第一篇:[2010年奥巴马美国国情咨文演说].全文中文译稿
奥巴马2010年国情咨文演讲全文 2010-01-28 14:09:40
网易财经1月28日讯美国总统巴拉克-奥巴马(Barack Obama)美国东部时间1月27日晚上9时(北京时间28日上午10时),开始在参众两院联席会议上发表2010年国情咨文演讲。以下为演讲全文翻译:
女议长、副总统拜登先生,各位国会议员、尊敬的来宾以及全体美国同胞:
我们的宪法规定,美国总统必须定期向国会报告国家情况。在过去220年的时间里,无论是繁荣和平,还是战争危机,即使存在激烈的冲突和战斗,历届美国总统也都能完成这一使命。
回顾历史上的这些时刻,并相信我们的进步是不可阻挡的——美国永远注定会取得成功,这些固然让人感到自豪。然而,当美国股市持续了10年的牛市崩溃、盟军于奥马哈海滩登陆时,我们长久以来的胜利曾遭受强烈的质疑。当市场在“黑色星期二”崩盘,游行民众在那个流血星期日被镇压的时候,美国的未来曾充满了不确定性。这些时刻都曾考验我们的信念和我们国家的力量。纵使我们拥有种种分歧,犹豫和恐惧也时刻伴随,美国最终取得了胜利,因为我们选择团结在一起,作为一个国家、一个民族向前进。
今天,我们再一次面临着考验,也再一次必须回应历史的召唤。
一年前,美国正处于两场战争之中,经济遭遇大萧条,金融体系处在崩溃的边缘,政府深陷债务之中,在这样的一个时刻,我当选了美国总统。不同政治派别的专家对我们提出警告,如果我们不采取行动,我们可能会面临第二次经济大萧条。所以我们果断而迅速地采取了行动,一年后的今天,最糟糕的暴风雨时期已经过去了。
然而,灾难性的效应依旧存在。现在仍然有十分之一的美国人找不到工作。许多企业歇业,房屋价格下跌,小城镇和乡村受到的冲击尤其严重。对那些本已很贫穷的人来说,生活变得更加艰难。
这次经济大萧条使美国家庭几十年来承载的重压进一步加剧。这种压力就是:即使他们工作更努力、时间更长,也得不到更多的收入,无法存够钱退休或者帮孩子读完大学。
我能够理解人们现在的焦虑,这些问题并不是新的,而我就是为了解决这些问题才竞选美国总统。这几年,我在印第安纳州的埃尔克哈特和伊利诺伊州的盖尔斯堡亲眼目睹了人们的困境,也从每晚阅读他们的信件中了解情况。最让人难过的是阅读那些孩子的来信,他们在信中问,为什么他们不得不从家里搬出来,或者他们的爸爸妈妈什么时候才能重新找到工作。
对这些美国公民以及其它像他们一样的人来说,变革的速度似乎还不够快。对此,有些人感到灰心,还有人感到愤怒。他们不能理解,为什么华尔街那些不好的行为好像能受到嘉奖,而普通民众的努力工作却得不到回报;为什么政府似乎不能够或不愿意解决人们的问题;他们已经厌烦了党派分歧、叫喊和卑劣的争斗。他们认为我们解决不了这些问题,至少现在还不能。因为这样,我们面前的挑战巨大而又艰难。美国人希望看到的、也是他们应该看到的,是我们所有人,无论民主党还是共和党,能够解决我们之间的分歧,克服我们两党之间已近乎麻木的偏袒,那些为我们投票人拥有不同的背景和信仰,但他们所担忧的和我们一样。他们都拥有共同的愿望,就是获得一份工作,能够来付账;一个能够在生活中不断进步的机会,最重要的是,能够有能力为他们的孩子提供更好的生活。
知道他们还共同拥有什么吗?那就是面对逆境的顽强韧性。在经历了美国历史上最困难的时期后,他们仍然忙于建造汽车、教育孩子、经营生意以及回到学校读书,他们为小社团提供辅导并帮助邻居,正如一位女士给我的信中写道:“我们感觉担忧但同时也充满希望,我们正在努力奋斗但充满干劲。”
正是由于这种精神,这种伟大的尊严和力量,使我从来没有像今晚这样对美国的未来充满希望。尽管我们目前处境艰难,但我们的国家十分强大。我们永远不会放弃,不会停止努力,不会允许恐惧或者分歧破坏我们这种宝贵的精神。在这个全新的10年里,美国人将拥有与他们的尊严相称、能够代表他们力量的政府。
今晚,我们将讨论如何共同履行这一承诺。
首先,从我们的经济开始。
我上任的当务之急就是援助那些引起危机的银行。这并不是一项容易的任务。如果说民主党和共和党曾就某件事达成共识的话,那就是我们都不愿对银行实施救助。
但是,当我竞选总统时,我承诺不会按照惯常的做法,而是需要什么做什么。如果我们任由金融体系坍塌,失业率将可能达到今天的一倍。更多的企业会停业,更多的人会流离失所。
因此,我支持上届政府在金融救助项目上的努力。在我们实施这一项目时,会保证其透明度和可操作性。现在,市场已经稳定,向银行业发放的大部分救助资金也已经收回。
为了实现其它领域的复苏,我已经提议向大型银行征税。我知道这一想法一定不会受到华尔街的欢迎,但是如果这些企业能够重新发放高额,他们也一定能够承担相应的费用,回报在其需要救助时向他们伸出援手的纳税人。
随着金融体系的稳定,我们也逐渐重新恢复了经济增长,同时尽可能地保留住了更多的工作岗位,并帮助了那些失去工作的美国民众。
这也是为什么我们能够为1800多万美国失业人员延长或增加了失业津贴,使得统一综合预算汇编法案(COBRA)覆盖的美国家庭医疗保险费用下降65%,并通过了25项不同的税收减免政策。
让我重申,我们在减税,我们为工薪阶层家庭削减了95%的税,我们为小企业减税,为首套房购房者减税,为抚养孩子的父母减税,为800万付费上大学的美国人减税。这样做的结果,就是数百万美国人在汽油、食品等生活必需品多支出,这样才能让企业留住更多的工人。对于每一个个人,我们没有提高一分一厘的税收。一分一厘也没有。
同时,为了减轻中产家庭的负担,我们还必须进行医疗保险改革。
我选择这个问题并不是为了取得立法胜利,这一点必须清楚。同时需要厘清的是我这么做也不是为了政治因素。
一直以来,太多美国人都依赖保险才能活下去,因此,我要着手解决医疗保险的问题。有的病人没有医保,有的家庭即使有医保,一场疾病也能让全家破产。
经过近一个世纪的努力,美国人民现在比以往任何时候都更有保障。我们采取的措施将保护每一名美国人,不让其受到保险业不良经营的危害。市场竞争将使小型公司和未投保的美国人有机会选择能力范围内的医疗计划。每一个保险计划都必须涵盖预防性医疗。在此,我必须感谢第一夫人米歇尔-奥巴马(Michelle Obama)她今年发起了一项针对日益严重的儿童肥胖问题的全国性运动。
同时,这些措施也能够保护已投保者的利益,让他们能继续保持他们的医疗计划和就诊医生。数以百万的家庭和公司的医疗成本和保险费将下降。根据国会预算办公室,这是一个独立组织,各党都把它作为国会工作成效的统计员,这些举措将在接下来的二十年中,将预算赤字减少1万亿美元。
尽管如此,这仍然是一个复杂的问题。讨论越多,人民的怀疑就越多。我本应更多地向民众解释地更清楚,因为民众担心在所有的游说和妥协后,这些措施最后到底还能为美国人带来什么。
但我也知道这个问题还没有彻底解决。仍然会有人失去他们的保险,赤字增加,保险费提高,病人无法得到治疗,小型企业不投保,我与在座各位将与这些美国人站在一起。
我希望各位重新考虑我们的提议。许多医生、护士和医疗专家认为这些措施将极大改善现状,但是如果两党能提出更好的方案来降低保险费,减少赤字,覆盖未投保者和老年人保险,改善保险公司陋习,我也非常欢迎。我对国会的要求是:不要停止改革,我们的工作已接近完成,让我们尽力做到最后。(本文来源:网易财经)齐栋梁
第二篇:奥巴马发表2012年国情咨文演说
奥巴马发表2012年国情咨文演说
THE PRESIDENT: Mr.Speaker, Mr.Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: 总统: 众议院议长先生、副总统先生、各位国会议员、贵宾们和美国同胞们:
Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq.Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought--and several thousand gave their lives.上个月,我前往安德鲁斯空军基地(Andrews Air Force Base),欢迎在伊拉克服役的最后一批军人回国。我们一起最后骄傲地向国旗敬礼。一百多万美国同胞曾为之作战,其中数千人献出了自己的生命。
We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world.(Applause.)For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq.(Applause.)For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country.(Applause.)Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated.The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.我们今晚聚集在此,深知这一代的英雄使得美国更安全,在全世界更受尊敬。(掌声)现在不再有美国人在伊拉克作战,这是9年来的第一次。(掌声)乌萨马∙本∙拉登(Osama bin Laden)不再对美国构成威胁,这是20年来的第一次。(掌声)―基地‖的大多数头目都已溃散。塔利班的气焰已经破灭。驻阿富汗的一些部队已经开始撤回国内。
These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces.At a time when too many of our institutions have let us down, they exceed all expectations.They’re not consumed with personal ambition.They don’t obsess over their differences.They focus on the mission at hand.They work together.这些成就见证了美国军队的英勇无畏、无私和团队精神。在我们的许多机构都让令人失望之时,他们的作为超出了所有人的期望。他们不沉溺于个人的欲望。他们不计较相互间的分歧。他们全神贯注于肩负的使命。他们为此同心协力。
Imagine what we could accomplish if we followed their example.(Applause.)Think about the America within our reach: A country that leads the world in educating its people.An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs.A future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world.An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded.可以想象,如果我们以他们为榜样,我们能完成什么样的业绩。(掌声)想一想我们完全力所能及可以为美国实现的目标:人民接受的教育领先全世界;吸引新一代高科技制造业和高薪工作;实现我们的未来,由我们自己掌握能源,我们的安全和繁荣不再依赖世界上某些不稳定地区;经济长盛不衰,辛勤工作总有回报,尽职尽责受到奖励。
We can do this.I know we can, because we’ve done it before.At the end of World War II, when another generation of heroes returned home from combat, they built the strongest economy and middle class the world has ever known.(Applause.)My grandfather, a veteran of Patton’s Army, got the chance to go to college on the GI Bill.My grandmother, who worked on a bomber assembly line, was part of a workforce that turned out the best products on Earth.我们可以做到这一点。我知道我们可以,因为我们曾这样做过。二战结束时,上一代英雄离开战场返回家园,建成全世界迄今为止最强大的经济和中产阶级。(掌声)我祖父,巴顿(Patton)麾下的老兵,有机会借助《退伍军人法》(GI Bill)上大学。我祖母,在一个轰炸机装配线上工作,作为劳动大军的一员生产全世界第一流产品。
The two of them shared the optimism of a nation that had triumphed over a depression and fascism.They understood they were part of something larger;that they were contributing to a story of success that every American had a chance to share--the basic American promise that if you worked hard, you could do well enough to raise a family, own a home, send your kids to college, and put a little away for retirement.他们两个人都发扬了战胜大萧条和法西斯主义的国家拥有的乐观向上的精神。他们了解,自己是一个伟大事业的组成部分;他们为每一个美国人都有机会踏上的成功之路做出贡献——在美国可以实现最普遍的希望:你如果辛勤工作,就足以养活家庭,拥有住房,送孩子上大学,还可以为退休存点钱。
The defining issue of our time is how to keep that promise alive.No challenge is more urgent.No debate is more important.We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well while a growing number of Americans barely get by, or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, and everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules.(Applause.)What’s at stake aren’t Democratic values or Republican values, but American values.And we have to reclaim them.我们这个时代的关键问题是如何让这样的希望生生不息。没有任何挑战比这更为迫切。没有任何争论比这更重要。我们可以满足于这样一个国家,其中越来越少的人富甲一方而越来越多的美国人却勉强度日,或者我们可以重建我国经济,让人人都得到公平的机会,人人都尽自己的一份力量,人人都遵守同样的规则。(掌声)利害攸关的问题不是民主党的价值观或共和党的价值观,而是美国的价值观。我们必须重新树立这些价值观。
Let’s remember how we got here.Long before the recession, jobs and manufacturing began leaving our shores.Technology made businesses more efficient, but also made some jobs obsolete.Folks at the top saw their incomes rise like never before, but most hardworking Americans struggled with costs that were growing, paychecks that weren’t, and personal debt that kept piling up.让我们谨记我们是如何走到这一步的。在经济衰退爆发前,就业岗位和制造业早已开始离开我们的海岸。技术使各行各业更有效率,但一些工作岗位也因此陈旧过时。位于最高层的同胞们看到他们的收入前所未有地增长,但大多数勤奋工作的美国人开支上升,工资水平停滞,债务不断增加,为此生活十分艰难。
In 2008, the house of cards collapsed.We learned that mortgages had been sold to people who couldn’t afford or understand them.Banks had made huge bets and bonuses with other people’s money.Regulators had looked the other way, or didn’t have the authority to stop the bad behavior.2008年,纸牌搭建的房子坍塌了。我们知道,抵押贷款批给了没有能力支付或对此一知半解的人。银行拿着别人的钱投下巨大的赌注,得到了丰厚的报酬。监管人员视若无睹,或没有权力阻止不良行为。
It was wrong.It was irresponsible.And it plunged our economy into a crisis that put millions out of work, saddled us with more debt, and left innocent, hardworking Americans holding the bag.In the six months before I took office, we lost nearly 4 million jobs.And we lost another 4 million before our policies were in full effect.这是不对的。这是不负责任的。这使我们的经济陷入危机,数百万人失业,我们背上了更多的债务,让无辜、勤劳的美国人代人受过。在我上任前的6个月中,我们失去了近400万个就业岗位。在我们的政策全面落实之前,我们又失去400万个就业岗位。
Those are the facts.But so are these: In the last 22 months, businesses have created more than 3 million jobs.(Applause.)这些都是事实。但是,以下这些也是事实:在过去22个月内,各行各业创造了300多万个就业岗位。(掌声)
Last year, they created the most jobs since 2005.American manufacturers are hiring again, creating jobs for the first time since the late 1990s.Together, we’ve agreed to cut the deficit by more than $2 trillion.And we’ve put in place new rules to hold Wall Street accountable, so a crisis like this never happens again.(Applause.)去年,这些行业创造了2005年以来的大多数就业岗位。美国制造商重新开始雇人,自1990年代末期以来首次创造了工作机会。我们共同努力,已同意将赤字至少降低两万亿美元,并且制定了让华尔街承担责任的新规则,防止类似的危机再度发生。(掌声)
The state of our Union is getting stronger.And we’ve come too far to turn back now.As long as I’m President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum.But I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place.(Applause.)
我们合众国的国情日益强盛。我们已取得长足的进展,绝不能走回头路。只要我还担任总统之职,就将与在座的每一位一起再接再厉。但是,我将采取行动打破障碍,并将反对恢复原有政策的任何要求,因为当初正是这些政策引发了这场经济危机。(掌声)
No, we will not go back to an economy weakened by outsourcing, bad debt, and phony financial profits.Tonight, I want to speak about how we move forward, and lay out a blueprint for an economy that’s built to last-– an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.不,我们不能重蹈复撤,听任外包、坏账和虚假的金融利润削弱我国经济。今晚,我希望谈一谈今后如何取得进展,并为建设长盛不衰的经济制定蓝图——以美国制造业、美国能源、美国劳工的技能以及继续发扬美国价值观为出发点的经济。Now, this blueprint begins with American manufacturing.这份蓝图以美国制造业为开端。
On the day I took office, our auto industry was on the verge of collapse.Some even said we should let it die.With a million jobs at stake, I refused to let that happen.In exchange for help, we demanded responsibility.We got workers and automakers to settle their differences.We got the industry to retool and restructure.Today, General Motors is back on top as the world’s number-one automaker.(Applause.)Chrysler has grown faster in the U.S.than any major car company.Ford is investing billions in U.S.plants and factories.And together, the entire industry added nearly 160,000 jobs.在我就职之日,我国的汽车产业正濒临崩溃。有些人甚至说我们应该任其消亡。但这事关上百万个就业岗位,我拒绝让这种情况发生。作为提供帮助的交换条件,我们要求他们负起责任。我们让工人和汽车制造商解决他们的分歧。我们让汽车产业更新设备,重新改组。今天,通用汽车(General Motors)重新坐上世界头号汽车制造商的宝座。(掌声)克莱斯勒(Chrysler)在美国的增长速度比其他任何大型汽车公司都快。福特(Ford)正在美国的车间和厂房挹注数十亿美元的资金。整个汽车产业总计增加了将近16万个就业岗位。
We bet on American workers.We bet on American ingenuity.And tonight, the American auto industry is back.(Applause.)我们坚信美国的劳动者。我们坚信美国的创新能力。今晚,美国汽车产业已经东山再起。(掌声。)
What’s happening in Detroit can happen in other industries.It can happen in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and Raleigh.We can’t bring every job back that’s left our shore.But right now, it’s getting more expensive to do business in places like China.Meanwhile, America is more productive.A few weeks ago, the CEO of Master Lock told me that it now makes business sense for him to bring jobs back home.(Applause.)Today, for the first time in 15 years, Master Lock’s unionized plant in Milwaukee is running at full capacity.(Applause.)
在底特律(Detroit)发生的事情也可以在其他行业发生。它可以在克里夫兰(Cleveland)、匹茲堡(Pittsburgh)和罗利(Raleigh)发生。我们不可能把所有流失到海外的工作都找回来,但是现在,在诸如中国等地从事经营的成本越来越高。与此同时,美国的生产效率也越来越高。几周前,玛斯特锁(Master Lock)公司的首席执行长告诉我,在他看来,把就业岗位带回美国现在是明智的经营之道。(掌声)今天,玛斯特锁公司坐落在密尔沃基(Milwaukee)实行工会制的工厂已全面投产,这是15年来的第一次。(掌声)
So we have a huge opportunity, at this moment, to bring manufacturing back.But we have to seize it.Tonight, my message to business leaders is simple: Ask yourselves what you can do to bring jobs back to your country, and your country will do everything we can to help you succeed.(Applause.)
因此,我们面前有一个把制造业迁回来的大好机会,可是我们必须抓住机会。今晚,我对企业领导人要说的话很简单:问一问你们自己怎样才能把工作机会带回美国,你们的国家就会尽一切努力助你们成功。(掌声)
We should start with our tax code.Right now, companies get tax breaks for moving jobs and profits overseas.Meanwhile, companies that choose to stay in America get hit with one of the highest tax rates in the world.It makes no sense, and everyone knows it.So let’s change it.我们应该从我国的税法入手。目前,公司把工作和利润移到海外会获得税收优惠。与此同时,选择留在美国的公司却要承受在全球最高之列的税率。这样做没有道理,人人都知道这一点。因此我们必须着手改革。
First, if you’re a business that wants to outsource jobs, you shouldn’t get a tax deduction for doing it.(Applause.)That money should be used to cover moving expenses for companies like Master Lock that decide to bring jobs home.(Applause.)
首先,如果你是想要外包的企业,你就不应当因此获得减税。(掌声)这笔钱应当用来贴补像玛斯特锁等决定把工作迁回美国的公司的搬迁费用。(掌声)
Second, no American company should be able to avoid paying its fair share of taxes by moving jobs and profits overseas.(Applause.)From now on, every multinational company should have to pay a basic minimum tax.And every penny should go towards lowering taxes for companies that choose to stay here and hire here in America.(Applause.)其次,任何美国公司都不能通过把工作和利润移到海外而逃避公平纳税。(掌声)从现在起,每个跨国公司都应当支付基本的最低税金。每一分钱都应当用来为选择留在美国并雇用美国人力的公司减税。(掌声)
Third, if you’re an American manufacturer, you should get a bigger tax cut.If you’re a high-tech manufacturer, we should double the tax deduction you get for making your products here.And if you want to relocate in a community that was hit hard when a factory left town, you should get help financing a new plant, equipment, or training for new workers.(Applause.)
