DeJoy’s policies, Trump’s attacks are no coincidence

Once is an accident. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern.

First, Trump started attacking the U.S. Postal Service in April, deriding its services and refusing to authorize financial support. Second, Trump began spreading falsehoods about the validity and security of mail-in voting, with his misleading statements coming more frequently as November approaches. Third, Trump appoints Louis DeJoy — a Republican donor and Trump ally — as postmaster general, and DeJoy rolls out new practices meant to increase USPS’s efficiency — eventually. But an internal USPS memo, cited by Federal News Network, acknowledges the changes have and will continue to create delays in mail delivery.

Once was a petty fight with Jeff Bezos over the cost Amazon’s using USPS for last-mile delivery. Twice is Trump trying to hedge his bets by casting doubt on mail-in voting. Three times is a noticeable effort to undermine the November election by eliminating mail-in — and absentee, which is basically the same thing — voting as a viable option for casting your ballot.

The quote that begins this piece is actually a corruption of a line from Goldfinger by Ian Fleming: “Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action.”

And the measures taken by Trump and his power-wielding supporters is beginning to look like enemy action.

DeJoy’s new policies eliminate overtime for mail carriers and forces them to start their routes at an appointed time. On the surface, this seems perfectly reasonable and cost effective. In practice, it means mail is getting left behind every day. According to Federal News Network, “Late or extra trips to deliver mail, the memo states ‘are no longer authorized or accepted.’ … USPS employees may see ‘mail left behind or mail on the workroom floor’ or in processing and distribution centers — a change ‘that may be difficult for some employees.’ ”

These new rules void the promise of the postal service to deliver mail to every address in the United States six days a week, because if the mail meant for you wasn’t sorted in time, you don’t get your mail.

The delays in sending and receiving mail in a timely manner caused by DeJoy’s changes plays right into Trump’s attempts to completely discredit the mail-in voting system. But the effects of a slow and strained postal service reach far beyond politics and elections.

For rural states like ours, where internet and phone connections are guaranteed, snail-mail is the way many people receive important information and documents, like Social Security checks, letters from loved ones and other government documents. Mail carriers are sometimes also the only consistent contact for homebound individuals and have been instrumental in noticing if someone has been hurt or incapacitated. The USPS is also one of the largest employers of veterans in the country.

The United States Postal Service is essential to our country — our communities. We cannot stand aside and allow political posturing to ruin an important part of our infrastructure.