[DuncanWaring]

Having someone grow a kiwi fruit in New Zealand, harvesting it, shipping it to the United States, and buying it at a supermarket, all using private services: about 33 cents.

How much would it cost to have someone in New Zealand box one kiwi fruit and send it to you, using the shipper of your choice?

[Our man in washington]

Having someone grow a kiwi fruit in New Zealand, harvesting it, shipping it to the United States, and buying it at a supermarket, all using private services: about 33 cents.

How much would it cost to have someone in New Zealand box one kiwi fruit and send it to you, using the shipper of your choice? A lot more than 33 cents,but the point is that private industry has optimized the method of delivery. I have to go to the supermarket to pick it up, but free markets generally entail some kind of compromise. Public enterprises pretend no such compromises exist.

For example, people might be happy to go to the post office to pick up mail if it would drive the price down by some considerable percentage. Right now, they get no discount for doing so.

[Focault's Pendulum]

How much would it cost to have someone in New Zealand box one kiwi fruit and send it to you, using the shipper of your choice?

Using the most economical means:
For a package weighing .3 lbs
USPS $74.95
Fedex $91.15