第三,如果你是美国制造商,你就应当获得幅度更大的减税。如果你是高科技制造商,我们应当为你在美国本地制造产品而加倍减税。如果你想迁入一个因为工厂迁出而受到重创的社区,你在为新工厂、设备或者新员工培训融资时应当得到帮助。(掌声)
So my message is simple.It is time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America.我要说的很简单。现在应当停止奖励将工作迁到海外的企业,而应当开始奖励在美国国内创造就业岗位的企业。
Send me these tax reforms, and I will sign them right away.(Applause.)把这些税法改革方案交给我,我会立刻签署。(掌声)
We’re also making it easier for American businesses to sell products all over the world.Two years ago, I set a goal of doubling U.S.exports over five years.With the bipartisan trade agreements we signed into law, we’re on track to meet that goal ahead of schedule.(Applause.)And soon, there will be millions of new customers for American goods in Panama, Colombia, and South Korea.Soon, there will be new cars on the streets of Seoul imported from Detroit, and Toledo, and Chicago.(Applause.)
我们还使美国工商企业更容易在全世界各地销售产品。两年前,我提出美国出口在5年内翻一番的目标。随着两党一致的各项贸易协定经我们签署成为法律,我们正朝着这个目标稳步迈进——并可超前实现。(掌声)不久以后,美国产品将在巴拿马(Panama)、哥伦比亚(Colombia)和韩国(South Korea)获得数以百万计的新顾客。不久以后,来自底特律、托利多(Toledo)和芝加哥(Chicago)的新进口汽车将在首尔(Seoul)街头出现。(掌声)
I will go anywhere in the world to open new markets for American products.And I will not stand by when our competitors don’t play by the rules.We’ve brought trade cases against China at nearly twice the rate as the last administration –-and it’s made a difference.(Applause.)Over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires.But we need to do more.It’s not right when another country lets our movies, music, and software be pirated.It’s not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours only because they’re heavily subsidized.我将前往全世界任何地方为美国产品打开新市场。当我们的竞争对手不按规则行事的时候,我不会坐视不顾。我们对中国提起贸易诉讼的案例数量是上一届政府的近两倍,而且已经看到成效。(掌声)由于我们制止了中国轮胎的倾销,一千多名美国人在今天得以有工作。可是我们需要再接再厉。当另一个国家听任我们的影片、音乐和软件被盗版,这是不对的。当外国制造商只因受到大量补贴而取得高于我们的优势,这是不公平的。
Tonight, I’m announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trading practices in countries like China.(Applause.)There will be more inspections to prevent counterfeit or unsafe goods from crossing our borders.And this Congress should make sure that no foreign company has an advantage over American manufacturing when it comes to accessing financing or new markets like Russia.Our workers are the most productive on Earth, and if the playing field is level, I promise you-– America will always win.(Applause.)
今晚,我宣布创建一个―贸易执法单位‖(Trade Enforcement Unit),负责调查中国等国的不公平贸易作法。(掌声)我们将加强检验,防止假冒或者不安全的商品跨越边境进入我国。本届国会应做到勿使外国公司在取得融资或者进入俄罗斯等新市场方面取得高于美国制造商的优势。我们的工人是全世界生产效率最高的,如果有一个公平的竞争环境,我敢保证,美国将永远立于不败之地。(掌声)
I also hear from many business leaders who want to hire in the United States but can’t find workers with the right skills.Growing industries in science and technology have twice as many openings as we have workers who can do the job.Think about that –-openings at a time when millions of Americans are looking for work.It’s inexcusable.And we know how to fix it.我也听到许多企业领导人说,他们想要在美国雇用人手,但却找不到拥有他们所需技能的人员。不断发展的科学和技术产业需要招聘的人员数量是能够胜任这类工作的人员的两倍。思考一下这个现象——这些在数百万美国人找工作的时候依然空缺的岗位。没有任何借口可言。而我们也知道如何补救。
Jackie Bray is a single mom from North Carolina who was laid off from her job as a mechanic.Then Siemens opened a gas turbine factory in Charlotte, and formed a partnership with Central Piedmont Community College.The company helped the college design courses in laser and robotics training.It paid Jackie’s tuition, then hired her to help operate their plant.杰基·布雷(Jackie Bray)是北卡罗莱纳(North Carolina)的一位单身母亲,当过机械师,但被裁员。当时西门子公司(Siemens)在夏洛特(Charlotte)开办了一家天然气汽轮机厂,并与中部皮埃蒙特社区学院(Central Piedmont Community College)结成了伙伴关系。西门子公司帮助该学院设计激光和机器人技术培训方面的课程。公司为杰基付了培训费用,然后雇用她来工厂工作。
I want every American looking for work to have the same opportunity as Jackie did.Join me in a national commitment to train 2 million Americans with skills that will lead directly to a job.(Applause.)My administration has already lined up more companies that want to help.Model partnerships between businesses like Siemens and community colleges in places like Charlotte, and Orlando, and Louisville are up and running.Now you need to give more community colleges the resources they need to become community career centers-– places that teach people skills that businesses are looking for right now, from data management to high-tech manufacturing.我要让每一位正在找工作的美国人都得到杰基那样的机会。请与我一道努力在全国各地培训200万美国人,让他们掌握能够直接解决就业的技能。(掌声)我的政府已经汇集起更多的乐意帮忙的企业。像西门子这样的企业与夏洛特、奥兰多(Orlando)和路易斯维尔(Louisville)等地的社区学院之间的样板伙伴关系正在建立并发挥效力。现在必须把资源给予更多的社区学院,让它们成为社区职业培训中心——教会人们目前企业所急需的从数据管理到高科技生产等各项技能。
And I want to cut through the maze of confusing training programs, so that from now on, people like Jackie have one program, one website, and one place to go for all the information and help that they need.It is time to turn our unemployment system into a reemployment system that puts people to work.(Applause.)我要精简令人眼花缭乱的种种培训项目,从现在起,让杰基这样的民众可以只上一个培训项目、一个网站、一个地方,就能获得他们所需的一切信息和帮助。现在是把我们的失业救助系统变成让人们重新走上工作岗位的再就业系统的时候了。(掌声)
These reforms will help people get jobs that are open today.But to prepare for the jobs of tomorrow, our commitment to skills and education has to start earlier.这些改革将帮助人们获得目前依然空缺的就业岗位。但是,要为未来谋职做好准备,我们加强技能培训和提高教育质量的努力就必须开始得更早。
For less than 1 percent of what our nation spends on education each year, we’ve convinced nearly every state in the country to raise their standards for teaching and learning--the first time that’s happened in a generation.我们仅用了我国教育经费的不到百分之一,就说服了国内几乎每一个州提高其教学和学习标准——这是几十年来的第一次。
But challenges remain.And we know how to solve them.我们仍然面临诸多难题,但我们知道应当如何解决这些难题。At a time when other countries are doubling down on education, tight budgets have forced states to lay off thousands of teachers.We know a good teacher can increase the lifetime income of a classroom by over $250,000.A great teacher can offer an escape from poverty to the child who dreams beyond his circumstance.Every person in this chamber can point to a teacher who changed the trajectory of their lives.Most teachers work tirelessly, with modest pay, sometimes digging into their own pocket for school supplies--just to make a difference.在一个其他国家正在加倍投资于教育的时候,拮据的预算已迫使各州解雇数以千计的教师。我们知道,一名好教师能够使一个班的学生一生增加25万美元的收入;一名好教师能够让一个梦想冲出困境的孩子获得摆脱贫困的机会。在这个大厅中的每一个人都能说出一位改变了他们的生活轨迹的教师。大多数教师诲人不倦,他们收入不高,有时还得自己掏钱购买教学用品——只是为了尽自己的一份力。
Teachers matter.So instead of bashing them, or defending the status quo, let’s offer schools a deal.Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job, and reward the best ones.(Applause.)And in return, grant schools flexibility: to teach with creativity and passion;to stop teaching to the test;and to replace teachers who just aren’t helping kids learn.That’s a bargain worth making.(Applause.)
教师的作用重大。因此,不要责怪他们或者为现状辩护,而是让我们给学校提一个协议,为学校提供保留好教师所需要的资源,奖励优秀教师。(掌声)作为交换,让学校享有灵活性:创造性地、富于激情地进行教学,不再实行应试教育,并且取代对孩子的学习没有帮助的教师。这是一个值得做的交换。(掌声)
We also know that when students don’t walk away from their education, more of them walk the stage to get their diploma.When students are not allowed to drop out, they do better.So tonight, I am proposing that every state--every state--requires that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18.(Applause.)我们还知道,如果学生不中途退学,更多人会走上领取毕业证书的讲台。如果不允许学生辍学,他们会取得更好的成绩。因此,今晚我提议,每一个州——每一个州——要求学生留在高中就读,直到毕业或18岁。(掌声)
When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college.At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July.(Applause.)
在孩子们毕业时,最严峻的挑战可能是大学费用。此时此刻,美国人的学费债务超过了信用卡债务,国会必须阻止学生贷款利息在7月份成倍上涨。(掌声)
Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves millions of middle-class families thousands of dollars, and give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years.(Applause.)把我们开始的、为数百万中产家庭节省成千上万美元学费的减税优惠延长下去,并通过在未来5年加倍提供半工半读机会,让更多的年轻人有机会自己挣钱念完大学。(掌声)Of course, it’s not enough for us to increase student aid.We can’t just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition;we’ll run out of money.States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budgets.And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down.当然,仅仅增加学生援助是不够的。我们无法一再补贴不断猛涨的学费;我们会耗光资金。各州也需要尽一份力,把高等教育作为其预算的一项重要内容。各高等院校必须尽量努力降低费用。
Recently, I spoke with a group of college presidents who’ve done just that.Some schools redesign courses to help students finish more quickly.Some use better technology.The point is, it’s possible.So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down.(Applause.)Higher education can’t be a luxury-– it is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.最近,我与一批已经这样做的大学校长进行了交谈。一些学校重新设计课程,帮助学生更快完成学业。有些采用了更好的技术手段。这就是说,这是可以办到的。所以,让我告知高等院校:如果你们不能停止学费上涨,那么你们从纳税人那里得到的资金就将减少。(掌声)高等教育不能是奢侈品——它是经济之必需,美国每一个家庭都应能支付得起。
Let’s also remember that hundreds of thousands of talented, hardworking students in this country face another challenge: the fact that they aren’t yet American citizens.Many were brought here as small children, are American through and through, yet they live every day with the threat of deportation.Others came more recently, to study business and science and engineering, but as soon as they get their degree, we send them home to invent new products and create new jobs somewhere else.我们还要记住,在这个国家,几十万才华横溢、勤奋好学的学生面临着另一个挑战:他们尚不是美国公民。他们许多人是小时候被带到这里,是地地道道的美国人,然而却每天面临被遣返的威胁。还有一些人最近才来这里攻读商学、科学和工程学,但他们一拿到学位,我们便送他们回国,到其他地方去发明新产品,创造新就业机会。That doesn’t make sense.这毫无道理可言。
I believe as strongly as ever that we should take on illegal immigration.That’s why my administration has put more boots on the border than ever before.That’s why there are fewer illegal crossings than when I took office.The opponents of action are out of excuses.We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right now.(Applause.)我极其坚定地相信,我们应着手解决非法移民问题。正因为如此,我的政府已经向边界派遣了人数比以往任何时候都多的边防人员。也正因为如此,现在非法越境事件比我上任时减少。反对这项行动的人再也找不到借口。我们现在应当立即努力制定全面的移民改革方案。(掌声)
But if election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, let’s at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to staff our labs, start new businesses, defend this country.Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship.I will sign it right away.(Applause.)但是,如果选举年的政局使国会不情愿就一项全面方案采取行动,那么让我们至少同意停止遣返那些有责任感的年轻人,他们希望去我们的实验室、创业和捍卫这个国家。向我提交一项法案,让他们有机会通过奋斗取得公民身份。我将立刻签署。(掌声)
You see, an economy built to last is one where we encourage the talent and ingenuity of every person in this country.That means women should earn equal pay for equal work.(Applause.)It means we should support everyone who’s willing to work, and every risk-taker and entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve Jobs.要知道,长盛不衰的经济要求我们激发这个国家每个人的聪明才智和创造力。这意味着对妇女应当实行同工同酬。(掌声)这意味着应当支持每一个愿意工作的人,每一个敢于承担风险的人,每一个有志成为下一个史蒂夫·乔布斯(Steve Jobs)的实业家。
After all, innovation is what America has always been about.Most new jobs are created in start-ups and small businesses.So let’s pass an agenda that helps them succeed.Tear down regulations that prevent aspiring entrepreneurs from getting the financing to grow.(Applause.)Expand tax relief to small businesses that are raising wages and creating good jobs.Both parties agree on these ideas.So put them in a bill, and get it on my desk this year.(Applause.)毕竟,创新是美国的根本。大多数新的就业岗位是由初创企业和小型企业创造的。因此让我们实现一项有助于他们成功的议程。打破妨碍有抱负的企业家进行发展融资的条条框框。(掌声)将减税优惠扩大到那些增加工资和创造良好就业岗位的小型企业。两党都同意这些设想。因此,请把它们变成法案,今年放在我的办公桌上。(掌声)
Innovation also demands basic research.Today, the discoveries taking place in our federally financed labs and universities could lead to new treatments that kill cancer cells but leave healthy ones untouched.New lightweight vests for cops and soldiers that can stop any bullet.Don’t gut these investments in our budget.Don’t let other countries win the race for the future.Support the same kind of research and innovation that led to the computer chip and the Internet;to new American jobs and new American industries.创新还要求从事基础研究。今天,在我们联邦政府资助的实验室和大学获得的各种发现有可能带来新的治疗方法,杀死癌细胞而不损坏健康细胞。新型的警察和士兵使用的轻便防弹背心可以挡住任何子弹。请不要在预算中除掉这些投资。请不要让其他国家在未来的竞赛中占上风。请支持研究与创新,正是它们带来了电脑芯片和因特网、带来了美国的新就业岗位和新兴行业。
And nowhere is the promise of innovation greater than in American-made energy.Over the last three years, we’ve opened millions of new acres for oil and gas exploration, and tonight, I’m directing my administration to open more than 75 percent of our potential offshore oil and gas resources.(Applause.)Right now--right now--American oil production is the highest that it’s been in eight years.That’s right--eight years.Not only that--last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16 years.(Applause.)谈到创新的前途,没有任何一个领域能比美国能源产业更有希望。近三年来,我们进行了数百万英亩的石油和天然气勘探。今晚,我指示我的政府开发我国75%以上的潜在近海石油和天然气资源。(掌声)目前——目前——美国的石油产量达到8年来最高水平。是的,8年。不仅如此,去年,我们对外国石油的依赖比以往 16 年中的任何一年都少。(掌声)But with only 2 percent of the world’s oil reserves, oil isn’t enough.This country needs an all-out, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy.(Applause.)A strategy that’s cleaner, cheaper, and full of new jobs.但是,鉴于我们仅有世界2%的石油储备量,石油是不够的。这个国家需要有一个全方位的综合战略,开发美国能源的各项潜能。(掌声)这项战略意味着更清洁、更便宜、并充满新的就业岗位。
We have a supply of natural gas that can last America nearly 100 years.(Applause.)And my administration will take every possible action to safely develop this energy.Experts believe this will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade.And I’m requiring all companies that drill for gas on public lands to disclose the chemicals they use.(Applause.)Because America will develop this resource without putting the health and safety of our citizens at risk.我们拥有满足美国将近100 年需要的天然气资源。(掌声)本届政府将采取一切可能措施安全地开发这种能源。专家认为,这将在10年内带来 60 多万个就业岗位。我要求在公有土地上钻探天然气的所有公司将他们使用的化学物质成分公诸于众。(掌声)这是因为,美国在开发这种资源时不会把我国公民的健康与安全置于危险境地。
The development of natural gas will create jobs and power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving that we don’t have to choose between our environment and our economy.(Applause.)And by the way, it was public research dollars, over the course of 30 years, that helped develop the technologies to extract all this natural gas out of shale rock –-reminding us that government support is critical in helping businesses get new energy ideas off the ground.(Applause.)
