The Simpsons: USPS sells out to pop culture?

Desperate times call for desperate measures

For centuries, the US Postal Service has taken a dignified approach in its selection of designs for postage stamps. Even as the organization has occasionally veered off in strange directions with its choices (Salsa dancing, mahogany speedboats, clouds), it has still maintained a variety of historic figures, presidents, writers, artists, flags, national parks, and even Hollywood legends. But the times are tough and things are changing.



In March the Postal Service announced it would be suspending the third installment of 10 state flags until 2010, and eliminating artist Edward Hopper's stamp with his 1935 painting, The Long Leg (shown above). Like everyone, the Postal Service has fallen on hard times and needs to squeeze every nickel. So when the service announced an unscheduled addition to the year's line up, we realized it was time to take a closer look. Surprisingly, the cancelled stamps, perfect examples of traditional postal propriety, have been unceremoniously replaced by none other than Bart Simpson and his dysfunctional family!

With the USPS on track to post losses in the billions this year, the $8 billion question has become: Is the Post Office really so desperate that it would sell out to commercial interests, creating an advertisement for a current television show which many find objectionable, just to bolster the bottom line? Has the service forever traded high culture for pop culture in the selection process for stamp designs? And what role may the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Council have played in this decision? It seems unlikely that Council dignitaries such as Mrs. Walter Mondale and Mr. Karl Malden would have supported such an odd choice.

The USPS made a similar selection that served as an advertisement when it issued the Hershey Kiss stamp awhile back, as well as a multi-sheet Disney series, and Warner Brothers cartoons a few years ago. While we support the Postal Service's efforts to increase revenue in these desperate times, a bit of decorum would be in order. Those who are most inclined to follow the adventures of the Simpson family are likely people of an age who don't buy many stamps. If the stamp sells as few as we expect, it is our hope this experiment in pop culture edginess will steer the Post Office away from cartoon characters and back to honoring what is great about America.

And while you're at it, Mr. Potter, if you want to make some money, how about these ideas: a sheet of 50 National Parks; major American city skylines; American inventions; Presidential pets; Invention and development of the telephone; Natalie Wood; Spencer Tracy; Barbara Stanwyck; George Burns; Fred Astaire; Joan Crawford; Burt Lancaster; William Holden; and Vivien Leigh. And when the 10 year waiting period has ended: Paul Newman; Jack Lemmon; and Walter Matthau. Those ought to keep you going for awhile.

The Simpson stamps were released today, May 7, 2009. We urge our readers to commemorate the event by buying a pack of Forever Stamps.