奥巴马每周电视讲话 经济道路上的十字路口

Weekly Address: President Obama: GOP Leadership Standing¹ up for Outsourcing and Special Interests, Instead of American Workers
 每周电视讲话:奥巴马总统:共和党领导层代表的是海外企业和特殊利益集团的利益而不是美国劳动者的利益
 
WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Barack Obama broke with Republicans in Congress who are putting special interests ahead of the American people and offering only a rehash of the very same economic policies that led to the financial crisis.  When the GOP asked the American people, through a website, for ideas, one that drew great deal of interest is ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.  But when the administration closed one of the most egregious² loopholes for companies creating jobs overseas, Republicans were almost unanimously opposed.  Rather than offering a path to a better future, their plan is an echo of a disastrous³ decade the country cannot afford to relive.
 华盛顿：由于国会的共和党人将特殊利益集团的利益置于美国人民之上并仅仅老调重弹地提出一些当初就导致金融危机的经济政策，在本周的讲话中，巴拉克·奥巴马总统与共和党决裂。当共和党通过网站征询美国人民的意见时，最受关注的便是终止对将就业机会移送海外的公司的税收优惠。但当政府终结这一针对创造海外就业机会的公司的巨大漏洞时，共和党人却无一例外的表示反对。他们的计划不是要为我们提供通向美好未来的途径，而是一个我们国家不堪承受的十年灾难的继续。
 
This week, the economists⁴ who officially decide when recessions start and end declared the recession of 2008 to be over.  But if you’re one of the millions of Americans who lost your home, your job, or your savings⁵ as a consequence of the recession, this news is of little comfort or value.
     本周，官方研究衰退起止时间的经济学家们正式宣布2008年以来的经济衰退已经过去。但如果你是在衰退以来失去家园，工作，或是存款的千千万万美国人中的一员，这条新闻就不能为你带来丝毫的慰藉和价值。
Yes, the economy is growing instead of shrinking, as it was in 2008 and the beginning of 2009.  We’re gaining private sector⁶ jobs each month instead of losing 800,000, as we did the month I took office.
 的确，经济在增长而不是像2008年和2009年初的衰退。而且每个月私营部门的就业都在增加，而不是我主政当月80万人的失业。
 
But we have to keep pushing to promote growth that will generate the jobs we need, and repair the terrible damage the recession has done.  That’s why I’ve proposed a series of additional steps: accelerated tax breaks for businesses who buy equipment now; a permanent research and development tax break to promote innovation by American companies; and a new initiative to rebuild America’s roads, rails, and runways that will put folks to work and make our country more competitive.
 但我们需要继续推进经济增长来创造我们需要的就业机会，来修复经济衰退导致的严重损伤。这也是我提出一系列额外措施的原因：加速推出对当前购买设备的公司的减税政策；推进永久性的研发减税政策来推动美国企业的创新；并提出新的措施来重修美国的公路，铁路和机场跑道，以此来推进人民就业和使我们国家更具竞争力。
 
Taken together with the small business tax cut and lending plan we passed through Congress last week, these steps will help spur jobs in the short run, and strengthen our economy for the long run.
 连同上周国会通过的对中小企业的减税和贷款计划，这些措施将帮助我们在短期内刺激就业，并长远的巩固我们的经济。
 
Now, the Republicans who want to take over Congress offered their own ideas the other day.  Many were the very same policies that led to the economic crisis in the first place, which isn’t surprising, since many of their leaders were among the architects of that failed policy.
 现在，共和党人想夺回国会的主导权来实施他们的想法。但大多数都是和当初导致本次经济危机同样的政策，这并不令人惊讶，因为他们的大多数领导者就是这些失败政策的缔造者。
 
It is grounded in same worn out philosophy: cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires; cut the rules for Wall Street and the special interests; and cut the middle class loose to fend⁷ for itself.  That’s not a prescription⁸ for a better future.  It’s an echo of a disastrous decade we can’t afford to relive.
 这都基于一个老掉牙的理念：为百万富翁和亿万富翁们减税；为华尔街和特殊利益集团削减规则；遗弃中产阶级让他们自生自灭。这并不是通向美好未来的对策。而是我们不堪承受的十年灾难的继续。
 
The Republicans in Washington claimed to draw their ideas from a website called “America Speaking Out.” It turns out that one of the ideas that’s drawn⁹ the most interest on their website is ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.
 华盛顿的共和党人宣称他们从名为“美国心声”的网站来收集归纳他们的建议。但事实是他们的网站上最受关注的一条建议就是终止对将就业输送海外的公司的税收优惠。
 
Funny thing is, when we recently closed one of the most egregious loopholes for companies creating jobs overseas, Republicans in Congress were almost unanimously opposed. The Republican leader John Boehner attacked us for it, and stood up for outsourcing, instead of American workers.
 有趣的是，最近当我们终结了这一针对创造海外就业的公司的巨大漏洞时，国会的共和党人无一例外的表示反对。共和党领导人约翰·伯纳（John Boehner）为此攻击我们，并公开支持海外公司，而不是美国的劳动人民。
 
