奥巴马每周电视讲话 2010年4月24日

Weekly Address: Good News from the Auto¹ Industry
 【2010年4月24日】奥巴马每周电视讲话：来自汽车工业的好消息
 
As the auto industry and financial markets begin to stabilize², the President says the government’s emergency interventions³ are now winding⁴ down. He pledges that real reform, particularly on Wall Street, must now begin.
 由于汽车工业和金融市场渐趋稳定，总统称现在政府的紧急干预会逐渐放缓。并保证开始实施实实在在的改革，尤其是对于华尔街。
 
It was little more than one year age that our country faced a potentially devastating⁵ crisis in our auto industry. Over the course of 2008, the industry shed 400,000 jobs. In the midst of a financial crisis and deep recession, both General Motors and Chrysler—two companies that for generations were a symbol of America’s manufacturing might—were on the brink⁶ of collapse⁷. The rapid dissolution of these companies—followed by the certain failure of many auto parts makers⁸, and car dealers⁹, and other small businesses—would have dealt a crippling blow to our already suffering economy. The best estimates are that more than one million American workers could have lost their jobs.
 我们的汽车工业面临潜在毁灭性危机不是一年两年了。2008年以来，这个行业有40万人失业。在这次金融危机和严重经济衰退中，通用汽车（General Motors）和克莱斯勒（Chrysler）——这两家世代被我们认为是美国制造业象征的企业——濒临倒闭的边缘。这两家公司迅速地土崩瓦解，继之以大量汽车零部件生产商，汽车分销商以及小型公司的倒闭，让我们本就伤痕累累的经济雪上加霜。据最保守的估计，有超过100万人（在此期间）失业。
 
The previous administration extended temporary loans to both companies. Even so, when I took office, the situation remained dire¹⁰. We have to determine whether or not we could justify¹¹ additional taxpayers¹³ assistance. After all, many of the problems in the auto industry were a direct result of poor management decisions over decades. So it wasn’t an easy call.
 上届政府为这两家公司增加了紧急贷款。即便如此，我主政后，情况依然让人感到绝望。我们必须判定用纳税人的钱追加援助能否有效发挥作用。毕竟几十年以来糟糕的管理决策才是汽车工业大量问题的直接原因。因此，这并不是那么容易能做的决定。
 
But we decided¹⁴ that while providing additional assistance was a risk, the far greater risk to families and communities across the country was to do nothing. We agreed to additional help, but only if the companies and their stakeholders were willing to break with the past. They had to fundamentally reorganize, with new management that would reexamine the decisions that led to this mess and chart a path toward viability¹⁶.
 但我们认识到，尽管提供追加援助有点冒险，但不做为会让我们的家庭以及社会冒更大的险。（因此）我们最终决定追加援助，但前提条件是这些公司以及利益相关方愿意跟过去做个了断。他们必须从根本上进行重组，采用全新的管理来重新检讨带来危机的那些决策，并为未来做出可行性的规划。
 
I knew this wasn’t a popular decision. But it was the right one. So, GM and Chrysler went through painful restructurings: ones that required enormous sacrifices on the part of all involved. Many believed this was a fool’s errand. Many feared we would be throwing good money after bad: that taxpayers would lose most of their investment and that these companies would soon fail regardless.
 我知道这并不是一个受欢迎的决定。但却是正确的。这样，通用汽车和克莱斯勒度过了痛苦的重组过程：这需要所有相关部门做出巨大牺牲。许多人认为这是徒劳的。还有许多人担心我们会花冤枉钱：纳税人将失去他们的投资而这些公司又会再一次迅速陷入困境。
 
But one year later, the outlook is very different. In fact, the industry is recovering at a pace few thought possible. Just this week we received some encourage news. Since General Motors emerged from bankruptcy¹⁷, the auto industry has actually added 45,000 jobs—the strongest growth in a decade. And Chrysler announced an operating profit in the first three months this year. This is the first time Chrysler has reported a profit since the beginning of the economic crisis. What’s more, GM announced that it paid back its loans to taxpayers with interests, fully¹⁸ five years ahead of schedule. It won’t be too long before the stock the Treasury¹⁹ is holding in GM can be sold, helping²⁰ to reimburse²¹ the American people for their investment. In addition, Chrysler Financial has already fully repaid with interest the loans it received to support auto financing. And we are closing the books on the temporary program that helped parts suppliers weather this storm—returning this investment to the Treasury in full, with interest, as well.
 但一年以后，情况完全不一样。实际上，汽车工业正以令人难以想象的步伐在恢复。就在本周，我们收到了一些振奋人心的消息。自通用汽车脱离破产困境以来，汽车工业已新增4万5千个工作岗位——这是十年来的最大幅度增长。克莱斯勒宣称今年前三个月公司已开始盈利。这是经济危机以来克莱斯勒第一次盈利的报道。更重要的是，通用汽车称已经连本带利偿还了纳税人的贷款，比计划整整提前了5年。离财政部出售拥有的通用汽车股份来偿还美国人民投资的时间也不会太久了。另外，克莱斯勒的财务部门也偿还了他们得到的汽车援助资金的本金和利息。我们正在对帮助零部件生产商度过危机的临时性计划进行结算，这也将连本带利返还财政部的投资。
 
