They and their friends, however, can deliver text mail, and pay bills, which is a big reason why the Post Office is having trouble.
The "constantly declining when adjusted for inflation" isn't quite right. Try plugging in numbers from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_United_States_postage_rates into http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm.
Example:
1919: .02 2012: .026 (much less than cost of stamp today)
1958: .04 2012: .32 (much less than cost of stamp today)
no subject
The "constantly declining when adjusted for inflation" isn't quite right. Try plugging in numbers from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_United_States_postage_rates into http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm.
Example:
1919: .02
2012: .026 (much less than cost of stamp today)
1958: .04
2012: .32 (much less than cost of stamp today)
1971: .08
2012: .45 (same as cost of stamp today)
1981: .20
2012: .50 (more than cost)
1991: .29
2012: .49 (more than cost)
1995: .32
2012: .48 (more than cost)
2001: .34
2012: .44 (less than cost)