February 18, 2009

These are tough economic times, right? People (but not government) have cut back on their spending.

That’s why it is particularly outrageous that the Postmaster General of the United States, one John E. Potter, has earned $800,000 in pay and perks. That includes a $135,000 bonus last year. Potter recently warned that the times are so tough that the Postal Service may have to end Saturday delivery and freeze executive salaries. And the Postal Rate Commission plans to raise the rate of a first class stamp from 42 cents to 44 cents.

Eight hundred thousand dollars is nearly twice the salary of the president of the United States. This is the kind of stuff that outrages average Americans who must play by different rules and get much less pay. While the politicians are focused on the salaries of corporate CEOs, they ought to be taking a look at some within the ranks of government.

How can a quasi-government agency ask for a postal rate increase and possibly reduced service while at the same time paying their top guy a salary like this?

Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.