开发天然气将创造就业岗位,为货车和工厂提供更清洁和更便宜的能源,从而证明我们不必在环境与经济两者之间只取其一。(掌声)顺便提一下,是过去 30年间政府拨出的研究资金帮助开发了从页岩中提炼天然气的技术,这一点提醒我们:政府的支持对帮助企业把新能源设想转化为现实至关重要。(掌声)
Now, what’s true for natural gas is just as true for clean energy.In three years, our partnership with the private sector has already positioned America to be the world’s leading manufacturer of high-tech batteries.Because of federal investments, renewable energy use has nearly doubled, and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it.天然气的道理同样适用于清洁能源。三年来,我们与民间行业建立的伙伴关系已经使美国在世界高科技电池生产中处于领先位置。由于联邦政府的投资,可再生能源的使用几乎翻了一番,并给成千上万美国人带来就业机会。
When Bryan Ritterby was laid off from his job making furniture, he said he worried that at 55, no one would give him a second chance.But he found work at Energetx, a wind turbine manufacturer in Michigan.Before the recession, the factory only made luxury yachts.Today, it’s hiring workers like Bryan, who said, ―I’m proud to be working in the industry of the future.‖
布赖恩•里特比(Bryan Ritterby)从家具制造业下岗时,曾担心已经55岁的他不再会有另一次机会。但他在密歇根州一家叫做―活力‖(Energetx)的风力涡轮机制造厂找到了工作。在经济衰退前,这家工厂只建造豪华游艇。今天,它在招聘像布赖恩这样的工人。布赖恩说:―我为在这个未来行业工作感到自豪。‖
Our experience with shale gas, our experience with natural gas, shows us that the payoffs on these public investments don’t always come right away.Some technologies don’t pan out;some companies fail.But I will not walk away from the promise of clean energy.I will not walk away from workers like Bryan.(Applause.)I will not cede the wind or solar or battery industry to China or Germany because we refuse to make the same commitment here.我们在页岩气,我们在天然气方面的经验告诉我们,这些公共投资不一定带来立竿见影的回报。某些技术未取得成果,有些企业倒闭。但我不会背弃对清洁能源作出的承诺。我不会背弃像布赖恩这样的工人。(掌声)我不会因为我们拒绝在这里作出同样的承诺而把风力或太阳能或电池工业让给中国或德国。
We’ve subsidized oil companies for a century.That’s long enough.(Applause.)It’s time to end the taxpayer giveaways to an industry that rarely has been more profitable, and double-down on a clean energy industry that never has been more promising.Pass clean energy tax credits.Create these jobs.(Applause.)我们对石油公司的补贴已经达一个世纪,时间足矣。(掌声)现在应该是停止向这个利润鲜逊于任何人的产业提供纳税人馈赠、转向为前途从未如此光明的清洁能源加倍投资的时候了。请批准清洁能源减税优惠。请创造这些就业机会。(掌声)
We can also spur energy innovation with new incentives.The differences in this chamber may be too deep right now to pass a comprehensive plan to fight climate change.But there’s no reason why Congress shouldn’t at least set a clean energy standard that creates a market for innovation.So far, you haven’t acted.Well, tonight, I will.I’m directing my administration to allow the development of clean energy on enough public land to power 3 million homes.And I’m proud to announce that the Department of Defense, working with us, the world’s largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history-– with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year.(Applause.)我们也能够通过新的鼓励项目来刺激能源创新。目前国会的分歧或许太深,难以为解决气候变化问题通过一项全面的方案。然而,国会没有理由为什么不应至少制定一项清洁能源标准,为发明革新开辟市场。迄今,你们尚未采取行动。今晚,我将采取行动。我将指示本届政府批准在公共土地上开发足以供300万家庭用电需要的清洁能源。我很自豪地宣布,国防部(Department of Defense)与我们一道,为这个世界最大的能源消费国作出有史以来对清洁能源最大的承诺之一——海军将购买足以每年为25万家庭提供电力的供电能力。(掌声)Of course, the easiest way to save money is to waste less energy.So here’s a proposal: Help manufacturers eliminate energy waste in their factories and give businesses incentives to upgrade their buildings.Their energy bills will be $100 billion lower over the next decade, and America will have less pollution, more manufacturing, more jobs for construction workers who need them.Send me a bill that creates these jobs.(Applause.)当然,节省资金的最简便方式是节约能源。因此,我在此提议:帮助厂家杜绝工厂的能源浪费,为公司提供改造建筑的奖励计划。这样一来,未来10年的能源费用将会减少1,000亿美元,使美国的污染降低,制造业扩大,给建筑业带来工人所需的更多就业岗位。请提交我一项创造这类就业岗位的法案。(掌声)
Building this new energy future should be just one part of a broader agenda to repair America’s infrastructure.So much of America needs to be rebuilt.We’ve got crumbling roads and bridges;a power grid that wastes too much energy;an incomplete high-speed broadband network that prevents a small business owner in rural America from selling her products all over the world.开创新能源的前景,应该只是修整美国基础设施的更宏大计划中的一项内容。美国有许多领域需要重建。我们的道路和桥梁失修,供电网浪费能源过多,高速宽带网络不健全,致使美国乡村地区的小企业难以将产品行销全球。
During the Great Depression, America built the Hoover Dam and the Golden Gate Bridge.After World War II, we connected our states with a system of highways.Democratic and Republican administrations invested in great projects that benefited everybody, from the workers who built them to the businesses that still use them today.在大萧条时期(Great Depression),美国修建了胡佛水坝(Hoover Dam)和金门大桥(Golden Gate Bridge)。二次大战后,我们修建了连接各州的高速公路。民主党和共和党政府均为大型项目作出投资,造福了所有人——从当年的建设者到今天仍在使用它们的公司企业。
In the next few weeks, I will sign an executive order clearing away the red tape that slows down too many construction projects.But you need to fund these projects.Take the money we’re no longer spending at war, use half of it to pay down our debt, and use the rest to do some nation-building right here at home.(Applause.)在今后几周内,我将签署一项行政令,以排除使许多建筑项目停滞不前的官僚障碍。但是,你们需要为这些项目出资。利用我们不再为战争开支的经费,以其中二分之一支付我们的债务,用另一半来进行我们的国内建设。(掌声)
There’s never been a better time to build, especially since the construction industry was one of the hardest hit when the housing bubble burst.Of course, construction workers weren’t the only ones who were hurt.So were millions of innocent Americans who’ve seen their home values decline.And while government can’t fix the problem on its own, responsible homeowners shouldn’t have to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom to get some relief.现在是从事基建的最佳时机,特别是由于建筑业是在房地产泡沫破裂时遭受最大重创的行业之一。当然,受到冲击的不仅是建筑工人。数百万无辜的美国人也受到冲击,他们的房屋价值下跌。虽然政府无法单独解决这一问题,但不应让负责任的房主等到房地产市场跌入谷底才可获得救助。
And that’s why I’m sending this Congress a plan that gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3,000 a year on their mortgage, by refinancing at historically low rates.(Applause.)No more red tape.No more runaround from the banks.A small fee on the largest financial institutions will ensure that it won’t add to the deficit and will give those banks that were rescued by taxpayers a chance to repay a deficit of trust.(Applause.)因此,我将向本届国会提交一项方案,为每位负责任的房主提供机会,通过有史以来最低的利息进行重新贷款,使他们可在房贷上每年节省3,000美元。(掌声)不再有官僚挡道。不再有银行拖延。对规模最大的金融机构收取一小笔费用,可确保不导致赤字递增,并使那些被纳税人救助的银行有机会偿还它们的信用赤字。(掌声)
Let’s never forget: Millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules every day deserve a government and a financial system that do the same.It’s time to apply the same rules from top to bottom.No bailouts, no handouts, and no copouts.An America built to last insists on responsibility from everybody.让我们永远不要忘记:每天都勤奋工作、遵纪守法的千百万美国人理当拥有一个以同样方式行事的政府和金融体系。现在应该从上到下实行同一个规则:不再允许纾困、施舍和逃避责任。美国的长盛不衰要求每一个人都承担责任。
We’ve all paid the price for lenders who sold mortgages to people who couldn’t afford them, and buyers who knew they couldn’t afford them.That’s why we need smart regulations to prevent irresponsible behavior.(Applause.)Rules to prevent financial fraud or toxic dumping or faulty medical devices--these don’t destroy the free market.They make the free market work better.由于贷款人向无力偿还抵押贷款的申情人贷款,由于购买方明知负担不起仍勉为其难,我们所有的人已经为此付出了代价。正是因为这个原因,我们需要采取有效的监管制止不负责任的行为。(掌声)防止金融欺诈的规定,禁止倾倒有毒物品或生产劣质医疗设备的条例——这些都不会损害自由市场,反而会促使自由市场更好地运作。
There’s no question that some regulations are outdated, unnecessary, or too costly.In fact, I’ve approved fewer regulations in the first three years of my presidency than my Republican predecessor did in his.(Applause.)I’ve ordered every federal agency to eliminate rules that don’t make sense.We’ve already announced over 500 reforms, and just a fraction of them will save business and citizens more than $10 billion over the next five years.We got rid of one rule from 40 years ago that could have forced some dairy farmers to spend $10,000 a year proving that they could contain a spill--because milk was somehow classified as an oil.With a rule like that, I guess it was worth crying over spilled milk.(Laughter and applause.)毫无疑问,有些规章已经过时、并非必需而且代价过高。事实上,我在总统任期内的头3年批准的规章比我的共和党籍前任在同期内所颁行的规章要少。(掌声)我已指令每个联邦机构取消不合理的规章。我们已经宣布实行500多项改革,仅其中的一小部分便能在今后5年为企业和公民节省100多亿美元。我们取消了40多年前制定的一项规定,这项规定导致一些奶牛场可能每年要花10,000美元来证明他们能够控制泄漏——因为牛奶不知何故被归为油类。有了这样的规定,我想即使洒了牛奶,也值得大哭一场(crying over spilled milk)。(笑声和掌声)
Now, I’m confident a farmer can contain a milk spill without a federal agency looking over his shoulder.(Applause.)Absolutely.But I will not back down from making sure an oil company can contain the kind of oil spill we saw in the Gulf two years ago.(Applause.)I will not back down from protecting our kids from mercury poisoning, or making sure that our food is safe and our water is clean.I will not go back to the days when health insurance companies had unchecked power to cancel your policy, deny your coverage, or charge women differently than men.(Applause.)而我确信一名牧民有能力处理牛奶泄漏,不需要一个联邦机构插手。(掌声)这是毫无疑问的。但我不会放松对石油公司防止漏油的要求,确保不再发生我们两年前在墨西哥湾看到的漏油事故。(掌声)我不会放松为保护我们的孩子们免受汞中毒危害提出的要求,不会放松我们为保证食品安全和清洁用水提出的要求。我不会回到过去允许医疗保险公司任意取消保单,拒绝承保,对女性收取与男性不同保费的日子。(掌声)
And I will not go back to the days when Wall Street was allowed to play by its own set of rules.The new rules we passed restore what should be any financial system’s core purpose: Getting funding to entrepreneurs with the best ideas, and getting loans to responsible families who want to buy a home, or start a business, or send their kids to college.我也不会回到允许华尔街(Wall Street)自行其事的日子。我们已经批准的新规则重新确立了任何一个金融体制都应遵循的核心宗旨:向提出最佳创意的创业者提供资金,向希望买房子、开公司或送子女上大学的负责任的家庭提供贷款。
So if you are a big bank or financial institution, you’re no longer allowed to make risky bets with your customers’ deposits.You’re required to write out a ―living will‖ that details exactly how you’ll pay the bills if you fail –-because the rest of us are not bailing you out ever again.(Applause.)And if you’re a mortgage lender or a payday lender or a credit card company, the days of signing people up for products they can’t afford with confusing forms and deceptive practices--those days are over.Today, American consumers finally have a watchdog in Richard Cordray with one job: To look out for them.(Applause.)因此,如果你是一家大银行或金融机构,你就不能再用客户的存款从事冒险的交易。你必须开出一份详细说明你一旦倒闭将如何偿清款项的―预嘱‖(living will)——因为我们其他的人不愿再为你们纾困。(掌声)如果你是一家抵押贷款机构或薪金预支行或信用卡公司,利用难懂的表格和欺诈手段导致人们签购他们负担不起的金融产品——这样的日子已经一去不复返。今天,美国消费者终于有了由理查德·科德雷(Richard Cordray)负责的监管机构,承担保护他们的专门职能。(掌声)
We’ll also establish a Financial Crimes Unit of highly trained investigators to crack down on large-scale fraud and protect people’s investments.Some financial firms violate major anti-fraud laws because there’s no real penalty for being a repeat offender.That’s bad for consumers, and it’s bad for the vast majority of bankers and financial service professionals who do the right thing.So pass legislation that makes the penalties for fraud count.我们还将建立一个金融犯罪调查组(Financial Crimes Unit),由训练有素的调查人员组成,打击大规模欺诈活动并保护民众的投资。某些金融公司违反重要的反欺诈法规,因为屡屡违犯者并没有受到实质性惩治。这损害了消费者,也损害了绝大多数遵纪守法的银行及金融服务业专业人员。因此,通过惩治欺诈的立法意义重大。
And tonight, I’m asking my Attorney General to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorney general to expand our investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the housing crisis.(Applause.)This new unit will hold accountable those who broke the law, speed assistance to homeowners, and help turn the page on an era of recklessness that hurt so many Americans.今晚,我要求司法部长成立由联邦检察官和具有主导地位的各州司法部长组成的特别工作组,对导致房产危机的违章借贷与包装风险房贷展开更大规模调查。(掌声)这个工作组将追究违法责任,加快为房主提供帮助,加速结束这个伤害到如此之多美国人的无节制时期。Now, a return to the American values of fair play and shared responsibility will help protect our people and our economy.But it should also guide us as we look to pay down our debt and invest in our future.再次倡导公平合理和共同责任的美国价值观将有利于保护我们的人民和我们的经济,而它也应对我们努力摆脱债务负担和对未来投资具有指导作用。
Right now, our most immediate priority is stopping a tax hike on 160 million working Americans while the recovery is still fragile.(Applause.)People cannot afford losing $40 out of each paycheck this year.There are plenty of ways to get this done.So let’s agree right here, right now: No side issues.No drama.Pass the payroll tax cut without delay.Let’s get it done.(Applause.)
眼下,我们最直接的当务之急是,在经济复苏仍然脆弱的情况下,避免给1亿6千万美国工薪阶层加税。(掌声)人们今年无法承受从每次工资中减少40美元。可以有许多途径达到上述目标。为此,让我们在此地此时一致同意:不要附加议题。不要造势。毫无耽搁地批准削减工资税。让我们完成这项工作。(掌声)
When it comes to the deficit, we’ve already agreed to more than $2 trillion in cuts and savings.But we need to do more, and that means making choices.Right now, we’re poised to spend nearly $1 trillion more on what was supposed to be a temporary tax break for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans.Right now, because of loopholes and shelters in the tax code, a quarter of all millionaires pay lower tax rates than millions of middle-class households.Right now, Warren Buffett pays a lower tax rate than his secretary.在赤字问题上,我们已就削减和节省2万亿以上美元开支达成协议。但我们还需进一步努力,而这意味着作出选择。目前,我们要额外花费将近1万亿美元来支持一项本应是临时性的为美国2%最富有的人减税的项目。如今,由于税法的缺陷和保护规定,四分之一的百万富翁享有比数百万中产阶层家庭要低的税率。今天,沃伦·巴菲特(Warren Buffett)的税率比他的秘书的税率还低。
Do we want to keep these tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans? Or do we want to keep our investments in everything else –-like education and medical research;a strong military and care for our veterans? Because if we’re serious about paying down our debt, we can’t do both.我们希望保留这些给美国富人的减税措施吗?还是说我们希望把投资用于其他方面——如教育和医学研究,加强军力和照料退伍军人?因为如果我们真想摆脱债务,就不可能两者兼得。
The American people know what the right choice is.So do I.As I told the Speaker this summer, I’m prepared to make more reforms that rein in the long-term costs of Medicare and Medicaid, and strengthen Social Security, so long as those programs remain a guarantee of security for seniors.美国人民知道什么是正确的选择。我也知道。正如去年夏天我对众议院议长所说,我有准备作出进一步改革,控制医疗照顾(Medicare)和医疗补助(Medicaid)开销,巩固社会安全福利(Social Security),只要这些项目继续能为老年人提供保障。
But in return, we need to change our tax code so that people like me, and an awful lot of members of Congress, pay our fair share of taxes.(Applause.)但与此相应,我们需要修改税法,让像我这样以及像国会中许多人一样的人,缴纳我们应该承担的税收。
Tax reform should follow the Buffett Rule.If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30 percent in taxes.And my Republican friend Tom Coburn is right: Washington should stop subsidizing millionaires.In fact, if you’re earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn’t get special tax subsidies or deductions.On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up.(Applause.)You’re the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages.You’re the ones who need relief.税务改革应该遵循巴菲特规则(Buffett Rule),即如果你年收入超过1亿美元,你的税率就不应低于30%。我的共和党朋友汤姆·科伯恩(Tom Coburn)说得对:华盛顿应该停止补贴百万富翁。实际上,如果你的年收入超过1亿美元,你就不应享有纳税补贴和减免。而另一方面,如果你的收入不到25万美元一年,98%的家庭都是这样,那么你们的税率就不应增加。(掌声)你们面对着价格上涨而工资不动的艰难,你们是需要得到减税的人。
Now, you can call this class warfare all you want.But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense.谁要称这是阶级对抗,请自便。但要求百万富翁至少同他的秘书一样纳税应该被称作什么?大多数美国人会称这是常理。
We don’t begrudge financial success in this country.We admire it.When Americans talk about folks like me paying my fair share of taxes, it’s not because they envy the rich.It’s because they understand that when I get a tax break I don’t need and the country can’t afford, it either adds to the deficit, or somebody else has to make up the difference--like a senior on a fixed income, or a student trying to get through school, or a family trying to make ends meet.That’s not right.Americans know that’s not right.They know that this generation’s success is only possible because past generations felt a responsibility to each other, and to the future of their country, and they know our way of life will only endure if we feel that same sense of shared responsibility.That’s how we’ll reduce our deficit.That’s an America built to last.(Applause.)
在这个国家,我们并不妒忌财务上的成功,我们对此表示赞赏。当人们谈论像我这样的人付出我应付的那一部分税金时,那不是因为他们妒忌我的富有,那是因为他们理解,我如果获得一个我并不需要、同时国家又无力负担的税务减免时,只会增加赤字或让旁人去承担这个差额,例如一个靠固定收入维生的老年人,或一个正奋力完成学业的学生,或一个勉力维持日常开销的家庭。那是不对的,美国人也都知道,那是不对的。他们知道,正因为以前的几代人认识到他们彼此肩负的责任,对国家未来肩负的责任,这一代人才有可能获得成功;他们知道,只有当我们也具有共同的责任感,我们的生活方式才有可能持续下去。这就是我们今后降低赤字的途径。这样美国才能常盛不衰。(掌声)
Now, I recognize that people watching tonight have differing views about taxes and debt, energy and health care.But no matter what party they belong to, I bet most Americans are thinking the same thing right about now: Nothing will get done in Washington this year, or next year, or maybe even the year after that, because Washington is broken.我承认,今晚正在收看我的讲话的人们对税务和债务、能源和医疗保健等事项有不同的看法,但是不论他们属于哪一个党派,我可以断定此时此刻大多数美国人都在思考同一件事:今年,明年,甚至后年,华盛顿将一事无成,因为华盛顿四分五裂。
Can you blame them for feeling a little cynical? 他们感觉有点悲观你能责怪他们吗?
The greatest blow to our confidence in our economy last year didn’t come from events beyond our control.It came from a debate in Washington over whether the United States would pay its bills or not.Who benefited from that fiasco? 去年对我们经济的信心最大的打击不是来自我们不能控制的事件,而是来自华盛顿关于美国能否弥补开支的讨论。谁能从这样的不利局面中得利?
I’ve talked tonight about the deficit of trust between Main Street and Wall Street.But the divide between this city and the rest of the country is at least as bad--and it seems to get worse every year.我今晚谈到民众和华尔街之间的信任危机。但这个城市和这个国家其余地方之间的分歧至少同样严重——而且似乎年复一年逐渐恶化。
Some of this has to do with the corrosive influence of money in politics.So together, let’s take some steps to fix that.Send me a bill that bans insider trading by members of Congress;I will sign it tomorrow.(Applause.)Let’s limit any elected official from owning stocks in industries they impact.Let’s make sure people who bundle campaign contributions for Congress can’t lobby Congress, and vice versa--an idea that has bipartisan support, at least outside of Washington.有些问题与金钱政治的腐蚀性有关。为此让我们一起采取一些步骤解决这个问题。请给我提交一项禁止国会议员进行内幕交易的法案,我明天就签署。(掌声)让我们限制任何民选官员在他们可以产生影响的行业拥有股票。让我们确保为国会竞选集中筹款的人不得游说国会,反之亦然 ——这个想法至少在华盛顿之外得到两党的支持。
Some of what’s broken has to do with the way Congress does its business these days.A simple majority is no longer enough to get anything-– even routine business –-passed through the Senate.(Applause.)Neither party has been blameless in these tactics.Now both parties should put an end to it.(Applause.)For starters, I ask the Senate to pass a simple rule that all judicial and public service nominations receive a simple up or down vote within 90 days.(Applause.)
某些方面出现的失常现象与国会近来工作的方式有关。简单多数不再足以在参议院通过任何法案——甚至包括日常事务。(掌声)对于这种种策略,任何一党都不能回避自己的责任。现在,两党都应该加以制止。(掌声)首先,我要求参议院通过一个简单的规则,对所有司法和公共服务部门的提名必须在90天内给予赞成或否定的简单表决。(掌声)
The executive branch also needs to change.Too often, it’s inefficient, outdated and remote.(Applause.)That’s why I’ve asked this Congress to grant me the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy, so that our government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American people.(Applause.)
行政部门也需要改变。这个部门往往效率不高、陈旧过时、脱离实际。(掌声)这就是为什么我要求本届国会给予我整合联邦官僚体制的权力,使我们的政府更精简、反应更快、更能适应美国人民的需要。(掌声)
Finally, none of this can happen unless we also lower the temperature in this town.We need to end the notion that the two parties must be locked in a perpetual campaign of mutual destruction;that politics is about clinging to rigid ideologies instead of building consensus around common-sense ideas.最后,我们也需要降低这个城市积聚的高温,否则将一事无成。我们应该抛弃一些观念,例如两党必然会党同伐异,相互摧毁;政治意味着坚持僵化的意识形态,无法按照事理常情建立共识等。
I’m a Democrat.But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed: That government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more.(Applause.)That’s why my education reform offers more competition, and more control for schools and states.That’s why we’re getting rid of regulations that don’t work.That’s why our health care law relies on a reformed private market, not a government program.我是民主党人。但是我相信共和党亚伯拉罕•林肯(Abraham Lincoln)的信念:政府只应该为人民做他们自己无法做得更好的事情,仅此而已。(掌声)正是因为这个原因,我的教育改革要求各学校和各州有更多的竞争、更多的自主。正是因为这个原因,我们正在取消不起作用的监管条例。正是因为这个原因,我们的医疗保健法律依靠改革后的民营市场,不再依靠政府项目。
On the other hand, even my Republican friends who complain the most about government spending have supported federally financed roads, and clean energy projects, and federal offices for the folks back home.另外一方面,我的某些共和党朋友,即使对政府支出最强烈地表示不满,也支持联邦拨款用于建造道路,实施清洁能源项目和为国内服务的联邦机构。
The point is, we should all want a smarter, more effective government.And while we may not be able to bridge our biggest philosophical differences this year, we can make real progress.With or without this Congress, I will keep taking actions that help the economy grow.But I can do a whole lot more with your help.Because when we act together, there’s nothing the United States of America can’t achieve.(Applause.)That’s the lesson we’ve learned from our actions abroad over the last few years.问题在于,我们都希望有一个更明智、更有效的政府。尽管我们可能无法在今年弥合我们之间观念上最大的分歧,我们仍然可以取得实际进展。无论本届国会是否参与,我都会采取行动促进经济增长。但如果得到你们的帮助,我可以做更多的事情。因为如果我们共同努力,美利坚合众国就没有达不到的目标。(掌声)这是我们在过去几年的海外行动中取得的经验。Ending the Iraq war has allowed us to strike decisive blows against our enemies.From Pakistan to Yemen, the al Qaeda operatives who remain are scrambling, knowing that they can’t escape the reach of the United States of America.(Applause.)
结束伊拉克战争让我们能够给我们的敌人以致命的打击。从巴基斯坦(Pakistan)到也门(Yemen),残余的―基地‖组织成员仓皇失措,知道自己无法逃脱美利坚合众国的恢恢天网。From this position of strength, we’ve begun to wind down the war in Afghanistan.Ten thousand of our troops have come home.Twenty-three thousand more will leave by the end of this summer.This transition to Afghan lead will continue, and we will build an enduring partnership with Afghanistan, so that it is never again a source of attacks against America.(Applause.)
从这个实力地位出发,我们已经开始逐步紧缩在阿富汗的战事。我军有一万人已经回国。还有2万3千多人到今年夏天将会撤离。这个让阿富汗发挥主导作用的过渡将继续,我们将与阿富汗建立持久的伙伴关系,让它永远不可能再成为攻击美国的一个发源地。
As the tide of war recedes, a wave of change has washed across the Middle East and North Africa, from Tunis to Cairo;from Sana’a to Tripoli.A year ago, Qaddafi was one of the world’s longest-serving dictators-– a murderer with American blood on his hands.Today, he is gone.And in Syria, I have no doubt that the Assad regime will soon discover that the forces of change cannot be reversed, and that human dignity cannot be denied.(Applause.)
