The USPS has their chips stacked against them, and it's too bad. The US Mail is one of the most critical pieces of government infrastructure in our country. A few things to consider:
Should the USPS be profitable? Few agencies that provide direct services to citizens are required to meet that mandate. The USPS is privatized (The Postal Service is a self-funding entity), but wholly politicized and encumbered by congressional mandate and
others. USPS price increases to meet market demands are regularly
overturned by the courts - UPS, FedEx & DHL don't have that problem...
The reality is that the USPS is, by many measures
the greatest mail system in the world. The United States has the unique burden of being one one of the most populous countries in the world while also having a relatively
low population density. This further exacerbates the role of the USPS - who guarantees to deliver to all 50 states. Generally speaking, I can depend on a US Postal Priority package to make it just about anywhere in the country in four days, or up and down the east coast in two days. Its an amazing service for the money.
They are in no way perfect, and having dealt with the bureaucracy personally - not much different from any other gov't agency. But the service? Generally? Its awesome and I'll use it every time I can. Their prices are abnormally low for the service delivered.