August 18, 2007

Dear Mr. Potter:

Several weeks ago, this writer received a post card from State Farm claiming "US Postal Service records indicate someone in your household has submitted a permanent mailing address change."

The Buchanan Dam Texas Postmaster claims, to the best of his knowledge, the Post Office does not sell or give away mailing information. Also, none of State Farm Insurance correspondence to date contains "Address Correction Requested" on the envelope necessary to trigger such release of information by postal authorities.

-- If State Farm policy had indeed changed regarding address correction, it still made no sense since we are directly in the middle of the six-month billing period and no correspondence was expected anyway.

Contact was immediately made with the carrier, Atkinson State Farm Insurance, of Marble Falls, Texas. Office staff requested a copy of the post card so appropriate tracking could ensue. This writer quickly complied and was informed State Farm regional offices receive twice-yearly mailing list updates from the United States Postal Service (USPS.)

1) Is this true?
2) If so, is State Farm paying for this confidential information, or is it provided free of charge?

While State Farm does not abuse customer information to the best of my knowledge, it is still quite disturbing if major corporations are now buying or given forced confidential mailing information by USPS. If the Postal Service is indeed doing this, the public must be made aware.

The readers of my unfunded non-profit publication would certainly be most interested if true. There are also serious national security implications, as well.

Furthermore,
3) Can you kindly send a copy of USPS privacy policy, please?
4) Would you also kindly explain why USPS accepts "National Security Letters" in lieu of subpoenas or warrants signed by a judge?
5) Additionally, would you kindly explain how a "National Security Letter," issued by federal agents without benefit of probable cause and the discretion of a judge, is indeed constitutional and a substitute for a subpoena or warrant?
6) Does the Postal Service truly believe administrative fiat and/or federal statute trump the U.S. Constitution?

Finally, this writer has had repeated problems with mail delivery, -- particularly over the last several years. Mail is missing, or sometimes delayed for weeks. Even a simple matter, such as changing P.O. boxes, has recently led to mail that has not been delivered or delayed inordinately.

Consequently,
7) Are federal goons intercepting my mail without benefit of a judicially-authorized subpoena or warrant, -- or is it merely USPS gross incompetence?

… Or a combination of both? -- Or will you cowardly claim the USA "Patriot" Act precludes an answer? In Nazi America. … Where day is night, night is day, and manure smells perversely sweet.

Thanks for your cooperation, … or lack thereof, in this matter, i.e. in regard to responsive answers to the seven questions carefully enumerated above. -- Either way, my readers will quickly get the point.

Interestingly, the 1-800-ASK-USPS line hotly denies the Postal Service is selling or giving away customer information. The purpose of this correspondence is to determine the truth. … Or is that even possible with outrageously corrupt and abusive government?

Respectfully,
 

Tim Chorney, Publisher
Liberty In Peril
Formerly, The Llano Ledger
P.O. Box 151
Buchanan Dam, Texas 78609