随着战争浪潮的消退,一股变革的潮流席卷整个中东和北非,从突尼斯(Tunis)到开罗(Cairo),从萨那(Sana’a)到的黎波里(Tripoli)。一年前,卡扎菲(Qadhafi)还是世界上当权时间最长的独裁者之一——是双手沾满了美国人鲜血的凶手。今天,他已不复存在。在叙利亚,我毫不怀疑,阿萨德(Assad)政权很快就会发现,变革的力量无法逆转,人类尊严不容抹杀。
How this incredible transformation will end remains uncertain.But we have a huge stake in the outcome.And while it’s ultimately up to the people of the region to decide their fate, we will advocate for those values that have served our own country so well.We will stand against violence and intimidation.We will stand for the rights and dignity of all human beings –-men and women;Christians, Muslims and Jews.We will support policies that lead to strong and stable democracies and open markets, because tyranny is no match for liberty.这场令人令人震撼的变革结果如何仍无法确定。但我们与其最终结果利害攸关。本地区人民的命运归根结底由他们自己决定,但我们将倡导那些使我们自己的国家受益匪浅的价值观。我们将反对暴力和恐吓。我们将捍卫全人类的权利和尊严——男性和女性;基督徒、穆斯林和犹太人。我们将支持有助于建设强大稳定的民主和开放市场的政策,因为自由必将战胜暴政。
And we will safeguard America’s own security against those who threaten our citizens, our friends, and our interests.Look at Iran.Through the power of our diplomacy, a world that was once divided about how to deal with Iran’s nuclear program now stands as one.The regime is more isolated than ever before;its leaders are faced with crippling sanctions, and as long as they shirk their responsibilities, this pressure will not relent.我们将维护美国自身的安全,防范那些威胁我国公民、我国盟友和我国利益的人。看看伊朗。我国外交的有力作用让一个曾对如何应对伊朗的核计划存在分歧的世界现在团结一致。该政权比以往任何时候都更加孤立;该国领导人面临着严厉制裁,只要他们还在逃避自己的责任,这样的施压就不会放松。
Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal.(Applause.)毫无疑问:美国决心阻止伊朗获得核武器,为实现这一目标,我将不排除任何方案。But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better, and if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations.但和平解决这个问题仍然是可能的,而且益处大得多。伊朗如果改弦易辙并履行其义务,就可以重新加入国际社会。
The renewal of American leadership can be felt across the globe.Our oldest alliances in Europe and Asia are stronger than ever.Our ties to the Americas are deeper.Our ironclad commitment--and I mean ironclad--to Israel’s security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history.(Applause.)美国领导地位的重振在全球各地都有所体现。我们在欧洲和亚洲历史最悠久的同盟比以往任何时候都更强大。我们与美洲的关系更加深厚。我们对以色列的安全作出的牢不可破的承诺——我是说牢不可破——意味着我们两国在历史上最密切的军事合作。(访问51voa.com获取更多信息。)We’ve made it clear that America is a Pacific power, and a new beginning in Burma has lit a new hope.From the coalitions we’ve built to secure nuclear materials, to the missions we’ve led against hunger and disease;from the blows we’ve dealt to our enemies, to the enduring power of our moral example, America is back.我们已经很清楚地表明,美国是一个太平洋大国,缅甸的新开端点燃了新的希望。从我们建立的保障核材料安全的联盟,到我们领导的消除饥饿和疾病的使命;从我们对敌人的打击,到我们作为道义典范的持久力量——美国回来了。
Anyone who tells you otherwise, anyone who tells you that America is in decline or that our influence has waned, doesn’t know what they’re talking about.(Applause.)
如果有人另有别论,如果有人说美国正在衰落或我们的影响力已经减弱,都是不知所云。That’s not the message we get from leaders around the world who are eager to work with us.That’s not how people feel from Tokyo to Berlin, from Cape Town to Rio, where opinions of America are higher than they’ve been in years.Yes, the world is changing.No, we can’t control every event.But America remains the one indispensable nation in world affairs –-and as long as I’m President, I intend to keep it that way.(Applause.)
这不是我们从渴望与我们合作的世界各国领导人那里得到的信息。这也不是从东京(Tokoyo)到柏林(Berlin),从开普敦(Cape Town)到里约(Rio)等地人民的感觉,这些地方对美国的看法比数年来的任何时候都好。是的,世界正在改变;不错,我们不能控制每一事件,但美国仍然是世界事务中不可或缺的国家——只要我仍担任总统之职,就将保持已成的盛业。
That’s why, working with our military leaders, I’ve proposed a new defense strategy that ensures we maintain the finest military in the world, while saving nearly half a trillion dollars in our budget.To stay one step ahead of our adversaries, I’ve already sent this Congress legislation that will secure our country from the growing dangers of cyber-threats.(Applause.)
那就是为什么我与我们的军事将领一起提出新的国防战略,确保我们维持全世界最优异的军力,同时为我们的预算节省将近5,000亿美元。为了抢占制敌的先机,我已经将此提案送交国会,以保障我国避免日益严重的网络威胁。(掌声。)
Above all, our freedom endures because of the men and women in uniform who defend it.(Applause.)As they come home, we must serve them as well as they’ve served us.That includes giving them the care and the benefits they have earned –-which is why we’ve increased annual VA spending every year I’ve been President.(Applause.)And it means enlisting our veterans in the work of rebuilding our nation.说到底,由于我国男女军人捍卫自由,我们才得以维系自由。(掌声。)随着他们班师回国,我们必须为他们服务,就像他们为我们服务一样。这包括给予他们应得的照顾和福利--那就是为什么自我担任总统以来,我们为退伍军人的开支年年增长。(掌声。)它意味着召唤我们的退役军人重建我们的国家。
With the bipartisan support of this Congress, we’re providing new tax credits to companies that hire vets.Michelle and Jill Biden have worked with American businesses to secure a pledge of 135,000 jobs for veterans and their families.And tonight, I’m proposing a Veterans Jobs Corps that will help our communities hire veterans as cops and firefighters, so that America is as strong as those who defend her.(Applause.)由于获得本届国会两党一致的支持,我们正在为聘用退役军人的公司提供新的税务抵免。米歇尔(Michelle)和吉尔·拜登(Jill Biden)已与美国企业合作,承诺为退役军人及其家人提供135,000份工作。今晚,我提议组成一个退伍军人就业团(Veterans Jobs Corps),帮助我们的社区聘用退役军人担任警察和消防员,使美国及其保卫者同样强盛。(掌声。)Which brings me back to where I began.Those of us who’ve been sent here to serve can learn a thing or two from the service of our troops.When you put on that uniform, it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white;Asian, Latino, Native American;conservative, liberal;rich, poor;gay, straight.When you’re marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails.When you’re in the thick of the fight, you rise or fall as one unit, serving one nation, leaving no one behind.这就带回我一开始的主题。我们被派到此地服务的人可以从我们军队的服务学到几件事。当你穿上军服时,无论你是黑人或白人;亚裔、拉美裔、美国原住民;保守派、自由派;富人、穷人;还是同性恋,异性恋,都不重要。当你走上战场,你会照顾身边的袍泽,否则任务将会失败。当你处在枪林弹雨之中,你们会全体共进退,效忠同一个国家,不会抛下任何一个人。
One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden.On it are each of their names.Some may be Democrats.Some may be Republicans.But that doesn’t matter.Just like it didn’t matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates--a man who was George Bush’s defense secretary--and Hillary Clinton--a woman who ran against me for president.我保存的最令人自豪的物品之一,是海豹突击队(SEAL Team)在执行捉拿本·拉登使命时携带的一面旗帜,上面有每一位勇士的姓名。他们中有些可能是民主党人,有些可能是共和党人,但这并没有任何关系,就像那天在情况室(Situation Room)一样,我坐在鲍勃•盖茨(Bob Gates)旁边,他是乔治•布什(George Bush)政府的国防部长;当时还有希拉里•克林顿(Hillary Clinton),她曾是我竞选总统时的对手。
All that mattered that day was the mission.No one thought about politics.No one thought about themselves.One of the young men involved in the raid later told me that he didn’t deserve credit for the mission.It only succeeded, he said, because every single member of that unit did their job--the pilot who landed the helicopter that spun out of control;the translator who kept others from entering the compound;the troops who separated the women and children from the fight;the SEALs who charged up the stairs.More than that, the mission only succeeded because every member of that unit trusted each other--because you can’t charge up those stairs, into darkness and danger, unless you know that there’s somebody behind you, watching your back.那一天最重要的是完成使命。谁也没有想到政治。谁也没有想到自己。参加突袭行动的一位年轻人后来对我说,他没有资格为这项使命获得嘉奖。他说,这次使命获得成功是因为参加行动的每一位成员都尽了自己的一份力量——将盘旋失控的直升机降落在地面上的驾驶员;阻止其他人进入大院的翻译;将妇女和儿童与作战区隔离的军人;冲上楼道的海豹突击队。不仅如此,这次使命获得成功也是因为参加行动的成员相互信任——因为除非你知道有人在你身后做掩护,否则你不可能冲上楼道,在黑夜中履险如夷。
So it is with America.Each time I look at that flag, I’m reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those 50 stars and those 13 stripes.No one built this country on their own.This nation is great because we built it together.This nation is great because we worked as a team.This nation is great because we get each other’s backs.And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great;no mission too hard.As long as we are joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, and our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong.这就是美国精神。每当看到这面旗帜,我都体会到,我们的命运如同旗帜上紧密相连的50颗星和13道红白相间的条纹。建成这个国家并非个人之功。这个国家之所以伟大,是因为我们共襄盛举;这个国家之所以伟大,是因为我们同心协力;这个国家之所以伟大,是因为我们相互扶持。如果我们坚持这个真理,那么在这艰难的时刻,就没有我们不能战胜的挑战,就没有我们不能完成的使命。只要我们为了共同一个目标休戚与共,只要我们坚持我们的共同意志,我们在征途上将一往无前,我们的未来会充满希望,我们的国情将永远强盛。Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.(Applause.)谢谢大家。愿上帝保佑你们,愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。(掌声)
第三篇:奥巴马总统1月25日国情咨文演说
华盛顿当地时间1月25日晚(北京时间1月26日上午),美国总统奥巴马在国会发表2011年国情咨文。奥巴马在演讲中表示,解决短期的就业和长期的美国竞争力问题将成为未来政府工作的重点。另外,奥巴马还讲到了医改、外交政策、军事、政府机制改革等未来政府的工作内容。以下是演讲全文内容:
今晚我想首先向美国第112届国会的男女议员、你们的新议长约翰·贝纳表示祝贺。在我们庆祝这一时刻时,我们仍然很清楚一位国会议员的座位是空着的,让我们为我们的同事、我们的朋友加布里埃尔·吉福兹的健康祈祷。
呼吁两党合作
我们这些今晚出席这一活动的人在过去两年曾存在分歧,这不是秘密。辩论是非常激烈的,我们为我们各自的观点进行了激烈的斗争。这是一件好事,这是强有力的民主所要求的。这种争论帮助美国成为区别于其它国家的民主国家。
但图森市的悲剧给了我们一个停止争论的理由。我们进行的公共辩论引发了噪音、情绪、怨恨。图森的悲剧提醒我们,不管我们是谁、来自何方,我们中的每一个人都是一个更伟大事务的一部分,它比政党或者政治倾向更具必然性。
我们是美国大家庭的组成部分。我们相信,在这个各种种族、信仰、观点并存的国家,我们仍是一个团结在一起的民族。我们
拥有共同的希望和信条,图森小女孩的梦想与我们自己孩子的梦想没有什么大的差别,这些梦想都应获得实现的机会。
这也是使我们作为一个国家产生分歧的原因。
现在,简单地认识到这一点本身将不会开启一个合作的新时代。这一时刻所能产生的成果取决于我们。这一时刻所产生的成果将不会由我们是否今晚坐在一起而决定,它将被我们明天是否合作所决定。
我认为我们能够实现合作。我认为我们必须这样。这是那些把我们送到这里的人们所期望的。他们通过他们的选票决定,执政将是两党共同的责任。新的法案只有在获得民主党和共和党议员的支持下才能通过。在面对比党派或者政治更大的挑战面前,我们将一起前行,或者原地不动。
现在的利害不是谁将赢得下次选举,毕竟,我们刚刚举行完一次选举。现在的利害是新的就业机会和新的行业是否会在美国生根或者在其它地方。这事关我们人民的辛劳工作和行业是否能得到回报。这事关我们是否能继续保持领导能力,这种领导能力使美国不只局限于地图上的某一个地方,美国因为这种领导能力而成为世界的灯光。
我们作好了前进的准备。在我们大多数人经历最为糟糕的经济衰退两年后,股市已再次大幅上升。公司赢利在增加。经济在再次增长。
但我们从不只以这些标准来衡量进展。我们以我们人民的成功来评估进展,通过他们所能找到的工作和这些工作所提供的生活质量,通过小企业主把好点子的梦想转变成兴旺发达的企业的前景,通过我们给我们孩子更好生活的机遇。
这是一个美国人民想让我们从事的事业,美国人民想让我们共同致力于这项事业。
我们去年12月作了这方面的工作。由于我们通过的减税法案,美国人今天收到的支票金额要比过去多。所有的企业都可以把它今年所作投资的全部开支注销。这些由民主党人和共和党人合作采取的措施将使经济增长,增加就业岗位,私人行业去年已创造的1百多万个就业岗位。
但我们有更多的工作要做。我们在过去两年所采取的措施可能已克服了经济衰退的主要困难,但是为了赢得未来,我们必须直面应对那些在过去数十年来一直积累起来的挑战。
许多收看这一讲演的人可能还记得那个找到好工作意味着在附近工厂或者市中心商业区就业的时候。你并不总是需要获得一个学位,你的竞争基本只限于你的邻居。如果你努力工作,你
可能会终身拥有这个职位,这个工作会给你带来体面的收入、好的福利,有时还会获得升职。你可能还会拥有看到你的孩子在同一公司工作的自豪感。
世界已发生了变革。对于许多人来说,变革是痛苦的。在曾经一度业务繁忙工厂面临关闭时,我透过百叶窗看到了这种痛苦;在一度繁忙的商业街道空空如也的店门前,我看到了这种痛苦;在那些看到收入不断缩水或者失业美国人的绝望言论中,我听到了这种痛苦。这就好像,在比赛进行到一半时,表现出色而又颇感自豪的运动员发现规则突然改变了。
他们是正确的,规则发生了变化。仅仅用了一代人的时间,技术革命已改变了我们的工作、生活和做生意的方式。一度需要1000名工人的钢铁厂现在用100名工人就可以完成同样的工作。今天,任何一家公司都可以设立商店、雇佣员工、把产品销售给有互联网连接的所有地方。
与此同时,中国和印度等国已意识到,它们在作出一些变革后将能够在新世界里与其它国家进行竞争。所以,他们开始对他们的孩子进行更早和更长时间的教育,更加重视数学和科学。他们投资于研发和新技术。就在不久之前,中国已拥有世界上最大的私营太阳能研究设施,世界上运行速度最快的计算机。
所以,是的,世界发生了变革。就业岗位的竞争是真实存在的,但这不应当使我们灰心,它应当成为激励我们的动力。请记住,尽管我们在过去几年遭受到了巨大打击,尽管所有的悲观者预言美国在衰落,但美国仍是世界上最大、最繁荣的经济体。我们工人的劳动生产率是最高的,我们的公司是最成功的,我们的投资者和企业家所拥有的专利数是最多的。我们拥有世界上最好的院校和大学,来美国就读的学生超过任何其它国家。
更为重要的是,我们是首个以思想立国的国家,这个思想是我们中的每个人都应当有机会来塑造自己的命运。这就是为什么先驱们和移民们数个世纪以来不惜冒着失去一切的风险来到美国的原因。这就是我们的学生不只是记住方程式,而是会提出“你认为这个想法如何?你想如何改变世界?当你长大后你想成为什么样的人”等问题。
我们将赢得未来,但为了实现这一点,我们不能原地踏步。正如罗伯特·肯尼迪所说的那样“未来不是一个礼物,它是一个成就。”维持美国梦从来不是墨守成规。它需要每一代人作出牺牲、斗争,满足新时代的要求。
现在轮到我们这一代人了。我们知道在我们的时代为工作和行业进行竞争需要什么。我们需要在创新、教育和建设方面超越其它国家。我们要使美国成为商业环境最好的国家。我们需要对我们的赤字负责任,对我们的政府进行改革。这就是我们的人民
实现繁荣的方法。这就是我们如何赢得未来的方法。今晚,我想谈谈我们如何作到这些。
激励创新
赢得未来的首个步骤是鼓励美国人创新。
我们所有人都无法肯定地预言下一个主要行业将是什么行业或者新的就业岗位来自哪里。三十年前,我们不知道一个被称作互联网的东西会引发经济革命。我们所能做的是,争取在这些方面比其它国家的人做得更好,激发美国人民的创造性和想像力。我们是一个将车开到车道上、把计算机放在办公室的国家,是一个拥有爱迪生、莱特兄弟的国家,是一个拥有谷歌和Facebook的国家。在美国,创新不只改变我们的生活,更重要的是,这是我们赖以谋生的方法。
我们的自由企业制度驱动着创新,但是由于公司投资基础研究并不总是有利可图,在历史上,我们的政府向一流的科学家和发明家提供了他们所需要的支持。这些支持种下了互联网的种子,这些支持帮助制造出计算机芯片和全球定位仪这样的东西。
想想所有的好工作,从制造业到零售业都来自于这些突破。
半个世纪之前,当苏联人发射一颗名为“伴侣号”的人造卫星从而在太空竞赛领域击败我们时,我们不知道我们如何在登月
方面击败他们。那方面的科学当时还不存在,美国宇航局当时甚至都还未组建。但在更好的研究和教育方面投资后,我们不仅超过了苏联人,我们还推动了一系列的创新,这些创新创造了新的行业和数百万个新就业岗位。
这是我们那一代人创造的“伴侣号”——走在世界前沿的时刻。我在两年前说过,我们需要将研发拓展到自太空竞赛高峰后再也没有出现过的新层次上。我将在未来几周内向国会提交一份预算案,它将帮助我们实现这一目标。我们将投资于生物医药研究、信息技术,尤其是清洁能源技术,这一投资将会强化我们的安全、保护我们的地球、为我们的人民创造无数新就业岗位。
我们已看到了可再生能源的潜力。罗伯特·阿伦和加里·阿伦是一对在密歇根州经营屋顶公司的兄弟。他们在“9·11”恐怖袭击事件后志愿派出他们最好的装修屋顶员工来帮助维修五角大楼,但是他们工厂的半个厂区没有开工,经济衰退重创了他们的工厂。今天,在政府贷款的帮助下,空闲的厂房被用于制造销往全球各地的太阳能电池板。用罗伯特的话说:“我们再造了自己。”
这就是美国人在过去两百多年里一直在做的事情,再造自我。为了推动更多像阿伦兄弟这样的成功故事,我们已开始再造我们的能源政策。我们将不只提供款项,我们还将提供挑战。我们将告诉美国的科学家和工程师,如果他们组建他们领域最好的
科学家小组,致力解决清洁能源最困难问题,我们将向我们时代的“阿波罗项目”提供资金支持。
在加州理工学院,科学家正在寻找一种将太阳光和水转换成汽车燃料的方法。在橡树岭国家实验室,科学家们正在通过超级计算机以使从我们的核设施获得更多能量。在进行更多的研究和激励措施后,我们可以用生物燃料来打破我们对石油的依赖,成为在2015年前首个拥有一百万电动汽车上路的国家。
我们需要找到创新背后的要素。为了向创新提供经费支持,我将请求国会取消向石油公司所提供的数十亿美元税款补贴。我不知道你是否注意到这一情况,但石油公司自身运营得很不错。所以,与其向昨天的能源业提供补贴,我们不如投资于未来的能源。
现在,清洁能源领域的技术突破只有在业界知道有销售市场的情况下才会转变成清洁能源业的工作岗位。所以,今晚,我想让你们和我一起来制订一个新目标:争取在2035年之前使美国85%的电力供应量来自清洁能源。一些人想要风力和太阳能,其它人想要核电、清洁煤炭和天然气。为了实现这一目标,我们将需要所有这些清洁能源。我呼吁民主党人和共和党人通过合作来实现这一目标。发展教育
保持我们在研究和技术领域的领导地位对于美国的成功至关重要。如果我们想拥抱未来,如果我们想让创新在美国而不是海外创造就业岗位,那么我们必须赢得教育我们孩子的竞赛。
思考一下吧,在未来十年,近半数新就业岗位将需要拥有高中以上的教育程度。虽然如此,美国仍有近四分之一的学生甚至未完成中学教育。我们教育和科学的教育质量落后于许多国家。美国年轻人拥有大学学位比例的排行已降至世界第九位。所以问题是,我们所有的人,作为公民,作为父母,是否愿意做那些必要的事情以便让每个孩子都有成功的机会?
