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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Police Reports Schneider Art Museum installation re-imagines Rivera UPDATED: Two lanes open after I-5 truck crash near Siskiyou Summit 10 things to know for Friday Education New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Why OLLI matters: A personal perspective Southern Oregon University names director of marketing Dianne Williamson: College admissions mania ill-advised Rotary Club of Ashland names Riley O'Sullivan as Student of the Month Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Iconic Ashland bookstore to celebrate 35th anniversary on April 19 Test Drive: 2015 Honda Accord Cars We Remember: The original Candymatic Ramchargers Politics and elections Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others Arthur I. Cyr: South Korea represents long-term triumph – for them and for US State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Ashland Rowing Club hires highly touted coach and national-award winning team director to lead expansion Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Blazers fight back, edge Jazz Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory High school Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Grizzlies rally past GP, to 2-0 start Ashland boys capture another Sato Cup snowboard title at Mt. Bachelor Southern Oregon University Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Oregon bows out Voices Latest Stories Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Letters to the Editor, March 27 Editorial Our View: Build it; they will play Our View: How it should work Our View: Ashland High principal is the head of her class Our View: Tuition trauma Our View: SOU's economic clout Letters Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Letters to the Editor, March 20 Letters to the Editor, March 19 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity Philip Maddocks: GOP plan offers hope for poor once they become rich Matthew T. Mangino: A clearer picture of police shootings begins to emerge Jeffrey Gillespie: Pax Americana? At what price? Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Top 5 things to do this week Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Community blog: Words, wine and Craig Wright 4 Things To Do This Week Theater Ticket availability Ticket Availability Ashland Contemporary Theatre seeks new artistic director Ticket Availability The Oregon Shakespeare Festival presents Eugene O'Neill's autobiographical 'Long Day's Journey into Night' Music Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Improv rock and folk band hosts a dance party at the Ashland Community Center Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: In ‘Danny Collins,’ Pacino helps us imagine a Lennon story Noah Baumbach talks Ben Stiller, adult comedies and more In 'Timbuktu,' lust for power disturbs peace Movie review: ‘The Gunman’ misses the target Movie listings: March 20-26 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque App Finder: Best barbecue apps Health Watch: It’s OK to have a cheat day Inner Peace: The good, the bad and the spiritual Antionette Kerr: Tourney fever gets superstitious Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... Ashland Calendar: Saturday, March 28 ... Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent ... Herb Rothschild Jr: Failing at charity ... COMMENTARY Jeffrey Gillespie: Et tu, Barack? Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 6, 2015 at 12:01 AM What do you think? --> Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter. » Read more X What do you think? Have an opinion on this issue? Send a letter to the editor at www.dailytidings.com/sendletter . » Social News Capitulation to corporate interests, even by populist Democratic presidents in their last couple of years in office, is old news. Carter did it with airline deregulation in 1978. Clinton did it when he obliterated Glass-Stiegel in 1999. When Barack Obama ran for president, one of his central campaign promises was that he would re-evaluate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a much maligned globalization tactic signed into law by President Clinton in 1994. Apparently, what Obama meant to say was that he would create a monolithic trade scenario, with a scope and ferocity that would make NAFTA look humble by comparison. Lately, he has been pushing anew for the multi-state alliance known as the Trans Pacific Partnership, or TPP, which, if passed, will become the largest free trade deal in history. The TPP is shrouded in secrecy. While oversight and access is being offered to hundreds of lawyers and lobbyists for the multinational corporations who will participate, members of Congress have been forced to lobby the White House for access to the actual contents of the agreement. Indeed, the contents are so secret that congressional leaders who are issued a copy of the draft text are compelled to read it on their own, without their staffers. They are then required to return the draft under a virtual gag order. Never mind that the US Congress is mandated to have total authority over free trade under Article One of the Constitution. So, why all the cloak-and-dagger? Unsurprisingly, the TPP has more to do with big-business protectionism (as well as the curtailment of democratic rights) than it does with actual trade. Robert Reich has called it the ultimate "corporate Trojan Horse." The small amount of information that has been leaked to the press is disturbing. Apparently, a key provision of the agreement is the ability that international companies will have to sue nation states in the event that the institutions do not recoup their money on a given investment. The litigation process would be handled, outside of any formal court structure, by an international corporate tribunal. It would be prosecuted and overseen by attorneys for the aggrieved corporation. Additional provisions allow for pharmaceutical companies to extend their patents indefinitely to delay cheaper generics, reduced Internet privacy, relaxed environmental standards, and the continued outsourcing of American jobs abroad. When you consider that the poorest participating country, Peru, has an average annual per capita income of about $11,500, then you can imagine where this all might lead; towards another race to the bottom for big companies and Wall Street banks. Another chance for these entities to eliminate rules and regulations that get in the way of their profits. The administration is attempting to fast-track the agreement, leaving it free from any public review or power to amend. Furthermore, they are promoting the job benefit of the program. The Commerce Department is suggesting that the TPP will create about 650,000 jobs. But since the estimate is based on a calculation that for every billion dollars in exports, there will be 5,500 new jobs created, the gain is nullified. That's because the calculation is ignoring the fact that American imports under the deal would increase by almost the same amount as exports. The real story here is additional deregulation by way of global expansion, to the benefit of the people at the very top. Not only does the agreement dilute the quality of products being delivered into the U.S, but the provisions in the agreement, while all but unseen to the general public in each country, would be privately enforceable by the participating corporations. It's a bad move from Obama, and another bad idea for the American people. Say no to the TPP. Jeffrey Gillespie's writing has appeared in the Santa Fean and Art Collector magazines, the Portland Mercury and Willamette Week. He lives in Ashland. 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