A relationship has been established between the mail processing equipment manufacturers, the mass mailers(including the non-profits) and the government which creates a loop. The more mail that is processed, the more the Postal Service can charge (based on mail volume). These rate increases allow for the purchase of mail processing equipment. This equipment is not used for it's entire useful life and is re-sold to mass mailers, other countries, or the scrap man. The mail that is processed is paid for in advance by the mass mailers. The government in turn allowed the expense of producing this mail to be written off by these companies for tax purposes. Were it not for the fraud, corruption and collusion, there would not be a "Forever Stamp". The purpose for the concept of the stamp is to remove the public from the decision making process regarding postal rates. Postal rates use to take six months to a year to determine. That time has been reduced to six weeks. Why? Because postal officials want to keep their jobs for life and they wish to avoid scrutiny. As mail volume goes down postal rates continue to increase... it's not logical.