这一责任不仅是在我们的教室内开始的,也是在我们的家庭和社区里开始的。是家庭首先培养了孩子爱好学习的习惯,只有父母在确保关掉电视的情况下,孩子的家庭作业才会完成。我们需要教育我们的孩子,不仅是超级碗比赛的获胜者值得庆祝,那些科学大赛的赢家也应当值得庆祝。成功不是名气或者公共关系所带来的,它是由辛劳的工作和自律造就的。
我们的学校也有责任。当一名儿童步入教室,它就应当是一个被寄以厚望和拥有很高教学能力的地方。但是太多的学校未能达到这一标准。这就是为什么我们没有向教育系统注入大笔资金原因,我们启动了一个名为“冲顶赛跑”的竞争。我们对所有50个州说:“如果你们能够向我们展示提高教师质量和学生成就的最具创新力的方案,我们将向你们提供款项。”
“冲顶赛跑”是我们公共学校在十年内所进行的最有意义的改革。它只使用了不到我们每年教育开支的1%的经费,但它已使40个州提高了教学和学习标准。这些标准不是由华盛顿所决定的,它是由美国各个州的共和党和民主党州长们所决定的。“冲顶赛跑”应当成为我们今年所采取的方法。我们今年将用一个更为灵活、专注于用给我们的孩子带来最大益处的法律来取代《不让一个儿童落后法》。
你们应该知道,当改革不仅仅是从上到下的指示时,我们的孩子所能够取得的成绩有多大。改革措施将由当地的教师和校长、校董事会和社区来决定。
以丹佛的布鲁斯·兰多夫学校为例,它在三年前被评为是科罗拉多州最差的学校之一,它位于两个敌对黑帮争夺的地盘内。但在去年五月,该校97%的高三学生获得了毕业证,大多数人将是他们家庭中上大学的第一人。在学校实现转变后的第一年,一位学生的话使这一切成为现实的校长流下了眼泪。这个学生说:“感谢你,威特斯女士,感谢你向我们表明,我们是聪明的,我们能够成功。”
让我们也记住,除了父母之外,对一个孩子成功的最大影响来自于站在教室前的男女教师们。在韩国,教师们被称作“国家建造者”。在美国,现是我们该以同样程度的尊重对待那些教育我们孩子的人的时候了。我们应当奖励好教师,停止为糟糕的教
师找借口。在未来十年,由于非常多的婴儿潮一代教师将退休,我们将需要准备10万名科学、技术、工程和数学学科教师。
事实上,对于今晚收听讲演的、正在考虑职业选择的年轻人,如果你想让我们国家前途有所不同,如果你想让一个孩子的生命有所不同,成为一位教师吧。你的国家需要你。
当然,教育竞赛不会止步于高中毕业证。为了竞争,必须让每位美国人都有接受高等教育的机会。这就是我们为什么结束向银行提供没有充分根据的税款补贴,用节省下来的钱来使数百万学生能有能力上大学。我今年将请求国会采取进一步措施,使我们的学费税收抵免永久化,对一个人四年的大学来说,这笔钱相当于1万美元。
由于人们需要在今天快速变化的经济领域里接受新工作和职业的培训,我们也将重新使美国的社区学院恢复活力。我上个月看到了北卡罗来纳州福费斯社区技术学院的潜力,学院的许多学生曾在现在已搬离城镇的附近工厂就业。凯西·普罗克托是一位两个孩子的母亲,她18岁就开始在家具业工作。她告诉我,现年55岁的她正在攻读生物技术学位,不只是因为家具业的工作没有了,而是因为她想鼓励她的孩子也追求他们的梦想。凯西说:“我希望这将能教会他们永不放弃。”如果我们采取这些措施,如果我们提高对每个孩子的期待值,给他们在教育方面最好的机遇,从他们出生至他们上一次的就业岗位,我们将实现我在
两年前确定的目标:在这个十年结束的时候,美国将再度成为拥有大学生比例最高的国家。
非法移民问题
有关教育的最后一点。今天,我们的学校里有数百万学业优秀的非美国公民。一些人是非法工人的孩子,他们与他们父母的行为没有任何关系。他们是以美国人的身份长大的,宣誓效忠美国,但却每天生活在将被驱逐的威胁之下。其它人来自海外,在我们的院校和大学里学习,但他们一旦获得学位,我们就把他们送回国和我们进行竞争。这没有道理。
现在,我强烈地认为,我们应当一下子解决非法移民的问题。我作好了与共和党人和民主党人合作以保护我们边境的准备,执行我们的法律,解决数百万生活在阴影之下的非法移民问题。我知道,这方面的辩论将是艰难的,将需要时间。但是今晚,让我们就开始作出努力达成共识。停止驱逐那些有才能、负责任的年轻人,他们可以在我们的实验室工作、创业、给美国带来新的财富。
重建基础设施
赢得未来的第三步是重建美国。为了吸引新的行业来到美国,我们需要运送人员、商品、信息最快捷、最可靠的方法,从高速铁路至高速互联网等基础设施。
我们的基础设施曾经是世界上最棒的,但现在我们的领先优势已经下滑。韩国家庭的互联网接入比例已超过了美国。欧洲国家和俄罗斯在公路和铁路的投资额超过了美国。中国正在建造更快的火车和新机场。与此同时,当我们自己的工程师给我们的基础设施打分时,他们给我们打了一个“D”。
我们必须做得更好,美国是一个建设了州际铁路、将电力输往乡村社区、建设了州际高速公路的国家。这些项目创造的工作不只来自于铺设铁轨或者路面,工作机会也来自在镇里新建火车站或者新外匝道附近开设的行业。
在未来两年,我们已开始为21世纪进行重建。这个项目已为遭到沉重打击的建筑业带来了数千个好工作。今晚,我提议我们加倍这方面的努力。
我们将让更多的美国人从事修理年久失修的道路和桥梁工作。我们将确保这方面的工作有充分的经费保证,吸引私人投资,根据项目对经济而不是对政治家的最佳益处来选择项目。
在未来二十五年内,我们的目标是使80%的美国人能够拥有高速铁路,这将使你乘高速铁路出行的时间比开车出行的时间减少一半。对于一些旅程来说,它将比乘飞机出行更快,而且没有严格的安检措施。在我们讲话之时,加州和中西部地区的高铁线路已在建设之中。
在未来五年内,我们将使业界向98%的美国人提供下一代高速无线网络连接成为可能。这并不只是更快的互联网和更少的漏接电话。这事关使美国的各个地区都进入数字化时代。这事关衣阿华州或者阿拉巴马州乡村社区的农民和小企业主能够向全世界出售他们的产品,这事关消防队员能够用手持装置来下载着火建筑物的设计图。这事关一名学生可以用数字教科书进行上课或者一位病人能够与她的医生进行面对面的视频聊天。
所有这些投资,在创新、教育、基础设施方面的投资将为美国带来更好的商业环境并且创造就业。但是为了帮助我们的公司竞争,我们还必须打破那些阻碍它们成功的障碍物。
税收调整
多年以来,众多的游说人士利用税法来为某些公司和行业谋利,那些在这一系统中就业的会计师或者律师最终什么税都不交,而所有其他人则要承受世界上最高的公司税率。这毫无道理,这需要改变。
所以,今晚,我请求民主党和共和党人简化税率,根除漏洞,实现公平竞争。用这些节省下来的钱来降低公司税率,这将是25年来的第一次,而且是在不增加我们赤字的情况下。
促进国际贸易增加就业
为了帮助商业界向海外出售更多的产品,我们确定了在2014年将出口额翻一倍的目标,因为我们出口的越多,在国内创造的就业岗位就会越多。我们的出口额已经开始上升。我们最近与印度和中国签署了协议,这些协议将为美国25万多个就业岗位提供支持。我们上个月与韩国完成了贸易协议的最后文本,它将支持至少7万个美国就业岗位。这一协议获得来自行业和劳工组织、民主党人和共和党人前所未有的支持。我请求国会尽早通过这一协议。
在我就职之前,我明确表示,我们将执行我们的贸易协议。我将只会签署那些对美国工人有信心、增加美国就业岗位的协议。我们与韩国签署协议时就是这样做的,我想在与巴拿马和哥伦比亚寻求签署类似协议时也会这样做,在继续与我们的亚太和全球贸易会谈时持同样立场。
为了降低增长和投资的障碍,我已下令对政府规则进行重新评估。当我们发现那些给行业带来不必要负担的规则时,我们将会修改这些规则。但我将不会毫不迟疑地设立或者强制执行常识性的保护性规则,以保护美国人民。我们在过去一个多世纪一直是这样做的。这就是为什么我们的食物、水、空气是安全的。这就是我们为什么去年对信用卡公司隐藏资费和惩罚规定采取消费者保护措施,为了避免新的金融危机采取新规则的原因。这就
是我们为什么最终通过改革法案以防止医保行业剥削病人的原因。
医疗改革
现在,我听说了有关你们中的一些人对新的医保法律有一些担心的传闻。所以让我来首先说,所有的事情都有改善的可能。如果你有使医疗护理更加高质量或者更便宜的想法,我很愿意与你合作。我们现在可以着手开始解决法案中给小企业带来不必要记帐负担的缺陷。
但我不愿意去做的事情是,重返保险公司以先决条件为由来否决一些人获得医疗保险的时代。我不愿意告诉来自得州的脑癌患者詹姆斯·霍华德,医保公司可能不会支付他的治疗费用。我不愿意告诉俄勒冈州的小企业主吉姆·豪斯,他还得多支付5000美元来使他的雇员获得医保。就在我们讲话时,这一法案正使给老年人所开的处方药更为便宜,使没有医疗保险的学生有继续享受他们父母医保的机会。所以,与其重开过去两年在这方面的斗争,不如让我们纠正需要纠正的地方,向前走。
削减赤字
现在,赢得未来的最后一步——最关键的一步——是确保我们不会葬身于如山的债务之中。
几乎从10年前开始,赤字财政几乎就一直与我们形影相随。在金融危机爆发后,这在一定程度上对于保持银行流动性、保护就业以及增加人民收入来说是必要的。
但现在经济衰退的最糟时刻已经结束,我们必须直面政府财政入不敷出的现实。这是不可持续的。每天,美国的家庭在节衣缩食以保证营收平衡。他们的政府也应如此。
所以今天晚上,我建议从今年开始,冻结未来五年部分国内项目支出。这将使美国财政赤字在未来十年减少4000多亿美元,进而使政府可自由支配的开支所占经济的比例降低到艾森豪威尔总统时期以来的最低水平。
冻结需要进行痛苦的削减。我们已经冻结了未来两年辛劳工作的联邦雇员的工资水平。我也建议削减我一直非常关注的一些项目的支出,比如社区行动项目。国防部长也已同意削减他与他的将军们认为对我们军事影响不大的数百亿美元的军费支出。
我承认,在座各位中有些人已提出了进一步削减开支的提案,我愿意删除任何的确可节省的开支。不过,我们必须确保不加重最脆弱的民众的负担。而且,我们还要确保所削减开支属真正超重部分。通过减少对改革和教育的投资来实现赤字削减,就相当于拆除发动机以实现超载飞机减重的目的。这样做或许可能让你一开始觉得飞得很高,但没过多久,你就会感受到冲击。
现在,我提出的大部分削减和节省提案只包括在国内支出中,而这种开支仅占我国预算的12%多一点。为了取得进一步进展,我们必须停止仅削减此类开支就已足够的臆测。这还不够。
去年我组建的两党联立财政委员会已经明确了这一点。我并不认同他们的全部提案,但他们的确取得了重大进步。他们的结论是,解决我国赤字问题的唯一办法是削减我们能够发现的所有过度消费,包括国内项目开支、国防开支、医疗开支等等。
这就意味着,进一步降低卫生保健开支,包括像医疗保险和医疗补贴——我国长期赤字最大单一来源——这样的项目。医疗保险改革将减缓这些开支的上升,这就是无党派经济学家认为废止卫生保健法会使我国赤字增加2500亿美元的部分原因。我很愿意看到其他降低开支的想法,包括去年共和党的一项提案:进行医疗事故改革,降低草率的医疗诉讼发生率。
为了构建坚实的基础,我们还应制定两党解决方案,强化后代社会保障。在这一点上,我们不应危及当前退休人员(最易受到伤害的人群)或残疾人,不应有损后代利益,不应使美国退休收入保障受制于充满不确定性的股市。
如果我们真的关心我们的赤字,我们就不能允许永久延长有关2%最富裕美国人的减税法案。在削减学校资金或学生的奖学金之前,我们应该让那些百万富翁们放弃他们的减税优惠。
这不是惩罚他们所取得的成功。而是要促进美国的成功。
实际上,在税收方面,我们能为所有美国人做的最好的事莫过于简化个人税码(individual tax code)。这将会是一项艰巨的工作,不过两党成员已经表示有意从事这项工作,而且我也准备加入他们。
所以,现在是时候采取行动了。现在是时候两党及国会两院在原则上做出让步,共同从事这项工作了。如果我们现在做出这一艰难决定,从而严加控制我们的赤字,那么我们便能够进行赢得未来所需的投资。政府改革
更进一步的说,我们的政府不能负担得更多。我们应该给人民一个更强有力、更高效的政府。过去的政府无法赢得未来。
我们生活和工作在信息时代,但上一次政府大规模重组却还是在黑白电视机的时代。涉及出口的有12个机构。涉及住房政策的则至少有5个实体。我常举的一个例子是:大马哈鱼在淡水中时由内政部负责,而在咸水中时则由商业部负责。而我听说一旦被熏烤之后情况就更复杂。
现在,我们已经在过去的两年里,在利用技术以及消灭浪费方面实现了突飞猛进。退伍军人现在点一下鼠标,就能下载他们 的电子病历。我们正在出售几英亩数年都未曾使用的联邦办公地点,而且我们将去除繁文缛节以便摆脱更多负担。不过,我们需要考虑更多。未来的几个月里,我的政府将会提出一项建议,以最有助于实现打造更具竞争力美国的目标的方法,合并、巩固并整顿联邦政府。我将会把这一建议提交给国会进行投票,我们将会推动这一建议的通过。
未来一年里,我们将继续努力重建人民对政府机构的信任。因为你们应当确切知道你们所缴的税花在哪里,花了多少,你们也将能够在第一时间登陆网站获得这些信息。因为你们应当知道自己选出的官员何时会见游说团体,我已要求国会按照白宫已经在做的将这些信息公布上网。而且因为美国人民应当知道,特殊利益不能穿插在小项目的立法中,国会中的两党议员应该知道这一点:如果呈现在我案头的法案中存在“特殊专款”(一般是指国会议员各自根据其选区或者集团需要,插入预算报告中的“相关项目专款”),我将会予以否决。
一个具备公开和竞争力的21世纪政府。一个量入为出的政府。一个由新技术与理念驱动的经济体系。要在这个不断变化的新世界中取得成功,我们需改革、责任和创新。这还需要我们在外交事务中通过新方法接触世界。
像工作和商业一样,威胁和挑战现在也能够跨越边界,影响到其他的地方。没有任何单一的墙能够阻隔东方和西方,在美国之外,也没有形成一个能与我们抗衡的有力竞争者。
所以,我们必须战胜敌人,无论他们在哪里,并建立跨越地区、种族和宗教界线的联盟。美国的道德榜样必需始终照耀着渴望自由、正义和尊严的所有人。因此我们已经开始了这项工作,所以今晚我们能够说美国领导阶层已经复兴,美国的地位已经恢复。
外交政策
看看伊拉克,我们近十万勇敢的男女士兵已经昂首挺胸撤离伊拉克,美国的战斗任务也已经结束。在那里,暴力现象已经开始下降,新政府已经组建。今年,我们的民众将与伊拉克人民建立持久伙伴关系,与此同时,我们从伊拉克撤军的工作也将结束。美国遵守了承诺,伊拉克战争即将结束。
当然,诚如我们所言,基地组织及其附属组织仍在计划攻击我们。感谢我们的情报和执法人员,我们正在挫败他们阴谋,保护我们的城市和天空。对于极端分子激发我们国内暴力行动的企图,我们正以社区力量、对法规的尊重,以及对美国穆斯林是我们美国大家庭一份子的坚定信仰,作出回应。
我们也同基地组织及其海外盟友展开了战斗。在阿富汗,我们的军队已经占据了塔利班的根据地,并且训练了阿富汗安全部队。我们的目标很明显:通过阻止塔利班再次压榨阿富汗人民,我们将会阻止基地组织获得充当9·11起点的避风港。
经过英雄部队及平民的奋战,只剩下少数阿富汗人仍处于塔利班这一叛乱组织的控制下。摆在前面的将会是激烈的战斗,而且阿富汗政府需要进行更好的管制。不过,我们正在增强阿富汗人民的力量,并与他们构建持久的伙伴关系。今年,我们将会同近50个国家一起,开始向由阿富汗主导的状态过渡。今年7月,我们将开始撤军。
在巴基斯坦,基地组织领导阶层承受着比2001年以来任何时候都要大的压力。他们的领导人及特务正逐渐远离战场,他们的避风港正在收缩。而且,我们已经从阿富汗边境向阿拉伯半岛直至全世界发出了信息:我们不会怜悯、我们不会动摇、我们会打败你们。
美国领导人也在努力确保最厉害战争武器的安全。因为共和党和民主党通过了新《削减战略武器条约》,可部署的武器和发射器会更少。因为我们要重振世界,要在各大洲限制核材料,以免落入恐怖分子手中。
因为美国也在通过外交努力坚持要求伊朗履行其义务,所以伊朗政府现在面临着比以往更加严厉的制裁。在朝鲜半岛上,我们与盟国韩国站在一起,坚持朝鲜践行其放弃核武器的诺言。
这仅是我们重塑世界、维护世界和平和繁荣所作出努力的一部分。我们与欧洲同盟一道,在努力恢复北约的活力,增加从反恐到导弹防御等各方面的合作。我们已经重新设定了与俄罗斯的关系,强化亚洲同盟,并与印度等国家建立了新的伙伴关系。今年三月,我将访问巴西、智利和萨尔瓦多,打造美洲新的进步同盟。在全球,我们与那些负责任的国家一道,帮助农民生产更多的粮食,支持医治伤患的医生,并与败坏社会风气和掠夺人民财富的腐败行为作斗争。
最近的事件告诉我们,使我们与众不同的,不仅是我们的力量,也必然还有其后的目的。在我们的帮助下,南苏丹人民在经历了多年的战争后,最终能够投票选择自己的独立。他们在黎明前排起了数千人的长队,人民在大街上欢舞。一名在战争中失去了四名兄弟的男子在描述他身边的景象时这样说到:“这曾是我生命大多时间中的战场,现在我们希望自由”。
军人保障、军队同性恋问题
我们绝对不能忘记我们为之努力、为之奋斗、所有人都铭记心中的事情。我们必须永远记住,在这场斗争中负担最为沉重的美国人正是那些报效我们祖国的男男女女。
今晚,让我们共同重申,我们的国家会团结一致地支持我们的军队及其家人。让我们为他们服务,就像他们为我们服务那样,给予他们需要的装备、为他们提供应得的保健和福利、并在建设祖国的伟大任务中,为退伍军人提供支持。
我们的军人来自这个国家的每一个角落。他们是黑人、白人、拉丁裔、亚裔和印第安人。他们是基督教教徒、印度教教徒、犹太教教徒和穆斯林。的确,我们知道,其中有一些人是同性恋。从今年开始,美国人都不会因为他们的爱人而被禁止报效其所爱的国家。接下来,我呼吁所有大学校园向我们的军方征兵人员和后备军官训练队敞开大门。现在,是时候和过去的分裂斗争说再见了。我们应该作为一个民族向前迈进。
美国梦
我们不应该对摆在我们面前的工作心存任何幻想。改革学校、改变能源使用方式、减少赤字,这一切都并非易事,这需要时间。我们会围绕一切事情展开争论,这会使难度变得更高,成本、细节、每一个法律条文。
尽管我们民主有时会出现争议、挫败及混乱,但我知道在场的各位都不愿意与世界上其他任何国家的人做交换。
或许我们会存在政策分歧,但我们都坚信我国宪法所昭示的正义。或许我们拥有不同的观点,但我们都坚信同一个承诺:这是一个只要尝试就可能会成功的地方。又或许我们拥有不同的背景,但我们都坚信同一梦想:这是一个一切皆有可能的国家。
正是这个梦想让我今晚站在这里,站在大家面前。正是这个梦想让来自斯克兰顿的工人阶级成为了我后盾。也正是这个梦想让一个从父辈开始在辛辛那提的酒吧扫地的人,成为了这个世界上最强国家的众议院议长。
这个梦想(美国梦)驱使着艾伦兄弟为了一个新时代而彻底改造了他们的屋顶工程公司。这个梦想驱使着那些在佛塞斯技术社区学院求学的学生们学习新技术,为了未来努力奋斗。这个梦想也驱使一个名为布兰登·费舍尔的小企业主有了自己的故事。
布兰登在宾夕法尼亚州的柏林市开设了一家公司,专攻新型钻探技术。去年夏季的一天,他看到新闻,智利矿井中有33人被困,无人知道如何营救。但布兰登认为他的公司可以帮忙。他设计了一套营救方案,称为B计划。他的员工24小时工作,生产所需的钻探设备。然后布兰登前往智利。
他同其他人一起钻了一个2000英尺的洞,连续不眠不休工作了三四天。37天后,B计划成功,矿工获救。但布兰登不想引起注意,矿工升井后,他并没有在那里。他已经回家开始致力于下一个项目了。
后来,他的一名员工提到了这次营救,“Center Rock是一家小公司,但我们做的却是大事情。”
我们做大事。
自建国初期以来,美国便充满了由敢于追梦的普通人所谱写的故事。我们就是这样赢得了未来。
我们是一个会这样说话的民族:“我或许没有巨款,但是我有成立一家新公司的高见。我或许没有出生在一个拥有大学学历的家庭,但我将会成为这个家庭里第一个获得大学学历的人。我或许并不认识那些处于困境中的人们,但我认为我能够帮助他们,而且我需要试一试。”
虽然我不确定我们将如何超越地平线到达更好的地方,但我知道我们将会到达那里。我知道我们能够做到。
我们在成就伟业。
美国人的思想活力仍在,我们的命运依旧掌握在我们手中。今晚,两个多世纪后,因为我们的人民,我们的未来变得充满希望,我们的旅程不断向前,我们的国家变得强大。
谢谢大家。愿上帝保佑你们,愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。
第四篇:奥巴马选举获胜演说中文
美国是否暗藏一切皆有可能的巨大潜力?美国是否已经实现开国者锻造的美国梦?民主信仰是否具有强大力量?如果还有人对此报以怀疑,那么今晚这里发生的一切就是答案。学校旁、教堂边,无数人都在排队投票,这一情景我们已经多年未见;3个小时、4个小时,他们为此而等候良久,这是很多同胞有生以来的第一次。因为他们相信,这一次,将不同以往;这一次,因为他们的呼声而有所不同。
无论老少贫富,无论共和党抑或民主党,不管是黑皮肤、白种人、拉丁后裔、亚裔子孙还是本土美国人;无论性向如何,不管健康抑或残疾,所有的美国人民都向全世界传递出这样一条信息:我们从来都不是红蓝阵营的政治堆砌,我们是,而且永远是,美利坚合众国。长期以来,很多人缺乏信心,对自己所能取得的成就畏首畏尾、疑心重重。如今,我们走在历史的长河里,挺起胸膛,勾勒出美好明天的光辉画卷。
此情此景,等待尤长。然而,就在今晚,在这个大选的日子,在这个具有历史性意义的时刻,由于你们的付出,美国终于迎来了变革。
刚刚,我接到了麦凯恩参议员礼貌得体的祝贺电话。为了此次竞选,他奋战良久、竭尽所能;为了他所深爱的美国,他曾作出了更长久、更努力的奉献。麦凯恩参议员为美国所作出的牺牲是大部分人难以想象的,他这种英勇无私的奉献改善了我们的生活。对于麦凯恩参议员和佩林州长所取得的成就,我对他们致以祝贺。在接下来的几个月里,以重振美国为目标,我期待着与他们的合作。
在此,我想感谢一路陪伴我的竞选搭档,他就是我们即将上任的副总统,乔·拜登。为了让美国广大的工人阶层发出自己的声音,他毫无私心地全身心投入竞选,因为他和那些宾夕法尼亚州斯克兰顿城街头的人们一样,出生平凡,一切白手起家。
如果没有米歇尔·奥巴马,这一准美国第一夫人的坚定支持,今晚,我就不会站在这儿了。我们相伴走过了16个春秋,她是我们整个家庭的顶梁柱,我一生的挚爱。还有,萨沙和玛利亚,我爱你们,你们姊妹俩终于可以带着你们的新宠物狗入主白宫了。我知道,就像我的其他已故亲属一样,外祖母一定也在某处注视着我,虽然她已经不在人世。是他们造就了今天的我。今晚我很想念他们,我对他们的亏欠无以计量。
我想对我的竞选经理大卫·普劳夫、首席战略师大卫·阿克塞尔罗德以及我们这个史上最佳的竞选团队说,是你们让这一切成为了现实,对于你们为此所做的牺牲和付出我永远感怀在心。然而,有一点是最重要的,那就是我永远都不会忘记,真正拥有这个胜利的是你们,你们所有人!对于入主白宫,我从来都不是最热候选人。竞选伊始,我们的资金并不充裕,获得的支持也不多。我们的竞选班子并非始于华府,而是一路从艾奥瓦州的得梅因酒店后院、辗转北卡罗莱纳州的康克酒店客房,后来会首在西弗吉尼亚州查尔斯顿酒店的主厅……
我们的胜利来自于广大工薪阶级,正是他们从仅有的微薄存款里掏出5美元、10美元或者20美元来支持我们的竞选。我们的力量来自于摘下冷漠面罩的年轻一代,来自于夜以继日奋力工作以维持生计的下层百姓,来自于冒着严寒酷暑、户户敲门宣传的团队中流砥柱,更 1
来自于成千上万的大选志愿者。他们用出色的奉献精神和组织能力证明了一个民有、民治、民享的政府在两百年后仍然保持着生命力。这就是你们的胜利!
