One of the first tasks facing me when I arrive home from a trip is sorting the US mail that piled up while I was away. Eagerly I search for notes from family and friends. Warily I pull out bills to be paid. None of this is simple because of the overwhelming amount of unsolicited mail so easily labeled as 'junk'.

Once I pictured the junk as the equivalent of trees piled on my floor. If I used my mathematical genius I could figure out the lost trees used for this unwanted mail that falls into my mail box. What a waste of trees! A plaintive wail comes with some pages attesting to being made of recycled materials. Oh yes, not at the expense of the forests - just added chemicals and extensive energy.

As if that isn't enough the US Postal service frequently reminds the world that under the present practice postal users are not paying their way. Congress is asked to supplement the postal budget (which it does) and from somewhere comes the suggestion to raise rates of the users.

Our taxes have continuously gone to supplement the bulk-rate users who manage to overload my postal carrier with pounds of used or recycles trees for a tiny fraction of what I pay for each ounce I mail to those I hold dear.

Requests for donations in a business-size envelope for any conceivable cause have rates reduced to 24 cents from the 34 cents I am required to pay. The 6-cent difference is a deficit that really counts up when we estimate the total millions mailed each month. I get 4 or more every week over and above legitimate bills.

Nonprofit mail comes for as little as 7 cents, at least for those with postmarks. Many letters come with an uncanceled 'Nonprofit Org' stamp for which it takes a major sleuth to discover exactly what postage was paid.

Multiply the difference by millions and what a mind-boggling sum!

Now do we have to guess where that money comes from? The US will not let Postal Services go unpaid so here comes Congress to the rescue.

The national budget comes up for consideration by Congress and our Senators and Representatives should look at the extra taxes placed upon every citizen, regardless of income, by supplementing the bulk mail users. The more consideration multi-bulk mailers get, the more junk they send.

Sure bulk rates have also gone up but not to the extent that bulk mailings have escalated. I contribute to many nonprofit organizations and groan each time the rates increase but I would gladly pay extra to those I choose to support for more equitable postal rates.

I contact my elected congressional members to let them know how I feel. How about you?