Finally, we’re bringing to an end many of the emergency programs designed to stabilize the financial sector²² and restart lending so folks could finance cars and trucks – as well as homes and small businesses.
 最后，我们终结了原本为了稳定金融部门的紧急计划，重新开始向家庭和小企业发放贷款为人们买小汽车或卡车提供资金。
 
On Friday, in fact, the Treasury Department informed Congress that this financial rescue – which was absolutely necessary to prevent an even worse economic disaster – will end up costing taxpayers a fraction of what was originally feared. This is a direct result of the careful management of the investments made by the American people so that we could recoup as many tax dollars as possible – and as quickly as possible.
 其实，周五财政部就通告国会，为防止出现更加严重的经济灾难的金融援助是完全必要的，援助结束后也不会像一开始所担心的那样让纳税人买单。这是美国人民做出的谨慎的投资管理决策的结果，使得我们能尽可能多，尽可能快地回收税款。
 
These steps, as well as others we’ve taken, have meant that millions of people are working today who might otherwise have lost their jobs. But these steps were never meant to be permanent. As I’ve said many times, I did not run for president to get into the auto business or the banking²³ business. As essential as it was that we got in, I’m glad to see that we’re getting out.
 这些措施，以及已经采取的措施，使得数百万原本将会失业的人们现在依然在工作。但这些措施并不意味着一切的永久不变。如同我多次讲到的，我并不是为了要治理汽车工业和银行业才竞选的总统。重要的是尽管我们卷入了（危机），但我很高兴的看到我们脱离了（危机）。
 
At the same time, even as we’ve come a long way, we still have a way to go. The auto industry is more stable today. And the economy is on a better footing. But people are still hurting. I hear from them just about every day in letters I read and in the towns and cities that I visit. No matter what the economic statistics say, I won’t be satisfied until folks who need work can find good jobs. After a recession that stole 8 million jobs, this is gonna take some time. And this will require that we continue to tackle the underlying²⁴ problems that caused this turmoil²⁵ in the first place. In short, it’s essential that we learn the lessons of this crisis – or we risk repeating it.
 同时，即便我们已经走过了漫长的道路，我们依然有很长的路要走。汽车工业现在稳定了许多。我们的经济也有了更好的基础。但我从我每天收到的信件中以及我到访的城镇里了解到，我们的人民依然很受伤。无论我们的经济统计数据如何，在需要工作的人们找到合适的工作前我是不会感到满意的。经济衰退侵蚀了800万个工作岗位，（重新创造它们）将会需要很长的时间。这就要求我们将继续解决那些引起混乱的潜在问题放在首位。简言之，从这次的危机中汲取教训很重要，否则我们将冒重蹈覆辙的危险。
 
Now, part of what led to the crisis in our industry – and one of the main causes of the economic downturn – were problems in our financial sector. In the absence of common-sense rules, Wall Street firms took enormous irresponsible risks that imperiled our financial system – and hurt just about every sector of our economy. Some people simply forget that behind every dollar traded or leveraged²⁶, there is a family looking to buy a house, pay for an education, open a business, or save for retirement²⁷.
 现在，导致我们工业中的危机的部分原因——也是导致经济低迷的主要原因——就是金融部门所存在的问题。由于常规监管规则的缺失，华尔街的公司进行了不负责任的巨大冒险，这不仅损害了我们的金融系统，更损害了我们经济的方方面面。有些人可能忘记了，在这些交易的和杠杆化的每块钱后面，是某个家庭将要买房的钱，或是支付学费的钱，或是开公司的钱，甚至是退休（养老）的钱。
 