我明白,你们所做的这些,并不仅仅是为了赢得这次竞选,也不单单只是为了我本人。你们之所以这么做,是因为你们懂得前方任务的艰巨。即使我们今晚沉浸于庆祝的喜悦之中,我们也深知明天将会面临的将是我们这辈子最为艰巨的挑战:两场战争、濒临危险的地球和百年一遇的金融危机;即使今晚我们安然站在此处,我们也深知那些深陷伊拉克沙漠和阿富汗山区的英勇美国战士,是为了我们而冒着生命危险。还有那些孩子早已熟睡、自己却辗转反侧的人父人母,他们夜不能寐,想着如何还清房贷、如何支付医药费以及给孩子存下大学经费。我们要掌握新能源,创造就业岗位,建造新校舍,正视存在的威胁,并修复与盟友的关系。
前方的道路会十分漫长艰辛。我们可能无法在一年甚至一届任期之内实现上述目标,但我从未像今晚这样满怀希望,相信我们会实现。我向你们承诺--我们作为一个整体将会达成目标。
我们会遭遇挫折和不成功的开端。对于我作为总统所做的每项决定和政策,会有许多人持有异议,我们也知道政府并不能解决所有问题。但我会向你们坦陈我们所面临的挑战。我会聆听你们的意见,尤其是在我们意见相左之时。最重要的是,我会请求你们参与重建这个国家,以美国221年来从未改变的唯一方式--一砖一瓦、胼手胝足。
21个月前那个寒冬所开始的一切不应该在今天这个秋夜结束。今天的选举胜利并不是我们所寻求的改变--这只是我们进行改变的机会。而且如果我们仍然按照旧有方式行事,我们所寻求的改变不可能出现。没有你们,也不可能有这种改变。
因此,让我们发扬新的爱国精神,树立新的服务意识和责任感,让我们每个人下定决心全情投入、更加努力地工作,并彼此关爱。让我们铭记这场金融危机带来的教训:我们不可能在金融以外的领域备受煎熬的同时拥有繁荣兴旺的华尔街--在这个国家,我们患难与共。让我们抵制重走老路的诱惑,避免重新回到令美国政治长期深受毒害的党派纷争和由此引发的遗憾和不成熟表现。让我们牢记,正是伊利诺伊州的一名男子首次将共和党的大旗扛到了白宫。共和党是建立在自强自立、个人自由以及全民团结的价值观上,这也是我们所有人都珍视的价值。虽然民主党今天晚上赢得了巨大的胜利,但我们是以谦卑的态度和弥合阻碍我们进步的分歧的决心赢得这场胜利的。林肯在向远比我们眼下分歧更大的国家发表讲话时说,我们不是敌人,而是朋友……虽然激情可能褪去,但是这不会割断我们感情上的联系。对于那些现在并不支持我的美国人,我想说,或许我没有赢得你们的选票,但是我听到了你们的声音,我需要你们的帮助,而且我也将是你们的总统。
那些彻夜关注美国大选的海外人士,从国会到皇宫,以及在这个世界被遗忘的角落里挤在收音机旁的人们,我们的经历虽然各有不同,但是我们的命运是相通的,新的美国领袖诞生了。那些想要颠覆这个世界的人们,我们必将击败你们。那些追求和平和安全的人们,我们支持
你们。那些所有怀疑美国能否继续照亮世界发展前景的人们,今天晚上我们再次证明,我们国家真正的力量并非来自我们武器的威力或财富的规模,而是来自我们理想的持久力量:民主、自由、机会和不屈的希望。
这才是美国真正的精华--美国能够改变。我们的联邦会日臻完善。我们取得的成就为我们将来能够取得的以及必须取得的成就增添了希望。
这次大选创造了多项“第一”,也诞生了很多将世代流传的故事。但是今天晚上令我难忘的却是在亚特兰大投票的一名妇女:安?尼克松?库波尔(Ann Nixon Cooper)。她和其他数百万排队等待投票的选民没有什么差别,除了一点:她已是106岁的高龄。
她出生的那个时代奴隶制度刚刚结束;那时路上没有汽车,天上也没有飞机;当时像她这样的人由于两个原因不能投票--一是她是女性,另一个原因是她的肤色。
今天晚上,我想到了她在美国过去一百年间所经历的种种:心痛和希望;挣扎和进步;那些我们被告知我们办不到的世代,以及那些坚信美国信条——是的,我们能做到——的人们。曾几何时,妇女没有发言权,她们的希望化作泡影,但是安?尼克松?库波尔活了下来,看到妇女们站了起来,看到她们大声发表自己的见解,看到她们去参加大选投票。是的,我们能做到。
当30年代的沙尘暴和大萧条引发人们的绝望之情时,她看到一个国家用罗斯福新政、新就业机会以及对新目标的共同追求战胜恐慌。是的,我们能做到。
当炸弹袭击了我们的海港、独裁专制威胁到全世界,她见证了美国一代人的伟大崛起,见证了一个民主国家被拯救。是的,我们能做到。
她看到蒙哥马利通了公共汽车、伯明翰接上了水管、塞尔马建了桥,一位来自亚特兰大的传教士告诉人们:我们能成功。是的,我们能做到。
人类登上月球、柏林墙倒下,世界因我们的科学和想像被连接在一起。今年,就在这次选举中,她用手指触碰屏幕投下自己的选票,因为在美国生活了106年之后,经历了最好的时光和最黑暗的时刻之后,她知道美国如何能够发生变革。是的,我们能做到。
美国,我们已经走过漫漫长路。我们已经历了很多。但是我们仍有很多事情要做。因此今夜,让我们自问--如果我们的孩子能够活到下个世纪;如果我们的女儿有幸活得和安一样长,他们将会看到怎样的改变?我们将会取得怎样的进步?
现在是我们回答这个问题的机会。这是我们的时刻。这是我们的时代--让我们的人民重新就业,为我们的后代敞开机会的大门;恢复繁荣发展,推进和平事业;让“美国梦”重新焕发光芒,再次证明这样一个基本的真理:我们是一家人;一息尚存,我们就有希望;当我们遇到嘲讽和怀疑,当有人说我们办不到的时候,我们要以这个永恒的信条来回应他们:是的,我们能做到。
感谢你们。上帝保佑你们。愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。
第五篇:2013年奥巴马国情咨文演说音频及中英文对照
2013年奥巴马国情咨文演说音频及中英文对照
The 2013 State of the Union Address
THE PRESIDENT: Mr.Speaker, Mr.Vice President, members of Congress, fellow citizens: 议长先生,副总统先生,国会议员们,美国人民:
Fifty-one years ago, John F.Kennedy declared to this chamber that ―the Constitution makes us not rivals for power but partners for progress.‖(Applause.)―It is my task,‖ he said, ―to report the State of the Union--to improve it is the task of us all.‖
51年前,约翰-F-肯尼迪在这里宣布―宪法让我们成为进步的伙伴而不是权利的对手,‖(掌声)他说,―发表国情咨文是我的任务,但是完善国情却是我们所有人的任务。‖
Tonight, thanks to the grit and determination of the American people, there is much progress to report.After a decade of grinding war, our brave men and women in uniform are coming home.(Applause.)After years of grueling recession, our businesses have created over six million new jobs.We buy more American cars than we have in five years, and less foreign oil than we have in 20.(Applause.)Our housing market is healing, our stock market is rebounding, and consumers, patients, and homeowners enjoy stronger protections than ever before.(Applause.)
今晚,感谢美国人民的勇气和决心,我有很多内容需要汇报。在十年的残酷战争之后,我们勇敢的穿军装的男人女人正在归来。(掌声)在多年的紧张的萧条期后,我们的商业已经创造了600万新的就业岗位。我们现在开始购入比过去5年还要多的汽车,但依赖的国外石油比过去20年总和都要少。我们的住宅市场正在复苏,我们的股票市场正在反弹。消费者、病人、房产所有者也享受比之前更有力的保护。(掌声)So, together, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and we can say with renewed confidence that the State of our Union is stronger.(Applause.)
所以,在一起,我们清除了危机的废墟。而且,我们可以说,通过新的信心,我们国家的状态更强有力了。(掌声)But we gather here knowing that there are millions of Americans whose hard work and dedication have not yet been rewarded.Our economy is adding jobs--but too many people still can’t find full-time employment.Corporate profits have skyrocketed to all-time highs--but for more than a decade, wages and incomes have barely budged.但是我们来到这里,知道还有数百万的美国人,通过辛苦的工作和奉献,并没有得到回报。我们的经济正在创造就业岗位——但仍然有许多人不能找到全职工作。企业利润飙升到了新高度——但十多年来,薪资和收入几乎从未上升。
It is our generation’s task, then, to reignite the true engine of America’s economic growth--a rising, thriving middle class.(Applause.)
我们这一代人的任务是——重燃美国经济增长的发动机——造就一个升起的、兴旺的中产阶级。(掌声)It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country--the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, no matter what you look like, or who you love.我们的未竟任务是——恢复我们国家的基本协议——如果你工作努力并且负责任,你将会领先于别人,不论你从哪里来,不论你长得怎样,或者爱的是谁。
It is our unfinished task to make sure that this government works on behalf of the many, and not just the few;that it encourages free enterprise, rewards individual initiative, and opens the doors of opportunity to every child across this great nation.(Applause.)
我们的未竟任务是——政府为大多数人服务,而不是少数人;政府鼓励自由企业、奖励个人的主创性,并且给这个国家的每一个孩子都提供发展的机会。(掌声)The American people don’t expect government to solve every problem.They don’t expect those of us in this chamber to agree on every issue.But they do expect us to put the nation’s interests before party.(Applause.)They do expect us to forge reasonable compromise where we can.For they know that America moves forward only when we do so together, and that the responsibility of improving this union remains the task of us all.美国人并不期望政府解决所有的问题。他们不期望在这个议事厅里的我们在所有的事务上有一致的看法。但是他们期望我们把国家利益放在党派前面。(掌声)他们期望我们在我们能走做到的议题上形成合理的妥协。因为他们知道只有当我们一起做这些事的时候,美国才会前进。改善这个国家的责任是我们所共有的。
Our work must begin by making some basic decisions about our budget--decisions that will have a huge impact on the strength of our recovery.我们的工作必须从如何决定我们的预算开始——这些决定将对我们复苏的势头有巨大影响。
Over the last few years, both parties have worked together to reduce the deficit by more than $2.5 trillion--mostly through spending cuts, but also by raising tax rates on the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans.As a result, we are more than halfway towards the goal of $4 trillion in deficit reduction that economists say we need to stabilize our finances.过去几年,两党共同努力,削减了2.5万亿美元的赤字——大部分是通过削减支出进行的,当然我们也对最富有的1%的美国人提高了税率。结果就是,我们已经完成了经济学家认为的足以稳定财政的削减赤字4万亿美元任务的一半还要多。
Now we need to finish the job.And the question is, how? 现在我们需要完成这项任务。问题是,怎样完成?
In 2011, Congress passed a law saying that if both parties couldn’t agree on a plan to reach our deficit goal, about a trillion dollars’ worth of budget cuts would automatically go into effect this year.These sudden, harsh, arbitrary cuts would jeopardize our military readiness.They’d devastate priorities like education, and energy, and medical research.They would certainly slow our recovery, and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs.That’s why Democrats, Republicans, business leaders, and economists have already said that these cuts, known here in Washington as the sequester, are a really bad idea.2011年,国会通过了一个议案。议案称如果两党不能对削减赤字达成一致,那么价值约1万亿美元的预算削减将会自动生效。这些突然的、残酷的、武断的削减,将会使我们的军事准备陷入危险。这也将会使教育、能源及医疗科研等优先问题恶化。这将会毫无疑问地减缓我们的经济复苏,并且还会让我们付出成百上千个就业岗位的代价。这就是为什么民主党员们、共和党员们、商业领袖们以及经济学家们已经说过,在华盛顿被认为是一种扣押行为的这些削减措施,是一个确实无误的坏主意。
Now, some in Congress have proposed preventing only the defense cuts by making even bigger cuts to things like education and job training, Medicare and Social Security benefits.That idea is even worse.(Applause.)
现在,国会中的某些人已经开始提议防止通过更大幅度的削减教育、职业培训、老年保健医疗体系和社会保险津贴的经费以削减国防经费。(掌声)Yes, the biggest driver of our long-term debt is the rising cost of health care for an aging population.And those of us who care deeply about programs like Medicare must embrace the need for modest reforms--otherwise, our retirement programs will crowd out the investments we need for our children, and jeopardize the promise of a secure retirement for future generations.是的,目前推动我们长期债务最大的推手是,养老医疗保障费用的增加。那些非常关心我们老年保健医疗体系的人必须接受适度的改革——否则,我们退休项目将会比我们对孩子们的投入更庞大,而且会使得未来几代人的退休保障更加危险。
But we can’t ask senior citizens and working families to shoulder the entire burden of deficit reduction while asking nothing more from the wealthiest and the most powerful.(Applause.)We won’t grow the middle class simply by shifting the cost of health care or college onto families that are already struggling, or by forcing communities to lay off more teachers and more cops and more firefighters.Most Americans--Democrats, Republicans, and independents--understand that we can’t just cut our way to prosperity.They know that broad-based economic growth requires a balanced approach to deficit reduction, with spending cuts and revenue, and with everybody doing their fair share.And that’s the approach I offer tonight.但是,我们不能让老人和工薪家庭承担削减赤字的重任的同时,不去向最富有的最有影响力的人征收更多的税收。(掌声)我们不会通过向那些已经在艰苦奋斗的家庭简单地提升医疗保险经费或者大学学费抑或是强迫社区裁掉更多的老师、警察、消防员的方法以扩充我们的中产阶级。大多数美国人——民主党员们、共和党员们、独立人士——理解我们并不能削减掉我们通往繁荣的道路。他们知道,我们基础广泛的经济增长,需要的是一个可以削减支出和税收的每一个人都各司其职的平衡的途径以抵达赤字削减的目标。这就是今晚我要提出的方案。
On Medicare, I’m prepared to enact reforms that will achieve the same amount of health care savings by the beginning of the next decade as the reforms proposed by the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles commission.(Applause.)
