Needless Aggravation

I wonder how cost-efficient the mailing of the Social Security Benefit Statement is. Could it be more expensive to print a 5-fold (counting the flap) mailing than to simply send it in regular envelope form? I think that in this age of technology, when most filers are urged to file electronically, that it is anachronistic, and borderline demeaning, to send a written communication that has instructions as to how to open it. "FOLD & TEAR OFF STUB" is printed on each end of the envelope, if I might call it that. But of course with 5 layers of folded paper, it's hard to tear the stub off, and impossible to tear it off evenly, so as to make it neat for filing purposes. "LIFT TO OPEN" reads the next instruction, on the flap of the so-called envelope. That would seem to be a no-brainer, as only the government would think that a person would need to be told you should lift the flap to open an envelope. But wait, it's not such a simple next step because the ragged edges of the statement left from the forcibly removed stub compromise the integrity of an envelope as we know it. Once you have opened the mailer, you see the "Facts About Your 2011 Social Security Benefit Statement," which advises that your Benefit Statement is on the BACK of this form, and "Facts About Computer Matching Programs" and "Notice 703--To See if Your Social Security Benefits May Be Taxable." We are directed to the information most important to us by the message, "See the Social Security Benefit Statement on the REVERSE. " An arrow points to the right, so we can figure out that's the reverse. At least on that side, evidently the FRONT, all printed material is pointed in the same direction. Once you turn the page over, to read the salient information, you encounter a 1/4 page stating that "IMPORTANT: TAX INFORMATION ENCLOSED." You know it's important anyway , because the statement is enclosed in a box. That part of the page advises you to keep the form for proof of benefits and invites you to visit their website. The next 1/4 page bears the addresses of sender and recipient, and for some reason is printed upside down compared to the top portion. The two 1/4 sections above that tell you want you want to know, and it's not very much info, would easily fit into a regular envelope. If that type and configuration were a more economical method of sending simple information, I would think more entities would use it. The private sector is notably cost-conscious and I don't see it used there. The only more unwieldly mailings I receive are through Publisher's ClearingHouse, and I sure don't file them away.