Last month my friend Hollis, and other homeless people, were evicted from the premises of Safeway market where they sat outside. Hollis is a Veteran, and part Cherokee. He is trying to get on the tribal rolls. Two days ago he and his constant companion, Steve, were asked to move off the bus bench they sat on while listening to the baseball game. Steve and Hollis are avid sports fans, and I have had them over for dinner to watch America’s favorite pass time. I took our wayfarers to see the Ems.

Last Saturday, Hollis and I drove around for an hour looking for the place where they were having a Military Stand Down. If we could have found this out of the way place, Hollis could have been reated to many free serivces by the United States Military – our Government. Yesterday, we put our minds together, trying to come up with an idea that would make the plight of the poor and marginal people in America more visible, because there appears be a policy by some big business men, and members of big and local government, to pretend there are no little people being hurt by our poor economy and draconian cuts instigated by the Tea Party – so called patriots who first appeared at the Springfield Post Office. I went to see them, and heard how they are for the People. But, it looks like they are for big business and big bank – and doing away with the United States Post Office that gave them a Sanctuary for their new ideas!

Posts Offices can become a Stock Market for the Poor and Disenfranchised. Lady Liberty welcomes these people! What I suggest, is that Hollis and other invisible people who are in need of help, come to the Post Office, put down a blanket, and trade or sell donated objects. For every dollar the Post Traders collect, 40 % percent will be used to save our post office nationwide. Consider this a Postal Tax that is willingly given in exchange for a place The People can come to exchange information and ideas, seek, and offer employment, and collect food for poor families. We can promote mailing ‘I Care’ boxes to distant friends and relatives, stocked with bartered items, and donated surplus food. For two months I have been mailing my friend Chris in New York, used clothing I purchase at the Salvation Army.

I am going to send this idea to my Congressman, Peter DeFazio, and suggest he instigate a year round, monthly – traveling Military Stand Down at Post Offices all over Oregon. If the Republicans can spend two trillion dollars bringing the Iraqis and Afghanistisan, “God’s gift of Liberty” as George Bush put it along with mititary medical help – then our Blessed United States Government, can bring God’s gift of Mercy to American citizens give them Sanctuary in a storm.

I am going to suggest to the Wall Street Demonstrators that they align themselves with the Trading Post Movement, and barter and trade in the park they have used as their headquarters. Elected officials are trying to pass a law that forbids these demonstrators to put their possessions on the ground in order to put an end to those who are camping. Consider the Native Americans who came to Trading Posts to barter their rares. It is said, the new comers cheated the Indians, and bought the Island of Manhattan for a string of beads. We the People can offer all Americans a Better Deal! We need to gather around the old pot belly stoves and give help to our fellow American directly. I suggest all post offices that are on the verge of closing, be turned into Trading Posts, second hand stores, that cut out the middle man, and make the least amongst us – visible!

My Rosamond ancestors were Real Patriots who fought under the Francis Marion. Unfortunately, they also fought against the Cherokee Nation, the first people that God brought to America. My ancestors evicted them from their land. We also owned slaves we brought here against their will. This War on the Poor must come to and end. When those who have, go to the post office to mail a package or letter, bring a can of food, or an item the have nots can use for barter. Contrary to what the Tea baggers are saying, the first European settlers came to America to escape religious persecution, and not make a killing on the Stock Market, or promote Capitalism. My grandmother’s people were Franciscan Nuns who were forced to leave Germany during the Kulturkumpf. They came to Iowa and began helping the poor and the Native Americans.

Jon Presco

A trading post (or as frequently a trading fort in colonial contexts or circumstances) is a place or establishment where the trading of goods takes place. The preferred travel route to a trading post or between trading posts, is known as a trade route.
Trading posts were also places for people to meet and exchange the news of the world or simply the news from their home country (many of the world’s trading posts were located in places which were popular destinations for emigration) in a time when not even newspapers existed.
Trading posts in general were of great importance to the history of currency. Though barter has been used for millennia and continues to be used, almost from the start of trading post history, the need occurred to have something as a payment medium. Soon trade tokens and eventually coins were produced from precious metals like gold, silver and copper for the use of buying and selling goods instead of simply exchanging them. After the introduction of currency, the first banks occurred in Genoa and Venice almost immediately.
European colonialism traces its roots to ancient Carthage. Originally a trading settlement of Phoenician colonists, Carthage grew into a vast economic and political power throughout the Mediterranean, accumulating wealth and influence through its economic (trading) prowess. Almost every city of importance of the world once started its history as a trading post: Venice, New York, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Naples, Rotterdam etc.
The annexation of trading posts along ancient trade routes took place in the 16th and 17th century by European powers like the Dutch and English. It began with the capture of Ceuta (a terminus of the trans-Saharan trade route) by the Portuguese in 1415. They went on to establish further enclaves as they explored the coasts of Africa, Arabia, India and South East Asia in search of the source of the lucrative spice trade. Trading posts were also very common in the early settlements of Canada and the United States for the trade of such things as fur. They were also used in many camps across America as places to buy snacks, items and souvenirs.
The Hudson’s Bay Company set up trading posts around Hudson Bay during the fur trade. Goods were traded for beaver pelts amongst the Europeans and the Native Americans. In the United States in the early 19th century, trading posts used by Native Americans were licensed by the federal government and called “factories”. Tribes were to concede substantial territory to the United States in order to access the “factories” as happened at Fort Clark in the Treaty of Fort Clark in which the Osage Nation conceded most of Missouri in order to access the trading post.
[edit] Other uses
In the context of Scouting, trading post usually refers to a camp store where snacks, craft materials and general merchandise are sold.
A “trading post” can also be referred to as the place where securities listed on the New York Stock Exchange are traded (bought and sold).
In recent years, many people have developed their own trading posts such as the Front Range Trading Post in Colorado Springs, CO. Trades include handmade and hand grown/raised items, baked goods and more. Cash is not accepted, only bartering is allowed.