changes.
Although Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s progressive penpal program might be a bit archaic and have serious environmental concerns, legislation must be put in place to protect and aid the USPS come November.
