Our Founding Fathers knew the importance of mail.
In 1775, a year before the Declaration of Independence, the Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General. Letters, newspapers and other communications flew up and down the eastern seaboard, helping unite the colonies-turned-states.
Certainly, The Active Age couldn’t exist without the U.S. Postal Service. Since our start in 1979, mail has been the primary means by which The Active Age is delivered to readers. But in recent years, USPS postage rates have put a severe strain on our operations.
The announcement that rates will go up again by 4.8 percent on July 12 marks the eigth postage hike since 2021. During that period, our cost of mailing The Active Age has more than doubled, making postage our single-biggest expense.
I doubt if old Ben Franklin himself could make USPS solvent again. One can only hope its current strategy doesn’t lead to the “circling the drain” phenomena, where rising cost depresses demand, forcing costs higher, etc.
If you enjoy The Active Age, and want to help others keep enjoying it, please consider making a donation. And if you already have, please know that our staff, board, volunteers and readers truly appreciate it.
Contact Joe Stumpe at joe@theactiveage.com.
