1. Set Focus
Frame the inquiry with these essential questions: What benefits does the post office provide? Could private companies provide the same benefits?
2. Read and Discuss
Have students read the debate and then answer the following questions:
- What is the issue being debated? How does it relate to current events? (The issue is whether the U.S. government should eliminate the post office and allow private companies to fully control mail and package delivery. The issue is timely because the post office is losing money due to less demand for its services.)
- Evaluate why these two authors might be interested in and qualified to comment on this issue. (Mark Dimondstein is the head of the union that advocates for postal workers. Parker Sheppard is a scholar at a think tank that supports conservative public policies.)