Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Investigating the essential role that postal system plays in American democracy and how the corporate sector has attempted to destroy it.
The U.S. Postal System is under assault. For decades, corporate interests and ideologues have sought to convert this invaluable public institution into yet another profit-driven corporation. In 2020, the attacks escalated. In the middle of a pandemic and a presidential election dependent on mail-in ballots, the newly installed postmaster, Louis DeJoy, disrupted postal operations by slowing down mail delivery, decreasing window hours, and removing mail-processing equipment and neighborhood mailboxes. An outraged and indignant public fought back and scored a victory, reversing his policies.
Though that stage of the battle ended in a public victory, the corporate war against the Postal System continues. In First Class, Christopher Shaw provides a brief history of the USPS, exposing the various campaigns against it, who has been waging them, and the consequences to the American public--and democracy itself--if they are not stopped
Praise for First Class:
Such visionary leaders like Benjamin Franklin created our universal postal service for the common good of all Americans. But--lookout America --here comes a cabal of greedheads and boneheads to plunder and corporatize this essential public resource. Shaw's book alerts us to this thievery, and shows us how to stop it.--Jim Hightower, syndicated columnist and radio commentator
"Shaw does an impressive job documenting how the Postal Service has provided a wide range of public services, going well beyond delivering the mail, for more than two centuries. This book should be essential reading for anyone who thinks that privatizing the Postal Service is a good idea, or that privatization of public services always leads to gains in efficiency."--Dean Baker, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research
"This book has enormous reach for the American future and immediate relevance to the present moment. . . . As Christopher Shaw here demonstrates (with a wonderful blend of warmth and anxiety) we are threatened with the 'privatization' of the U.S. Mail His book is a veritable populist alarm bell in the night."--Lawrence C. Goodwyn, Professor Emeritus of History, Duke University
"Required reading for anyone who wants to understand the push to privatize the post office and why it needs to be resisted."--Steve Hutkins, editor of Save the Post Office and Professor of English at New York University
Synopsis
Investigating the essential role that the postal system plays in American democracy and how the corporate sector has attempted to destroy it.
The fight over the future of the U.S. Postal Service is on. Political ideologues and corporate interests have long sought to remake the USPS from a public institution into a private business, and in 2020, during an election dependent on mail-in votes, the attacks escalated. This year, with mid-term elections fast approaching and the next presidential contest on the horizon, attempts to undermine the essential role of the USPS are gaining ground. Three states have already passed laws to limit voting by mail, with more poised to do the same. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently unveiled a "10-year plan" that openly promises slower delivery times, price hikes on postage, and reduced access to post offices, outlining the next stage of battle.
In First Class, Christopher Shaw provides an illuminating history of the U.S. Postal Service, exposing the various campaigns against it. He argues that current attacks have implications that go beyond the future of mail service, and will have grave consequences for American democracy if they are not stopped.
Praise for First Class:
Such visionary leaders like Benjamin Franklin created our universal postal service for the common good of all Americans. But--lookout America --here comes a cabal of greedheads and boneheads to plunder and corporatize this essential public resource. Shaw's book alerts us to this thievery, and shows us how to stop it.--Jim Hightower, syndicated columnist and radio commentator
"Shaw does an impressive job documenting how the Postal Service has provided a wide range of public services, going well beyond delivering the mail, for more than two centuries. This book should be essential reading for anyone who thinks that privatizing the Postal Service is a good idea, or that privatization of public services always leads to gains in efficiency."--Dean Baker, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and author of Rigged
"Required reading for anyone who wants to understand the push to privatize the post office and why it needs to be resisted."--Steve Hutkins, editor of Save the Post Office and Professor of English at New York University
Christopher W. Shaw's First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat makes a passionate but well-argued case for a healthy USPS. Shaw organizes his methodical argument around decades of attacks on the USPS; in doing so, he effectively refutes the flawed (and often anti-democratic) cases for privatization and deregulation. The USPS is essential for a democratic American society; thank goodness we have this new book from Christopher W. Shaw explaining why.--Danny Caine, author of Save the USPS and owner of the Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS
Synopsis
Investigating the essential role that the postal system plays in American democracy and how the corporate sector has attempted to destroy it.