So, America may be speaking out, but Republicans in Congress sure aren’t listening. They want to put special interests back in the driver’s seat in Washington. They want to roll back the law that will finally stop health insurance companies from denying you coverage¹⁰ on the basis of a preexisting condition. They want to repeal¹¹ reforms that will finally protect hardworking families from hidden rates and penalties every time they use a credit card, make a mortgage payment, or take out a student loan.
 因此，美国可能会讲出心声，但国会的共和党人是绝对听不进去的。他们想让特殊利益集团重回华盛顿的掌权者位置。他们想把终结医疗保险公司拒绝对已有健康问题的人提供保险的法律改回原貌。他们想废止包括保护辛勤劳动的家庭在使用信用卡，还抵押贷款或办理助学贷款时免受隐性利率和罚金侵害的一系列改革措施。
 
And for all their talk about reining¹² in spending and getting our deficits¹³ under control, they want to borrow another $700 billion, and use it to give tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires. On average, that’s a tax cut of about $100,000 for millionaires.
 他们所讲的一切都一直绕不开开销和财政赤字控制，他们还想另借7000亿美元，用这些钱为百万富翁和亿万富翁减税。这将是平均为每个百万富翁减税10万美元。
 
Instead of cutting taxes for the wealthiest few – tax breaks we cannot afford – I’ve called for tax cuts for middle class families who saw their incomes shrink by five percent during the last, lost decade. We’ve already cut 8 different taxes for small business owners to help them hire and grow, and we’re going to cut 8 more. We’re challenging our states and schools to do a better job educating our kids and making college more affordable¹⁴ so America can once more lead the world in the proportion of our kids graduating from college. And we’re putting an end to the days of taxpayer-funded bailouts so Main Street never again has to pay for Wall Street’s mistakes.
 取代为最富有的少数人减税——我们不能承受这样的减税——我一直都呼吁为中产家庭减税，他们的收入在过去失落的十年里缩水了5%。我们已经为中小企业主削减了8项不同的税收，来帮助他们雇用工人和谋求发展，将来我们还将继续削减另外8项。我们也在激发我们的州政府和学校为孩子们提供更好的教育，并让大学学费对家庭而言更担负得起，这样我们就可以再次在大学毕业生的比例上引领全球。而且前些日子我们也终止了纳税人出资的紧急援助，这样中产阶级就再也不用为华尔街的错误来买单了。
 
America is a great country. Our democracy is vibrant¹⁵, our economy is dynamic, and our workers can outcompete the best of them. But the way for us to remain the greatest country on Earth isn’t to turn back the clock and put the special interests in charge. It’s to make sure all our people are getting a fair shake. It’s to make sure everyone who’s willing to work for it still has a chance to reach for the American dream. And that will remain my mission every single day so long as I have the honor of serving as President.
 美国是一个伟大的国度。我们的民主是生机勃勃的，我们的经济是充满活力的，我们的劳动者是从最好的劳动者中脱颖而出的。但让我们保持成为全球最伟大国家的途径不是回到过去和让特殊利益集团掌权。而是保证我们的人民都拥有公平的机会。是确保每个希望工作的人还有机会来实现他的美国梦。在我有幸担任总统的每一天里，这都将依然是我的使命。
 
Have a nice weekend, everybody.
 祝大家周末愉快！
 
 

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 egregious   

adj.非常的，过分的

参考例句：

• When it comes to blatant lies,there are none more egregious than budget figures.谈到公众谎言，没有比预算数字更令人震惊的。
• What an egregious example was here!现摆着一个多么触目惊心的例子啊。

3 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

4 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 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。

6 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。

7 fend   

v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开

参考例句：

• I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。
• He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

8 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

9 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

10 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

11 repeal   

n.废止，撤消；v.废止，撤消

参考例句：

• He plans to repeal a number of current policies.他计划废除一些当前的政策。
• He has made out a strong case for the repeal of the law.他提出强有力的理由，赞成废除该法令。

12 reining   

勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理

参考例句：

• "That's a fine bevy, Ma'm,'said Gerald gallantly, reining his horse alongside the carriage. "太太！好一窝漂亮的云雀呀！" 杰拉尔德殷勤地说，一面让自己的马告近塔尔顿的马车。
• I was a temperamental genius in need of reining in by stabler personalities. 我是个需要由更稳重的人降服住的神经质的天才。

13 deficits   

n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句

14 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

15 vibrant   

adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的

参考例句：

• He always uses vibrant colours in his paintings. 他在画中总是使用鲜明的色彩。
• She gave a vibrant performance in the leading role in the school play.她在学校表演中生气盎然地扮演了主角。