The article outlines how a successful modern foreign policy career requires blending traditional diplomatic expertise with private sector acumen. Juster's career trajectory—from international law to high-stakes diplomacy (e.g., the Gulf War) and subsequently to the technology sector—demonstrates this synthesis. Key evidence includes his work managing complex negotiations under duress and his involvement in co-founding the U.S.-India High Technology Group. The implication for policy is that effective geopolitical strategy must actively integrate private sector knowledge and technological considerations to manage modern economic and security challenges.
The US Postal Service’s fiscal crisis
English Summary
The U.S. Postal Service is facing an imminent liquidity crisis as its statutory self-financing model fails to sustain the Universal Service Obligation (USO) amidst a 56% decline in First-Class Mail volume since 2007. This fiscal strain is driven by a structural mismatch where the value of the postal monopoly no longer covers the fixed costs of nationwide delivery and mandated retiree obligations. To avoid cash exhaustion within the next year, the article argues that Congress must intervene through pension restructuring, explicit appropriations for the USO, or increased borrowing authority. Failure to act will likely result in service degradation that disproportionately affects rural populations and small businesses dependent on postal infrastructure.
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