The Postal Service is the crown jewel of the American experiment, our most efficient, trusted and beloved public service. With First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat, Christopher Shaw makes a brilliant case for polishing the USPS up and letting it shine in the 21st century.--John Nichols, national affairs correspondent for The Nation and author of Coronavirus Criminals and Pandemic Profiteers: Accountability for Those Who Caused the Crisis
The fight over the future of the U.S. Postal Service is on. Political ideologues and corporate interests have long sought to remake the USPS from a public institution into a private business, and in 2020, during an election dependent on mail-in votes, the attacks escalated. This year, with mid-term elections fast approaching and the next presidential contest on the horizon, attempts to undermine the essential role of the USPS are gaining ground. Three states have already passed laws to limit voting by mail, with more poised to do the same. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy recently unveiled a "10-year plan" that openly promises slower delivery times, price hikes on postage, and reduced access to post offices, outlining the next stage of battle.
In First Class, Christopher Shaw provides an illuminating history of the U.S. Postal Service, exposing the various campaigns against it. He argues that current attacks have implications that go beyond the future of mail service, and will have grave consequences for American democracy if they are not stopped.
Praise for First Class:
Such visionary leaders like Benjamin Franklin created our universal Postal Service for the common good of all Americans. But--lookout America --here comes a cabal of greedheads and boneheads to plunder and corporatize this essential public resource. Shaw's book alerts us to this thievery, and shows us how to stop it.--Jim Hightower, syndicated columnist and radio commentator
Christopher Shaw makes the case for the importance of the Postal Service to democracy in the United States. He argues compellingly that we should be looking to rebuild it, rather than tear it down and privatize it.--Dean Baker, co-founder of the Center for Economic and Policy Research and author of Rigged
Piece by piece, an essential national infrastructure is being dismantled without our consent. Shaw makes an eloquent case for why the post office is worth saving and why, for the sake of American democracy, it must be saved.--Steve Hutkins, founder/editor of Save the Post Office and Professor of English at New York University
The USPS is essential for a democratic American society; thank goodness we have this new book from Christopher W. Shaw explaining why.--Danny Caine, author of Save the USPS and owner of the Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS
Shaw's excellent analysis of the Postal Service and its vital role in American Democracy couldn't be more timely. ... First Class should serve as a clarion call for Americans to halt the dismantling and to, instead, preserve and enhance the institution that can bind the nation together.--Ruth Y. Goldway, Retired Chair and Commissioner, U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission, responsible for the Forever Stamps
Synopsis
Investigating the essential role that the postal system plays in American democracy and how the corporate sector has attempted to destroy it.
With First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat, Christopher Shaw makes a brilliant case for polishing the USPS up and letting it shine in the 21st century.--John Nichols, national affairs correspondent for The Nation and author of Coronavirus Criminals and Pandemic Profiteers: Accountability for Those Who Caused the Crisis
The fight over the future of the U.S. Postal Service is on. For years, corporate interests and political ideologues have pushed to remake the USPS, turning it from a public institution into a private business--and now, with mail-in voting playing a key role in local, state, and federal elections, the attacks have escalated. Leadership at the USPS has been handed over to special interests whose plan for the future includes higher postage costs, slower delivery times, and fewer post offices, policies that will inevitably weaken this invaluable public service and source of employment.
Despite the general shift to digital communication, the vast majority of the American people--and small businesses--still rely heavily on the U.S. postal system, and many are rallying to defend it. First Class brings readers to the front lines of the struggle, explaining the various forces at work for and against a strong postal system, and presenting reasonable ideas for strengthening and expanding its capacity, services, and workforce. Emphasizing the essential role the USPS has played ever since Benjamin Franklin served as our first Postmaster General, author Christopher Shaw warns of the consequences for the country--and for our democracy--if we don't win this fight.
Praise for First Class:
Piece by piece, an essential national infrastructure is being dismantled without our consent. Shaw makes an eloquent case for why the post office is worth saving and why, for the sake of American democracy, it must be saved.--Steve Hutkins, founder/editor of Save the Post Office and Professor of English at New York University
The USPS is essential for a democratic American society; thank goodness we have this new book from Christopher W. Shaw explaining why.--Danny Caine, author of Save the USPS and owner of the Raven Book Store, Lawrence, KS
Shaw's excellent analysis of the Postal Service and its vital role in American Democracy couldn't be more timely. ... First Class should serve as a clarion call for Americans to halt the dismantling and to, instead, preserve and enhance the institution that can bind the nation together.--Ruth Y. Goldway, Retired Chair and Commissioner, U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission, responsible for the Forever Stamps
In a time of community fracture and corporate predation, Shaw argues, a first-class post office of the future can bring communities together and offer exploitation-free banking and other services.--Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen