Dateline Dayton — The Post Office and our government must cut costs, but it’s difficult for either of them to figure how to accomplish the tasks.

With our government, there are the pet projects of each representative. They must not be touched. Nothing can be done that will affect his or her district.

Therefore, what happens?

Nothing.

Sacrifices are going to be required. Every program needs to be examined for benefit and cost effectiveness. Who is willing to take a leadership role, especially with elections on the horizon?

Social Security must be returned to what it was originally intended to be, a pension plan for working Americans and their families. It never was meant to be a welfare program. The monies our government has expended for such services must be repaid. Those who did, and those of us who are still contributing to Social Security, should be able to get funds to which we are entitled.

Every time the Post Office makes a suggestion on where they might cut costs, someone objects. Close an office, and the folks in that area protest. Cut Saturday delivery, it meets with objections. Close a mail processing center and the entire area gets in an uproar. Since the “experts” can’t come up with the answers, I will volunteer:

The number of mail processing centers will be determined by the size of the state or states and the population served. At this time, the Post Office wants to close the Dayton Processing Center. The Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce is opposing the move. If it’s necessary for the future of reasonable mail delivery, do it. Even with closing some processing centers in Ohio, mail only should be delayed by one day, if your mail is at the Post Office by noon. Mail processing centers should operate six days a week.

Eliminate postal drop boxes.

Mail would be delivered three days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The use of Post Office boxes should be encouraged, where mail would be available six days a week.

Get rid of the deadwood in the postal system, be it delivery people, clerks, postmasters or other higher-ups. I would replace at least two clerks in the suburban Kettering office. Neither has concern for customer service.

Make better use of the clerk’s time, possibly having a runner so they can remain at their station helping customers, instead of hunting for mail and moving packages.

Increase postage to $.50 for a first class letter. Even at that price, it is a bargain.

A Different Direction

Changing the subject — How many children must die before there is action to provide caregivers (mothers, fathers, grandparents, boyfriends) with education? When are we going to wake up to the need for this kind of education? Another child has been killed in Dayton, this time at the hand of his mom’s boyfriend. Both thankfully, are in jail. The remaining children of the mother have been placed with Children Services, who had just opened a case on this family. Too little, too late.

It was reported the child suffered greatly. It was not an accident. There is no reason a small child should be subjected to this kind of cruelty. If laws need changing, do so. If enforcement is what is missing, fix that. Education is must. Let us make it mandatory.

Twelve years ago when we adopted our dog Jake, the Humane Society wouldn’t allow the pups to be adopted by anyone already having two dogs. They were concerned about the care these puppies would receive. Shouldn’t children have the right to be in a home,with capable caregivers? Are we ever going to require education for having children, or just let them continued to be killed by abusive individuals?

In Tuesday’s local paper, there was an obituary for a little boy. It listed all his “loving” relatives. Where were all these so-called loving relatives while this child was being abused and ultimately killed?

Mr. Hennessey may be contacted at pmhenn@sbcglobal.net