Post Office Responds To Internet Threat By Getting Even Slower

The U.S. Postal Service is going bankrupt thanks in part to people paying bills instantly online and conveying important news in Facebook posts rather than letters, and ironically, the proposed solution to the problem may drive more people onto the internet. The agency announced today that it’s closing about half of its 487 mail processing centers, which will eliminate next day delivery for first-class mail. Currently 40% of first-class mail is delivered in one day, but that won’t be possible with fewer processing centers. The closings could start as early as March and will eliminate about 28,000 jobs.

While being forced to wait an extra day for the movie you ordered on Netflix is the very definition of first world problems, the shift will have a noticeable impact. Daily newspapers and other periodicals could be out of date before they’re delivered, and you won’t be able to wait until the absolute last minute to make bill payments.