Today in Weird Financial Comparisons: Fighter Jets vs. Postage Stamps

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The New York Times reports today that the Postal Service’s financial crisis continues to drag on:

Last year, the Postal Service’s operating revenue was $65 billion, but its operating expenses were $81 billion. To put that in context, $65 billion is about the amount the Pentagon has spent so far on the F-35 fighter jet program.

I’m curious: is it just me, or does this kind of comparison do nothing to put this into context for anyone else either? Speaking personally, it actually makes things less clear, since the cumulative budget of the F-35 fighter jet means nothing to me. Comments?

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