HOW WE SEE IT: Walk The Walk On Postal Service

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — U.S. Rep.-elect Steve Womack of Rogers got elected by campaigning on a tough stand on government spending, running government efficiently and making government serve the people instead of letting it live off the taxpayer.

Fiscal conservatism, like charity, begins at home.

Therefore, Womack should support the idea of consolidating U.S. Postal Service operations into acenter in Fayetteville.

The U.S. Postal Service announced a loss of $8.5 billion in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. This compares to $6.1 billion in losses the previous two years - combined.

One of the few things that fell flatter than the U.S.

economy since 2008 hasbeen mail traffic. The revenues of the Postal Service have fallen with it.

Closer to home, the explosive growth of Northwest Arkansas may have slowed, but the pattern of mail use has plummeted. It made no sense to maintain as many offices as we do when the volume of mail was normal.

It’s a burden now.

We have nothing against Fort Smith, where the would-be consolidated operations would come from.

We hate to see any town lose jobs, and we’re talking about 70 jobs in Fort Smith that would go elsewhere.

This is not a matter of our personal likes and dislikes, however. This is a matter of an economy that’s fallen flat and a very loud and clear message from voters.

Taxpayers are no longer willing to support government in the manner in which government has become accustomed.

The 3rd Congressional District of Arkansas was fiscally conservative for a lot longer in its history than it was Republican. It’s one of the most fiscally conservative - and now Republican - districts in the county. Womack and his message of returning to sanity won the election in November with more than 72 percent of the vote.

How can any such a congressman, elected on such a platform by such a margin in such a district oppose making one of government’s most basic services less costly to taxpayers?

It’s Congress, not postal workers, who keep the service on a delivery schedule that runs six days a week. It’s also Congress that keeps marginal local post offices open throughout every state.

We hate to see people forced to move to keep the job they have, especially with home prices as stricken as they are these days. At least postal workers would have a job to move to, however - which is more than can be said for millions of the Postal Service’s customers.

While we’re naming names in this call to do something, let’s not leave out U.S. Sen.-elect John Boozman, whom Womack is replacing. The two should work together with the new Republican majority in Congress to see that the expressed will of the voters is applied at home.