Lessons from the US Postal Service

Mark Perry notes a contrast between the publicly-run USPS and privately-run Coke in light of the former's decision to eliminate vending machines:

As a consumer I don't like this, as I prefer to buy stamps from the machine rather than wait in line. But, as Perry notes, the USPS is not a customer-oriented organization.

President Obama, meanwhile, compares the USPS with UPS and Fedex:



And remember, establishing post offices is specifically mentioned in the Constitution while health care is not. If the government struggles to do that which it is empowered and tasked with doing, what confidence do we have in its ability to provide for those things traditionally outside its purview?