【双语有声阅读】胆小的新贵 The Scary New Rich

The Scary New Rich

 

胆小的新贵

Aristotle believed they were democracy's secret weapon-the protectors of social values,the moderators of political extremism,and believers in a society run by laws instead of by strongmen.

亚里士多德认为，他们是民主体制的秘密武器—他们保卫社会价值观、缓和政治极端主义、在政府法令面前捍卫理性，并相信社会应当由法律而非铁腕人物来治理。

They have also been the engines of economic growth,setting the stage centuries ago for the expansion of capitalism¹ and global trade,and continuing through the ages to snap up every new gadget² in sight.

同时，他们还是经济增长的引擎，在几个世纪前就为资本主义和全球贸易的扩张搭起了舞台，并且多年来一直都抢先弄到自己所知的一切新潮玩意或服务。

Now, with the Western middle classes sinking into debt and distress,many economists³ look to a new emerging-market middle class as the potential foundation for a new age of global safety and prosperity.

如今，随着西方中产阶级深陷债务与危机之中，许多经济学家都将新兴市场的中产阶级视作全球安全与繁荣新时代的潜在基础。

As large developing nations became more prosperous,it was always assumed that they would become more like the suburbs of Washington or London-liberal, democratic,market-friendly bastions not only of Western-style consumerism but also of political liberty.

在大的发展中国家日趋繁荣之时，人们一直以为它们会变得更像是华盛顿或者伦敦的郊区—它们自由、民主、注重市场，是西方消费主义及政治自由的堡垒。

With time and wealth, they would become just like us.

随着时间的推移与财富的积累，他们会变得与我们一模一样。

The truth is that they are not becoming just like us.

事实上，他们不会变得与我们一样。

The global middle class is rising faster than expected,in numbers and in wealth,but converging⁴ incomes are not yielding shared values.

全球中产阶级在人数与财富方面的增长速度超出了我们的预计。

The emerging bourgeoisie is a patchwork⁵ of contradictions:clamorous but rarely confrontational⁶ politically,supporters of globalization yet highly nationalistic,proud of their nations' upward mobility⁷ yet insecure and fearful they will fall back,fiercely individualistic but reliant on government subsidies,and often socially conservative.

但趋同的收入水平却未能产生共同的价值观。新兴资产阶级是一种矛盾的集合体: 他们大声发表意见，却很少参与政治交锋;支持全球化，却有高度民族主义倾向;对自己国家不断上升的势头感到自豪，却缺乏安全感，并担心自身会出现倒退;极具个人主义，却依赖政府补助，而且往往是社会保守派。

Many of the aspiring⁸ elite⁹ seem willing to let the powers that be-whether authoritarian¹⁰ governments or elected ones-call the shots as long as they deliver the spoils of growth.

许多有抱负的精英似乎愿意让现政权—无论是专制政府还是民选政府—掌控政局，只要它们能带来经济增长的好处。

It's also worth remembering that the new middle classes are psychologically driven by an odd mix of pride and insecurity.

同样要记住的是，新兴中产阶级受到既自豪又不安的复杂心理所驱使。

Close to 30 percent of Brazil's new middle class owes its livelihood¹¹ to the informal market,where income is irregular, safety nets are nonexistent,and opportunity for entrepreneurship is limited.

近30%的巴西新兴中产阶级都在非正规市场中谋生，收入很不稳定，缺乏社会保障网络，创业机会极为有限。

Many have borrowed their way to higher living standards,one reason perhaps that 53 percent say they live in fear of unemployment,loss of income, or even bankruptcy¹².

许多人是通过借贷的方式来达到较高生活水准的，这可能是53%的中产阶级说自己生活在对失业、收入减少甚至破产的恐惧之中的原因之一。

They have benefited from the explosion of private schools but have seen the overall quality of education plummet,eroding one of the classic middle-class paths to social mobility.

鉴于新兴中产阶级十分不稳定，他们影响政治变革的能力也将具有不确定性。

Indeed, some development economists argue that the poor will be a greater force for social change,but their ability to become a force for better government,greater freedoms, less corruption¹³, and more economic liberty is much less certain.

一些经济学家强调，穷人将成为推动社会变革的更强大的力量。发展中世界新涌现的消费人群也许在收银台上释放了巨大的新能量，但他们不太可能成为推动政府改良、扩大自由、打击腐败以及提升经济自由度的力量。

They have a very long way to go before becoming us.

但要成为我们，他们还有很长的路要走。

1 capitalism   

n.资本主义

参考例句：

• The essence of his argument is that capitalism cannot succeed.他的论点的核心是资本主义不能成功。
• Capitalism began to develop in Russia in the 19th century.十九世纪资本主义在俄国开始发展。

2 gadget   

n.小巧的机械，精巧的装置，小玩意儿

参考例句：

• This gadget isn't much good.这小机械没什么用处。
• She has invented a nifty little gadget for undoing stubborn nuts and bolts.她发明了一种灵巧的小工具用来松开紧固的螺母和螺栓。

3 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》

4 converging   

adj.收敛[缩]的，会聚的，趋同的v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的现在分词 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集

参考例句：

• Plants had gradually evolved along diverging and converging pathways. 植物是沿着趋异和趋同两种途径逐渐演化的。 来自辞典例句
• This very slowly converging series was known to Leibniz in 1674. 这个收敛很慢的级数是莱布尼茨在1674年得到的。 来自辞典例句

5 patchwork   

n.混杂物；拼缝物

参考例句：

• That proposal is nothing else other than a patchwork.那个建议只是一个大杂烩而已。
• She patched new cloth to the old coat,so It'seemed mere patchwork. 她把新布初到那件旧上衣上，所以那件衣服看上去就象拼凑起来的东西。

6 confrontational   

adj.挑衅的；对抗的

参考例句：

• Fans love rappers partly because they strike such a confrontational pose. 乐迷热爱这些饶舌艺人一定程度上是因为他们所采取的那种战斗姿态。 来自互联网
• You prefer a non confrontational approach when it comes to resolving disputes. 面对争端，你不喜欢采用对抗性的手段来解决。 来自互联网

7 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

8 aspiring   

adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求

参考例句：

• Aspiring musicians need hours of practice every day. 想当音乐家就要每天练许多小时。
• He came from an aspiring working-class background. 他出身于有抱负的工人阶级家庭。 来自辞典例句

9 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

10 authoritarian   

n./adj.专制(的)，专制主义者，独裁主义者

参考例句：

• Foreign diplomats suspect him of authoritarian tendencies.各国外交官怀疑他有着独裁主义倾向。
• The authoritarian policy wasn't proved to be a success.独裁主义的政策证明并不成功。

11 livelihood   

n.生计，谋生之道

参考例句：

• Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
• My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。

12 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。

13 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。