关于老年保健医疗体系,我已准备颁布改革方案,那将在下一个10年开始时,实现同等数额的保健资金储备。这一改革方案是由国会内跨党派的辛普森-鲍尔斯委员会草拟提交的。(掌声)Already, the Affordable Care Act is helping to slow the growth of health care costs.(Applause.)And the reforms I’m proposing go even further.We’ll reduce taxpayer subsidies to prescription drug companies and ask more from the wealthiest seniors.(Applause.)We’ll bring down costs by changing the way our government pays for Medicare, because our medical bills shouldn’t be based on the number of tests ordered or days spent in the hospital;they should be based on the quality of care that our seniors receive.(Applause.)And I am open to additional reforms from both parties, so long as they don’t violate the guarantee of a secure retirement.Our government shouldn’t make promises we cannot keep--but we must keep the promises we’ve already made.(Applause.)平价医疗法案已经开始帮助减缓医保经费的增长。(掌声)我提议的改革将会走得更远。我们将会削减纳税人对于处方类药品公司的津贴,同时向那些最富有的高层管理索取更多。(掌声)我们将会通过改变政府为老年保健医疗体系埋单的方式以调低医药费,因为我们的医疗账单不应该基于我们在医院住了多少天做了多少体检,而应基于我们的老人享受了多么高质量的医护措施。(掌声)现在我将听取来自两党的附加改革措施,只要他们不违反退休安全的保障。我们的政府不应该承诺一些我们不能完成的誓言,而是应该完成一些我们已经决定的诺言。(掌声)
To hit the rest of our deficit reduction target, we should do what leaders in both parties have already suggested, and save hundreds of billions of dollars by getting rid of tax loopholes and deductions for the well-off and the well-connected.After all, why would we choose to make deeper cuts to education and Medicare just to protect special interest tax breaks? How is that fair? Why is it that deficit reduction is a big emergency justifying making cuts in Social Security benefits but not closing some loopholes? How does that promote growth?(Applause.)
为了达到我们剩下的赤字削减目标,我们应该完成两党领袖已经建议了的,摆脱富贵者的税收漏洞和削减,这样可以节省千亿美元。毕竟,为什么我们要对教育和老年保健医疗体系选择进行更多的削减,而仅仅是为了保护一些特殊利益者的免税?那样公平吗?为什么赤字削减是社会保障救济金的的削减而非弥补那些高收入者的税收漏洞?那样可以提升经济增长速度吗?(掌声)
Now is our best chance for bipartisan, comprehensive tax reform that encourages job creation and helps bring down the deficit.(Applause.)We can get this done.The American people deserve a tax code that helps small businesses spend less time filling out complicated forms, and more time expanding and hiring--a tax code that ensures billionaires with high-powered accountants can’t work the system and pay a lower rate than their hardworking secretaries;a tax code that lowers incentives to move jobs overseas, and lowers tax rates for businesses and manufacturers that are creating jobs right here in the United States of America.That’s what tax reform can deliver.That’s what we can do together.(Applause.)
现在是进行两党广泛合作的可以鼓励创造就业岗位以及削减赤字的税收改革最好时机。(掌声)我们可以完成这个。美国人民理应得到一个可以帮助小企业花更少的时间填写复杂表格以及更多时间扩员和招募的免税代码——一个确保拥有高效会计师的亿万富翁们不能投机取巧地比他们更努力工作的秘书缴纳更少低额税率的免税代码;一个降低把岗位挪到海外、降低美国本土商业和制造业岗位税率的免税代码。这才是税务改革可以实现的。这才是我们可以共同完成的。(掌声)
I realize that tax reform and entitlement reform will not be easy.The politics will be hard for both sides.None of us will get 100 percent of what we want.But the alternative will cost us jobs, hurt our economy, visit hardship on millions of hardworking Americans.So let’s set party interests aside and work to pass a budget that replaces reckless cuts with smart savings and wise investments in our future.And let’s do it without the brinksmanship that stresses consumers and scares off investors.(Applause.)The greatest nation on Earth cannot keep conducting its business by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next.(Applause.)We can’t do it.我知道税务改革和权利改革不会那么容易。对于两党来说,都将会很困难。我们没有人可以达到百分之百的需求。但是不这样做的后果是,我们的就业岗位、经济将会付出代价,百万奋斗中的美国人将会更加艰苦。因而我们要把党派利益放在一边,共同努力以通过一个可以取代不计后果的削减预算,对未来进行灵活的节省和智慧的投资。让我们共同努力,以取代一个让消费者紧张、让投资者害怕的边缘政策。(掌声)地球上最伟大的国家不能继续通过把一个制造业危机漂流到下一个制造业危机的方式发展经济。(掌声)我们不能这么做。
Let’s agree right here, right now to keep the people’s government open, and pay our bills on time, and always uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of America.(Applause.)The American people have worked too hard, for too long, rebuilding from one crisis to see their elected officials cause another.(Applause.)让我们在此时此地就达成一致,保证人民的政府公开,按时付清我们的账单,并且经常迟滞美利坚合众国的信仰和信誉。(掌声)美国人民在相当长的时间里工作太努力了,从一个危机中重建起来,发现被选上来的新官员造成了另一个危机。(掌声)
Now, most of us agree that a plan to reduce the deficit must be part of our agenda.But let’s be clear, deficit reduction alone is not an economic plan.(Applause.)
A growing economy that creates good, middle-class jobs--that must be the North Star that guides our efforts.(Applause.)Every day, we should ask ourselves three questions as a nation: How do we attract more jobs to our shores? How do we equip our people with the skills they need to get those jobs? And how do we make sure that hard work leads to a decent living?
现在,我们大多数人就削减赤字的方案达成一致。这是我们未来计划的一部分。但是我们要清醒地认识到,独立的赤字削减并不是一个经济方案。(掌声)一个可以创造好的、中产阶级的就业岗位增长的经济体——应该是指引我们前进的北极星。(掌声)每一天,我们作为一个国家应该对自己提出三个问题:我们如何把更多的岗位吸引到我们的两个海岸?我们如何进行岗位培训?我们如何确保努力工作之后可以有体面的生活?
A year and a half ago, I put forward an American Jobs Act that independent economists said would create more than 1 million new jobs.And I thank the last Congress for passing some of that agenda.I urge this Congress to pass the rest.(Applause.)But tonight, I’ll lay out additional proposals that are fully paid for and fully consistent with the budget framework both parties agreed to just 18 months ago.Let me repeat--nothing I’m proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime.It is not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth.(Applause.)That’s what we should be looking for.一年半之前,我签署了美国就业法案。一些独立的经济学家认为这会创造100万个新岗位。我感谢上一届国会通过了其中的一些方案。我希望这一届国会通过剩下的。(掌声)但是今晚,我将提出附加的方案。这些附加的方案是和两党在一年半之前达成一致的预算框架方案有很直接的关系的。让我重复一遍——我今晚提出的方案不会增加我们的预算一毛钱。我们不需要大政府,而需要一个能够明辨主次之分的对广泛的经济进行投资的更智能的政府。(掌声)那才是我们应该寻求的。
Our first priority is making America a magnet for new jobs and manufacturing.After shedding jobs for more than 10 years, our manufacturers have added about 500,000 jobs over the past three.Caterpillar is bringing jobs back from Japan.Ford is bringing jobs back from Mexico.And this year, Apple will start making Macs in America again.(Applause.)我们首要的任务是要让美国成为吸引新就业岗位和制造业的地方。在长达10年的制造业工作岗位的流失态势下,我们在过去3年创造了50万个就业岗位。开拓重工公司开始把岗位从日本带回。福特汽车公司开始把岗位从墨西哥带回。今年,苹果公司也将重新在美国生产苹果电脑。(掌声)
There are things we can do, right now, to accelerate this trend.Last year, we created our first manufacturing innovation institute in Youngstown, Ohio.A once-shuttered warehouse is now a state-of-the art lab where new workers are mastering the 3D printing that has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything.There’s no reason this can’t happen in other towns.现在有我们可以做的事情。这些事情可以加速这一潮流。去年,我们在俄亥俄州的杨斯敦创造了第一个制造业革新中心。一个曾经的百叶窗式库房变成了 一个艺术实验室。在那里,新工人在学习立体打印技术。这种技术可以革新我们制作几乎任何东西的方法。没有理由这个在其他城镇不能发生。So tonight, I’m announcing the launch of three more of these manufacturing hubs, where businesses will partner with the Department of Defense and Energy to turn regions left behind by globalization into global centers of high-tech jobs.And I ask this Congress to help create a network of 15 of these hubs and guarantee that the next revolution in manufacturing is made right here in America.We can get that done.(Applause.)所以今晚,我宣布三个新的制造业中心开始建造。在这些地方,商业将和国防部以及能源部合作,把被全球化淘汰的区域转变成全球可以提供高科技工作 岗位的中心。现在我向这届国会提议,帮助创建包括15个这样中心的网络,并且确保,下一次建造业革命就在美国发生。我们可以做到。(掌声)
Now, if we want to make the best products, we also have to invest in the best ideas.Every dollar we invested to map the human genome returned $140 to our economy--every dollar.Today, our scientists are mapping the human brain to unlock the answers to Alzheimer’s.They’re developing drugs to regenerate damaged organs;devising new material to make batteries 10 times more powerful.Now is not the time to gut these job-creating investments in science and innovation.Now is the time to reach a level of research and development not seen since the height of the Space Race.We need to make those investments.(Applause.)
现在,如果我们想制造出最好的产品,我们还要在最好的想法上进行投资。每一个我们用于测出人类基因图谱的美元都给我们经济带来了140美元的收 入——每一个美元。今天,我们的科学家为解决老年痴呆症正在测出人类大脑的图谱。他们正在研制可以让我们器官再生的药品,发明可以让电池储电量比之前强 10倍的新材料。现在不是损毁科技革新领域可创造就业方面的投资的时候。现在是在一个让研发达到一个自从太空竞赛以来从未见过之高度的时候。我们需要进行这些投资。(掌声)Today, no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy.After years of talking about it, we’re finally poised to control our own energy future.We produce more oil at home than we have in 15 years.(Applause.)We have doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas, and the amount of renewable energy we generate from sources like wind and solar--with tens of thousands of good American jobs to show for it.We produce more natural gas than ever before--and nearly everyone’s energy bill is lower because of it.And over the last four years, our emissions of the dangerous carbon pollution that threatens our planet have actually fallen.今天,没有比我们在美国能源更需要我们投资的领域。在讨论了数年之后,我们终于准备控制我们自己的能源未来。我们在美国本土生产了比过去15年 综合还多的石油。(掌声)我们汽车用的1加仑天然气量可以让我们跑得比过去的两倍还多。我们通过风力发电和太阳能发电生产出来的新能源——创造了数以万计 的优质美国就业岗位。我们生产出了比以往任何时候都多的天然气——几乎所有人的能源账单都因此减少了。过去的4年,威胁我们星球的危险的碳排放量依然减少。
But for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change.(Applause.)Now, it’s true that no single event makes a trend.But the fact is the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15.Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods--all are now more frequent and more intense.We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence.Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science--and act before it’s too late.(Applause.)但是对于我们孩子们以及我们更远的未来而言,我们必须在防治全球变暖方面做得更多。(掌声)现在,真实情况是,没有一个孤立的事件可以成为一个 潮流。但事实上,12个最热的有纪录的年份恰是在过去15年中。热浪、干旱、野火、洪水——比以往更加频繁和剧烈。我们可以选择相信,桑迪飓风、几十年来 最严重的干旱,以及最具有毁坏性的野火的同时发生不过是个怪异的巧合。我们也可以相信科学的绝对公平——并且现在就开始行动,为时未晚。(掌声)
Now, the good news is we can make meaningful progress on this issue while driving strong economic growth.I urge this Congress to get together, pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, like the one John McCain and Joe Lieberman worked on together a few years ago.But if Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will.(Applause.)I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy.现在,好消息是我们可以在这个问题上做一些有意义的进程,而且不阻碍经济强势的增长势头。我期望这届国会可以协商一致,达成一个两党都同意的、以市场为基础的解决全球变暖的方案,就像约翰-麦凯恩和乔-利伯曼几年前的那样。但如果国会不及时行动以保护子孙后代,我也将会采取行动。(掌声)我将让 我的内阁讨论一些我们可以采取的行政措施,现在的和未来的,减少污染,给我们的社区提供面对气候变化后果的方案,加速可持续能源的转变。
Four years ago, other countries dominated the clean energy market and the jobs that came with it.And we’ve begun to change that.Last year, wind energy added nearly half of all new power capacity in America.So let’s generate even more.Solar energy gets cheaper by the year--let’s drive down costs even further.As long as countries like China keep going all in on clean energy, so must we.4年前,其他国家控制了清洁能源市场以及由此带来的就业岗位。现在我们正开始改变这种状况。去年,风力能源给美国带来了近一半的所有新能源储 备。因此我们就来造就更多的这种能源。太阳能开始变得更便宜——我们来把费用降得更低吧。只要像中国这样的国家继续在清洁能源方面迈步,我们也必须迈步。
Now, in the meantime, the natural gas boom has led to cleaner power and greater energy independence.We need to encourage that.And that’s why my administration will keep cutting red tape and speeding up new oil and gas permits.(Applause.)That’s got to be part of an all-of-the-above plan.But I also want to work with this Congress to encourage the research and technology that helps natural gas burn even cleaner and protects our air and our water.同时,天然气的迅速发展开始让我们更加习惯清洁能源,并且让我们的能源依赖更加独立。我们需要鼓励这么做。这就是为什么我的这届政府会继续削减 繁文缛节,加速新的石油和天然气许可。(掌声)这一定要成为上述全部方案的一部分。但我也希望和这届国会一道,鼓励那些可以帮助天然气更加清洁、更加保护我们空气和水资源的科研项目。
In fact, much of our new-found energy is drawn from lands and waters that we, the public, own together.So tonight, I propose we use some of our oil and gas revenues to fund an Energy Security Trust that will drive new research and technology to shift our cars and trucks off oil for good.If a nonpartisan coalition of CEOs and retired generals and admirals can get behind this idea, then so can we.Let’s take their advice and free our families and businesses from the painful spikes in gas prices we’ve put up with for far too long.事实上,我们多数新发现的能源是从我们共同生存且共同拥有的土地和水中提取的。因此今天晚上,我提议我们用我们的一些石油和天然气收入,成立一 个能源安全基金会,用以发展新科研,以让我们的汽车和卡车以后不再用石油。如果一个无党派的首席执行官团体和退休的将军们可以支持这一想法,那么我们也可 以支持。让我们听取他们的建议,让我们的家庭和商业从油价的持续痛苦中解放出来。
I’m also issuing a new goal for America: Let’s cut in half the energy wasted by our homes and businesses over the next 20 years.(Applause.)We’ll work with the states to do it.Those states with the best ideas to create jobs and lower energy bills by constructing more efficient buildings will receive federal support to help make that happen.我也给美国设定了一个新目标。让我们削减在过去20年中我们家庭和商业机构浪费掉的能源。(掌声)我们将会跟那些这么做的各州合作。那些提供创造就业岗位以及通过建造高效建筑以削减能源账单的最好想法的州,将会得到联邦政府的支持。
America’s energy sector is just one part of an aging infrastructure badly in need of repair.Ask any CEO where they’d rather locate and hire--a country with deteriorating roads and bridges, or one with high-speed rail and Internet;high-tech schools, self-healing power grids.The CEO of Siemens America--a company that brought hundreds of new jobs to North Carolina--said that if we upgrade our infrastructure, they’ll bring even more jobs.And that’s the attitude of a lot of companies all around the world.And I know you want these job-creating projects in your district.I’ve seen all those ribbon-cuttings.(Laughter.)
美国的能源领域不过是我国继续改革的日益落伍的基础设施中的一部分。向任何首席执行官提问,他们想落户哪里或者在哪里招募人员——是选择一个公 路和桥梁日益恶化的国家,还是选择一个具有高铁和互联网、拥有高科技学校和自给自足电网的国家。美国西门子公司——一个给北卡罗来纳州数百份新工作的公司 ——它的首席执行官说,如果我们提升我们的基础设施建设,他们将会创造更多的就业岗位。那才是全世界很多工资的态度。而且我知道你们想在你们的小区看到这 些创造就业岗位的工程。我可是看见了全部的那些剪彩仪式哦。(笑声)So tonight, I propose a ―Fix-It-First‖ program to put people to work as soon as possible on our most urgent repairs, like the nearly 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country.(Applause.)And to make sure taxpayers don’t shoulder the whole burden, I’m also proposing a Partnership to Rebuild America that attracts private capital to upgrade what our businesses need most: modern ports to move our goods, modern pipelines to withstand a storm, modern schools worthy of our children.(Applause.)Let’s prove that there’s no better place to do business than here in the United States of America, and let’s start right away.We can get this done.所以今天晚上,我提议一个―先修补‖的项目,让人们去那些最需要修补的地方工作,比如那些7万个已经损失构造的桥梁。(掌声)而且要确保纳税人 不能承担所有的重担。我还提议设立一个―重建美国伙伴‖,以吸引私人投资,用以提升我们商业机构最需要的东西: 搬运我们货物的现代港口、经受得住风暴的 现代管道,以及让我们孩子感觉物有所值的现代学校。(掌声)让我们证明世界上没有哪个地方比在美国做生意更好。让我们现在就开始。我们可以完成。
And part of our rebuilding effort must also involve our housing sector.The good news is our housing market is finally healing from the collapse of 2007.Home prices are rising at the fastest pace in six years.Home purchases are up nearly 50 percent, and construction is expanding again.我们重建计划的一部分也必须包含房地产领域。好小时是,我们的房地产市场正在从2007年的垮塌中复苏。住房价格正在飙升,这在过去6年中速度是最快的。购房者上升了50%,房屋建筑又开始有拓展的迹象。
But even with mortgage rates near a 50-year low, too many families with solid credit who want to buy a home are being rejected.Too many families who never missed a payment and want to refinance are being told no.That’s holding our entire economy back.We need to fix it.但即使是抵押率接近50年来的最低点,太多拥有良好信誉的家庭想要买一套房子还是会被拒绝。太多从未拒绝交账单的并且想要再次筹钱的家庭被告知不可以。这让我们整个经济都得不到发展。我们必须改革。
Right now, there’s a bill in this Congress that would give every responsible homeowner in America the chance to save $3,000 a year by refinancing at today’s rates.Democrats and Republicans have supported it before, so what are we waiting for? Take a vote, and send me that bill.(Applause.)Why would we be against that?(Applause.)Why would that be a partisan issue, helping folks refinance? Right now, overlapping regulations keep responsible young families from buying their first home.What’s holding us back? Let’s streamline the process, and help our economy grow.就在现在,在国会有个议案将会提供给美国每一个负责任的房产所有者一个机会,通过再次筹钱,给每个家庭节约每年3000美元的资金。民主党员们 和共和党员们以前支持过,那么为什么现在我们在等待呢?投票,然后递给我让我签署生效。(掌声)我们为什么会反对呢?(掌声)为什么那会是一个党派的问题,以帮助民众再次筹钱?现在,一些重叠的法规让负责任的家庭不能购买他们的首套房子。让我们不这样做的理由是什么?让我们把流程变得简单化,帮助我们的经济增长。
These initiatives in manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, housing--all these things will help entrepreneurs and small business owners expand and create new jobs.But none of it will matter unless we also equip our citizens with the skills and training to fill those jobs.(Applause.)
这些在建造、能源、基础设施、房地产领域的倡议——这所有的一切都将帮助企业家和小企业拥有者扩张发展领域,创造新的就业岗位。但除非我们也对他们进行岗位培训,这些也都不会有用。(掌声)。
And that has to start at the earliest possible age.Study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better he or she does down the road.But today, fewer than 3 in 10 four year-olds are enrolled in a high-quality preschool program.Most middle-class parents can’t afford a few hundred bucks a week for a private preschool.And for poor kids who need help the most, this lack of access to preschool education can shadow them for the rest of their lives.So tonight, I propose working with states to make high-quality preschool available to every single child in America.(Applause.)That’s something we should be able to do.这必须在最早的阶段实施。一次又一次的科学研究证实,一个孩子越早接受教育,他或者她就越平稳上路。但是现在,只有不到30%的4岁孩子可以享 受高质量的学前教育。大多数中产阶级父母不能支付私立学前教育每周上百美元的学费。而对那些最需要帮助的穷孩子来说,这种缺失学前教育的状况可以影响到他 们日后的生活。因而今晚,我提及和各州一道,让美国的每一个孩子都能享受到高质量的学前教育。(掌声)那是一些我们应该能够做到的事情。
Every dollar we invest in high-quality early childhood education can save more than seven dollars later on--by boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, even reducing violent crime.In states that make it a priority to educate our youngest children, like Georgia or Oklahoma, studies show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own.We know this works.So let’s do what works and make sure none of our children start the race of life already behind.Let’s give our kids that chance.(Applause.)
