Cameron Blevins Profiled on the Importance of the US Post Office

Published: March 18, 2021

In 2020, the U.S. Postal Service handled more than 129 billion pieces of mail. Though that number is 78 billion less than it was in 2000, mail and package delivery has taken on new significance during the pandemic. Add controversies over its funding and an election that turned on millions of mail-in ballots, and the unassuming USPS—often disregarded by many Americans—has lately found itself the subject of attention.

“What I’m seeing is a realization amongst many Americans of just how ubiquitous and important this institution is in their lives in ways that are very, very easy to take for granted,” says Cameron Blevins, Associate Professor of History. “A lot of the debate around the U.S. Postal Service today rests on the false assumption that the postal service should operate like a private business,” he adds.

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