We'd all miss it big time if it were done away with like some in congress would like to do - let's face it, the cost of sending a letter or a birthday card would be out of sight. According to a commercial I've seen on TV the reason the PO is in such bad shape financially is because of something congress did making them pay the majority of the monies it makes into a fund - Living in a small rural town I know that we would never receive mail if it were left up to private carriers - I'll gladly pay the additonal pennies they require - beats the alternative!