Editorial: Stamping out increases

Thursday, March 1, 2007 | 7:10 a.m.

The frustration and confusion that U.S. postal consumers often experience, at least in the weeks following a postal rate increase for first-class letters, could soon be no more.

The Postal Regulatory Commission has proposed issuing a universal stamp that would lock in the rate of mailing a first-class letter at whatever price the postal consumer paid. Even if first-class postage rates go higher, consumers still could use the so-called "forever stamps" they purchased at a lower rate.

The Postal Service's Board of Governors now will consider whether to approve the new stamp, which is paired with a proposal to raise the first-class postage to 41 cents. If approved, it could be available in May.

The "forever stamp" has the potential to abolish the seemingly forever waits in post offices that consumers experience as they seek to buy new first-class stamps, supplies of which are routinely depleted after first-class rates go up.

Postal Service spokesman Mark Saunders recently told The Washington Post that he envisions a day in the future when "great-great-great grandchildren go through your junk drawer at home" and, upon discovering forever stamps, will learn that "they'll still be able to use them."

Tomorrow's children will use them, that is, if they even know what stamps are - or were. Today's children already correspond almost solely via text messaging and e-mail. Many adults pay their bills online and use e-mail as well. The idea of a forever stamp works only if we assume that letters will be forever, too.