Out of Control

Lance Armstrong keeps doing his thing and the Postal Service keeps doing its thing:

The Postal Service must revamp its operations to stay on firm financial footing, according to a Government Accountability Office report released [in May].

So this San Diego Business Journal article of mine from two years ago feels kind of current again:

Even those of us who aren’t particularly interested in cycling marvel at Armstrong’s dominance. We tried to savor some of the exhilaration he felt when he stood on the winner’s platform, worn but victorious. The “Star Spangled Banner” played in tribute to this champion who so exemplifies the romantic spirit of America.

Armstrong even received a very special congratulatory phone call from the Postmaster General. Imagine the thrill. Who among us hasn’t dreamt of getting a call from the most important mailman of them all?

Actually, that’s not right at all. After all, the U.S. Postal Service exemplifies the bureaucratic sprit—sluggish, dreary, and frightened of competition. Which makes it all the more ironic that the postal service would use Armstrong as its spokesman. Have sponsor and spokesman ever epitomized such differing values?

BTW, Lance isn’t ruling out a career in politics.