That’s why I went to New York city this week and addressed an audience that included leaders in the financial industry. And once again I called for reforms to hold Wall Street accountable and to protect consumers. These reforms would put an end – once and for all – to taxpayer¹² bailouts. They would bring greater transparency to complex financial dealings. And they will empower ordinary consumers and shareholders²⁸ in our financial system. Folks will get clear and more concise²⁹ information when they make financial decisions – instead of having to worry about deceptive³⁰ fine print. And shareholders and pension holders¹⁵ will have a stronger voice in the boardrooms of companies in which they invest their savings³¹.
 这是本周我去纽约的原因，我向包括金融界领导在内的听众发表了讲话。我再一次的号召改革，让华尔街负起责任来并保护消费者。这些改革将终结并永远终结用纳税人的钱进行紧急援助；为复杂的金融交易带来更大的透明度；在金融系统中为普通消费者和股东授予更多权力。人们在做金融决定时将得到更为简明的信息，而不是去担心那些迷惑性的附则。股东以及养老金持有人也将在公司对他们的积蓄进行投资的董事会上有更多发言权。
 
That’s how we’ll restore trust and confidence in our markets. That’s how we’ll help to put an end to the cycle of boom and bust³² that we’ve seen. And that’s how – after two very difficult years – we will not only revive the economy, but help to rebuild it stronger than ever before.

Thanks!
 这是我们重建信任和信心的途径；也是我们终结我们经历的经济繁荣与萧条循环的途径；也是两年艰难时光过后，不仅仅是复苏我们的经济，更是重建更加强大的经济的途径。

谢谢
 
 

1 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

2 stabilize   

vt.（使）稳定，使稳固，使稳定平衡；vi.稳定

参考例句：

• They are eager to stabilize currencies.他们急于稳定货币。
• His blood pressure tended to stabilize.他的血压趋向稳定。

3 interventions   

n.介入，干涉，干预( intervention的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Economic analysis of government interventions deserves detailed discussion. 政府对经济的干预应该给予充分的论述。 来自辞典例句
• The judge's frequent interventions made a mockery of justice. 法官的屡屡干预是对正义的践踏。 来自互联网

4 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

5 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

6 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

7 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

8 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

10 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

11 justify   

vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护

参考例句：

• He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
• Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗？

12 taxpayer   

n.纳税人

参考例句：

• The new scheme will run off with a lot of the taxpayer's money.这项新计划将用去纳税人许多钱。
• The taxpayer are unfavourably disposed towards the recent tax increase.纳税者对最近的增加税收十分反感。

13 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

14 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

15 holders   

支持物( holder的名词复数 )； 持有者； （支票等）持有人； 支托（或握持）…之物

参考例句：

• Slaves were mercilessly ground down by slave holders. 奴隶受奴隶主的残酷压迫。
• It is recognition of compassion's part that leads the up-holders of capital punishment to accuse the abolitionists of sentimentality in being more sorry for the murderer than for his victim. 正是对怜悯的作用有了认识，才使得死刑的提倡者指控主张废除死刑的人感情用事，同情谋杀犯胜过同情受害者。

16 viability   

n.存活(能力)

参考例句：

• What is required to achieve or maintain such viability? 要达到或维持这种生存能力需要什么？
• Scientists are experimenting to find ways to ensure the viability of seeds for even longer periods of time. 正如我们所说，科学家正在试验努力寻找让种子的生命力更加延长的方法。

17 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

18 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

19 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

20 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

21 reimburse   

v.补偿，付还

参考例句：

• We'll reimburse you for your travelling expenses.我们将付还你旅费。
• The funds are supposed to reimburse policyholders in the event of insurer failure.这项基金将在保险公司不能偿付的情况下对投保人进行赔付。

22 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

23 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

24 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

25 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

26 leveraged   

促使…改变( leverage的过去式和过去分词 )； [美国英语]杠杆式投机，（使）举债经营，（使）利用贷款进行投机

参考例句：

• Chrysler has traditionally been a highly leveraged company. 克莱斯勒一向是一家周转十分灵活的公司。
• Leveraged recaps have become popular for a number of reasons. 杠杆资本重组的大行其道有好几个原因。

27 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

28 shareholders   

n.股东( shareholder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The meeting was attended by 90% of shareholders. 90%的股东出席了会议。
• the company's fiduciary duty to its shareholders 公司对股东负有的受托责任

29 concise   

adj.简洁的，简明的

参考例句：

• The explanation in this dictionary is concise and to the point.这部词典里的释义简明扼要。
• I gave a concise answer about this.我对于此事给了一个简要的答复。

30 deceptive   

adj.骗人的，造成假象的，靠不住的

参考例句：

• His appearance was deceptive.他的外表带有欺骗性。
• The storyline is deceptively simple.故事情节看似简单，其实不然。

31 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

32 bust   

vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部

参考例句：

• I dropped my camera on the pavement and bust it. 我把照相机掉在人行道上摔坏了。
• She has worked up a lump of clay into a bust.她把一块黏土精心制作成一个半身像。