我们在高质量学前教育领域投入的每1美元,可以为我们节省以后在提升毕业率、降低未成年人怀孕率,甚至削减犯罪率的地方将会用到的7美元。在那 些以教育最小的儿童为优先任务的州,比如佐治亚州或者亚拉巴马州,研究报告称学生长大后会更加有能力阅读和做数学、从高中毕业、找到工作、建立他们自己更 稳定的家庭。我们知道这如何运转。因而让我们开始这么做,以确保我们,当我们已经在生命的领域落后的时候,没有一个孩子不开始起跑。让我们给我们的孩子提 供那样的机会。(掌声)
Let’s also make sure that a high school diploma puts our kids on a path to a good job.Right now, countries like Germany focus on graduating their high school students with the equivalent of a technical degree from one of our community colleges.So those German kids, they’re ready for a job when they graduate high school.They’ve been trained for the jobs that are there.Now at schools like P-Tech in Brooklyn, a collaboration between New York Public Schools and City University of New York and IBM, students will graduate with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree in computers or engineering.让我们确保高中学历可以让我们的孩子走上一条拥有好工作的道路。现在,像德国这样的国家开始在和高中生等同的我们的一个高中生的技术学位上做投 入。所以那些德国孩子们,他们在高中毕业就准备好了可以工作。他们训练成为可以干那些工作的人。现在,就像那些在纽约布鲁克林区的―通往早期技术的大学高 中学校‖一样,在一个纽约公立学校和城市大学以及IBM公司的一种新的合作办学模式下,学生毕业后,不仅能拿到高中学历,而且还能拿到在电脑或者工程学领域的专科毕业证书。
We need to give every American student opportunities like this.(Applause.)我们需要给每一个美国学生提供这样的机会。(掌声)And four years ago, we started Race to the Top--a competition that convinced almost every state to develop smarter curricula and higher standards, all for about 1 percent of what we spend on education each year.Tonight, I’m announcing a new challenge to redesign America’s high schools so they better equip graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy.And we’ll reward schools that develop new partnerships with colleges and employers, and create classes that focus on science, technology, engineering and math--the skills today’s employers are looking for to fill the jobs that are there right now and will be there in the future.四年前,我们开始了通往巅峰之竞赛——一种让每个州都确信可以发展智能课程表和高标准的竞赛,这大约花费我们每年用于教育领域投入的1%。今 晚,我宣布一个新的挑战,用以重新设计美国的高中,让他们能更好地提供给毕业生一种满足高科技经济需求的机会。我们将奖励和新大学及新雇主建立伙伴关系的 高中——这些技能是当今和未来的雇主正在寻找的。
Now, even with better high schools, most young people will need some higher education.It’s a simple fact the more education you’ve got, the more likely you are to have a good job and work your way into the middle class.But today, skyrocketing costs price too many young people out of a higher education, or saddle them with unsustainable debt.现在,即便拥有更好的高中,很多年轻人还是需要些高等教育。很简单的事实,如果你接受的教育越多,你拥有好工作且成为中产阶级的几率就越大。但是当今我们看到,飙升的学费让太多的年轻人上不起大学,或者让他们欠有不可持续的债务。
Through tax credits, grants and better loans, we’ve made college more affordable for millions of students and families over the last few years.But taxpayers can’t keep on subsidizing higher and higher and higher costs for higher education.Colleges must do their part to keep costs down, and it’s our job to make sure that they do.(Applause.)通过税款减免、补助及更好的贷款,我们在过去几年已经让大学变得让数百万的学生和家庭能够承担得起。但是纳税人不可能继续自助越来越高的高等教育的经费。大学必须想办法控制自己的经费,而这也是我们的职责以确保他们这样做。(掌声)
So tonight, I ask Congress to change the Higher Education Act so that affordability and value are included in determining which colleges receive certain types of federal aid.(Applause.)And tomorrow, my administration will release a new ―College Scorecard‖ that parents and students can use to compare schools based on a simple criteria--where you can get the most bang for your educational buck.因此今晚,我向国会提议,修改高等教育法案。这样,哪些大学的可支付学费以及它们各自的价值就能被包含在联邦资助中。(掌声)明天我的政府班子 将会发布一个新的―大学记分卡‖,这样家长和学生就能拿它用简单的标准来比较学校了。而这简单标准是——在哪个学校你用学费可以得到最多的快乐。
Now, to grow our middle class, our citizens have to have access to the education and training that today’s jobs require.But we also have to make sure that America remains a place where everyone who’s willing to work--everybody who’s willing to work hard has the chance to get ahead.现在,为了扩大我们的中产阶层,我们的公民必须接受教育和当今从事工作所必备的技能培训。同时我们也要确保,在美国的每一个人只要辛勤肯干,就能获得出人头地的机会。
Our economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of striving, hopeful immigrants.(Applause.)And right now, leaders from the business, labor, law enforcement, faith communities--they all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform.(Applause.)Now is the time to do it.Now is the time to get it done.Now is the time to get it done.(Applause.)
当我们充分发挥了人才和创新的作用,我们的经济才能更加强大,外来移民在这方面是大有希望的。(掌声)如今,来自商业、劳工、执法、宗教等领域的领导者,他们都认为是进行移民制度全面改革的时候了。(掌声)是时候做这件事了。是时候去完成这件事了。是时候去完成了。(掌声)
Real reform means strong border security, and we can build on the progress my administration has already made--putting more boots on the Southern border than at any time in our history and reducing illegal crossings to their lowest levels in 40 years.真正的改革意味着需要更强有力的边境安全保障,我们能够继续推进这项政府早已在做的工作——史无前例地增加南部边境的安保力量,将非法越境事件降到40年来最低。
Real reform means establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship--a path that includes passing a background check, paying taxes and a meaningful penalty, learning English, and going to the back of the line behind the folks trying to come here legally.(Applause.)
真正的改革意味着需要建立一个负责人的公民权获取途径,包括身份背景审核、纳税及受罚情况、英语言学习情况,还要先来后到、依序依法等候。(掌声)
And real reform means fixing the legal immigration system to cut waiting periods and attract the highly-skilled entrepreneurs and engineers that will help create jobs and grow our economy.(Applause.)
真正的改革还意味着修正移民法律体系,以便缩短申请等候的时间,以及吸引那些能够创造就业岗位、带来经济增长的高技能创业家和工程技术人员。(掌声)
In other words, we know what needs to be done.And as we speak, bipartisan groups in both chambers are working diligently to draft a bill, and I applaud their efforts.So let’s get this done.Send me a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the next few months, and I will sign it right away.And America will be better for it.(Applause.)Let’s get it done.Let’s get it done.换言之,我们知道自己需要做些什么。正如之前已经提到的,国会参众两院的有关团体正在勉力草拟一个法案,我对他们的努力表示赞赏。那么,让我们做好这件事吧。几个月以后请把移民制度全面改革的草案交给我,我会立即予以签署。美国将会因此变得刚好。(掌声)让我们做好这件事。让我们做好它。
But we can’t stop there.We know our economy is stronger when our wives, our mothers, our daughters can live their lives free from discrimination in the workplace, and free from the fear of domestic violence.Today, the Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act that Joe Biden originally wrote almost 20 years ago.And I now urge the House to do the same.(Applause.)Good job, Joe.And I ask this Congress to declare that women should earn a living equal to their efforts, and finally pass the Paycheck Fairness Act this year.(Applause.)
不过我们也不能就此止步。我们清楚,只有当我们的妻子、母亲、女儿能够免于在职场受歧视,免于家庭暴力,我们的经济才会更加强大。今天,参议院通过了最初由现任副总统乔·拜登将近20年前草拟的防止对妇女施暴法案,我希望众议院接下来也会予以批准。(掌声)干得好,乔。我还要请求国会宣布,女性应该得到与之付出相配的回报,并在今年内最终通过工资公平法案。(掌声)
We know our economy is stronger when we reward an honest day’s work with honest wages.But today, a full-time worker making the minimum wage earns $14,500 a year.Even with the tax relief we put in place, a family with two kids that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line.That’s wrong.That’s why, since the last time this Congress raised the minimum wage, 19 states have chosen to bump theirs even higher.我们知道,只有当我们辛勤的工作获得体面的报酬时,我们的经济才会更加强大。但现在的情况是,一个全职工人每年最低工资仅为1.45万美元。即使把免税算上,一个拥有两个孩子的家庭最低工资仍处于贫困线以下。那是不对劲的。这就是为什么上次国会提高最低工资标准后,有19个州又在此基础上额外提高了标准。
Tonight, let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to $9.00 an hour.(Applause.)We should be able to get that done.(Applause.)今晚,让我们在这个世上最富有的国家里宣告,没有一个全职工作者会被迫生活在贫困中,宣告将联邦最低工资标准提高至每小时9美元。(掌声)我们一定能够做好这件事。(掌声)
This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families.It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank;rent or eviction;scraping by or finally getting ahead.For businesses across the country, it would mean customers with more money in their pockets.And a whole lot of folks out there would probably need less help from government.In fact, working folks shouldn’t have to wait year after year for the minimum wage to go up while CEO pay has never been higher.So here’s an idea that Governor Romney and I actually agreed on last year--let’s tie the minimum wage to the cost of living, so that it finally becomes a wage you can live on.(Applause.)这一步骤将提高几百万个工作家庭的收入。这可能意味着,原来靠救济券领取食品的人能够自己购买生活用品,原来被逐出房子的人能够租住下去,原来被生活抛弃的讲出人头地。对于全国的企业来说,这意味着拥有更多钱包满满的消费者。而对穷困人群来说,可能更少依赖于政府的救济。实际上,劳动者不必要一年又一年地等待最低工资标准的上升,而只需限制企业高管们的报酬上涨。这就是罗姆尼州长和我去年就已达成的共识,让我们将最低工资标准与生活成本挂钩,这样一来,你的最低标准总是能够支撑你的生活所需。(掌声)
Tonight, let’s also recognize that there are communities in this country where no matter how hard you work, it is virtually impossible to get ahead.Factory towns decimated from years of plants packing up.Inescapable pockets of poverty, urban and rural, where young adults are still fighting for their first job.America is not a place where the chance of birth or circumstance should decide our destiny.And that’s why we need to build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class for all who are willing to climb them.今晚,也让我们承认,这个国家确有一些人群他们无论怎么苦干都难以出人头地。一些工厂长期停工衰败。不可避免的贫困,无论城乡,年轻劳动力依旧为挣得第一份工作争破头。人们的命运不应该被他的出生状况和环境所决定,美国不是这样一个地方。这就是为什么我们要搭建新的机会的阶梯,让所有愿意攀登的人步入中产阶层的行列。
Let’s offer incentives to companies that hire Americans who’ve got what it takes to fill that job opening, but have been out of work so long that no one will give them a chance anymore.Let’s put people back to work rebuilding vacant homes in run-down neighborhoods.And this year, my administration will begin to partner with 20 of the hardest-hit towns in America to get these communities back on their feet.We’ll work with local leaders to target resources at public safety, and education, and housing.让我们对那些为长期失业人群提供就业岗位的公司进行奖励。让我们引导人们重新建设那些衰败小区里冷落的家。今年,我的政府将帮助全国20个遭受贫困打击最严重的城镇重建家园。我们将与当地领导人一起,为他们争取公共安全、教育以及住房方面的资源。
We’ll give new tax credits to businesses that hire and invest.And we’ll work to strengthen families by removing the financial deterrents to marriage for low-income couples, and do more to encourage fatherhood--because what makes you a man isn’t the ability to conceive a child;it’s having the courage to raise one.And we want to encourage that.We want to help that.(Applause.)我们将通过减税鼓励企业用工和投资。我们将通过消除夫妻结婚的资金门槛来巩固家庭,并且进一步激励父亲的支撑力——因为男人之所以为男人并不是他有生孩子的能力,而是有养育孩子的勇气。而我们就是想要对此有所激励,有所帮助。(掌声)
Stronger families.Stronger communities.A stronger America.It is this kind of prosperity--broad, shared, built on a thriving middle class--that has always been the source of our progress at home.It’s also the foundation of our power and influence throughout the world.更强有力的家庭,更强有力的社区,然后才是一个更强有力的美国。正是这样的繁荣——包容、共享、建构于一个勤奋向上的中产阶层——才一直成为我们国内进步的来源。这也是我们的力量以及对整个世界的影响力的基础。
Tonight, we stand united in saluting the troops and civilians who sacrifice every day to protect us.Because of them, we can say with confidence that America will complete its mission in Afghanistan and achieve our objective of defeating the core of al Qaeda.(Applause.)今晚,我们共同肃立,向为保卫我们而每天都在作出牺牲的军人和平民致敬。因为有他们,我们能够充满信心地说,美国将完成在阿富汗的使命并达到挫败基地组织核心的目标。(掌声)
Already, we have brought home 33,000 of our brave servicemen and women.This spring, our forces will move into a support role, while Afghan security forces take the lead.Tonight, I can announce that over the next year, another 34,000 American troops will come home from Afghanistan.This drawdown will continue and by the end of next year, our war in Afghanistan will be over.(Applause.)
我们早已从阿富汗撤回3.3万名英勇的男女军人。今年春天,我们的驻军将转变为协助的角色,而由阿富汗政府军将担当主角。今晚,我宣布另外3.4万美国军人明年内将从阿富汗回家。这一撤军进程将持续到明年底,到那时阿富汗战争将会结束。(掌声)
Beyond 2014, America’s commitment to a unified and sovereign Afghanistan will endure, but the nature of our commitment will change.We’re negotiating an agreement with the Afghan government that focuses on two missions--training and equipping Afghan forces so that the country does not again slip into chaos, and counterterrorism efforts that allow us to pursue the remnants of al Qaeda and their affiliates.2014年以后,美国关于帮助重建一个统一、主权完整的阿富汗的承诺将会继续,但我们承诺的实质性内容将会改变。我们正在与阿富汗政府商谈一个协议,主要集中于两项任务:训练和装备阿富汗军队,以使其不再陷入混乱;开展反恐行动,以追剿基地组织残余及分支机构。
Today, the organization that attacked us on 9/11 is a shadow of its former self.(Applause.)It’s true, different al Qaeda affiliates and extremist groups have emerged--from the Arabian Peninsula to Africa.The threat these groups pose is evolving.But to meet this threat, we don’t need to send tens of thousands of our sons and daughters abroad or occupy other nations.Instead, we’ll need to help countries like Yemen, and Libya, and Somalia provide for their own security, and help allies who take the fight to terrorists, as we have in Mali.And where necessary, through a range of capabilities, we will continue to take direct action against those terrorists who pose the gravest threat to Americans.(Applause.)今天,在911事件中袭击我们的组织已经成为一个从前的影子。(掌声)然而,另外的基地组织分支以及极端组织已经崛起,从阿拉伯半岛到非洲。这些组织所构成的威胁正在增加。但应对这些威胁,我们不需要派遣几万儿女到海外占领别的国家,而只需要帮助诸如也门、利比亚、索马里这些国家加强自己的安保,以及帮助盟友打击恐怖分子,如前不久协助法国进军马里。但如果有需要,只要能力所及,我们还会继续采取直接行动,以对付那些对美国构成最严重威胁的恐怖分子。(掌声)
Now, as we do, we must enlist our values in the fight.That’s why my administration has worked tirelessly to forge a durable legal and policy framework to guide our counterterrorism efforts.Throughout, we have kept Congress fully informed of our efforts.I recognize that in our democracy, no one should just take my word for it that we’re doing things the right way.So in the months ahead, I will continue to engage Congress to ensure not only that our targeting, detention and prosecution of terrorists remains consistent with our laws and system of checks and balances, but that our efforts are even more transparent to the American people and to the world.(Applause.)
现在,正如我们所做的,我们必须在战斗中遵循我们的价值观。这就是为什么我的政府不懈地构建一个持久的法律与政策框架,来指导我们的反恐斗争。我们已经让国会普遍知道这一努力。我认为,在我们的民主体制下,没有人可以武断地说我们在做的事情一定是正确的。因此在未来几个月里,我将继续与国会紧密接触,以确保不但我们对于恐怖分子的调查、拘禁和起诉是符合法律及制衡体系的,而且我们的作为对于美国人民以及全世界将更为透明。(掌声)
Of course, our challenges don’t end with al Qaeda.America will continue to lead the effort to prevent the spread of the world’s most dangerous weapons.The regime in North Korea must know they will only achieve security and prosperity by meeting their international obligations.Provocations of the sort we saw last night will only further isolate them, as we stand by our allies, strengthen our own missile defense and lead the world in taking firm action in response to these threats.当然,我们面临的挑战不会止于基地组织。美国将继续领导防止危险武器扩散的努力。朝鲜政权必须认识到,他们只有通过履行自己的国际义务才能实现安全与繁荣。我们在昨晚见到的那种挑衅行为只会进一步孤立他们,而我们将与盟友一起,加强自己的导弹防御系统,并领导国际社会采取坚决措施回应此类威胁。
Likewise, the leaders of Iran must recognize that now is the time for a diplomatic solution, because a coalition stands united in demanding that they meet their obligations, and we will do what is necessary to prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon.(Applause.)同样,伊朗领导人必须认识到,达成核问题外交方案的时机现在已经到了。因为多个国家联合起来要求他们履行他们的义务,而我们将采用必要手段防止他们拥有核武器。(掌声)
At the same time, we’ll engage Russia to seek further reductions in our nuclear arsenals, and continue leading the global effort to secure nuclear materials that could fall into the wrong hands--because our ability to influence others depends on our willingness to lead and meet our obligations.同时,我们将与俄罗斯保持紧密接触,寻求进一步削减双方的核武器数量,继续领导世界确保核物质安全,防止它们落入错误之手。因为我们对他人的影响力,取决于我们领导和履行自身义务的意愿。
America must also face the rapidly growing threat from cyber-attacks.(Applause.)Now, we know hackers steal people’s identities and infiltrate private emails.We know foreign countries and companies swipe our corporate secrets.Now our enemies are also seeking the ability to sabotage our power grid, our financial institutions, our air traffic control systems.We cannot look back years from now and wonder why we did nothing in the face of real threats to our security and our economy.美国还必须对面日益增长的网络攻击威胁。(掌声)现在我们已经知道,黑客盗取个人身份信息并渗入私人邮件,一些外国和公司偷走我们的商业机密,我们的敌人还试图获得破坏我国电网、金融机构和空管系统的能力。回首过去几年,我们禁不住要问,为什么我们的安全和经济面临如此真切的威胁却什么也没做。
And that’s why, earlier today, I signed a new executive order that will strengthen our cyber defenses by increasing information sharing, and developing standards to protect our national security, our jobs, and our privacy.(Applause.)这就是为什么今天早些时候我签署了一个旨在加强网络防卫的行政命令。这项行政命令将通过强化情报共享、完善相关标准来保护我们的国家安全、工作岗位以及个人隐私。(掌声)But now Congress must act as well, by passing legislation to give our government a greater capacity to secure our networks and deter attacks.This is something we should be able to get done on a bipartisan basis.(Applause.)
但国会也应该立即行动,通过立法授予政府更大的权限来保卫我们的网络并挫败攻击。这件事情,我们通过两党合作能够做好。(掌声)Now, even as we protect our people, we should remember that today’s world presents not just dangers, not just threats, it presents opportunities.To boost American exports, support American jobs and level the playing field in the growing markets of Asia, we intend to complete negotiations on a Trans-Pacific Partnership.And tonight, I’m announcing that we will launch talks on a comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union--because trade that is fair and free across the Atlantic supports millions of good-paying American jobs.(Applause.)
即使是在保护自己人民的时候,我们也应该清楚,今天的世界不仅仅存在危险、威胁,它也产生机遇。为了增强美国的出口,支持美国的就业以及提升不断增长的亚洲市场的水准,我们要建立泛太平洋伙伴关系。今晚,我要宣布,我们将与欧盟开展全面的跨大西洋贸易与投资伙伴关系会谈,因为公平自由的跨大西洋贸易将有利于增加美国数百万个优质就业岗位。(掌声)
We also know that progress in the most impoverished parts of our world enriches us all--not only because it creates new markets, more stable order in certain regions of the world, but also because it’s the right thing to do.In many places, people live on little more than a dollar a day.So the United States will join with our allies to eradicate such extreme poverty in the next two decades by connecting more people to the global economy;by empowering women;by giving our young and brightest minds new opportunities to serve, and helping communities to feed, and power, and educate themselves;by saving the world’s children from preventable deaths;and by realizing the promise of an AIDS-free generation, which is within our reach.(Applause.)
我们也知道,那些世界上最贫困国家的进步有利于我们自身,不单单因为它创造了新的市场、数量更稳定的订单,而且它本身就是值得去做的正确的事情。在许多地方,人们靠每天一美元多一点的标准生活。为此,美国将与盟友们一起,在未来20年里根除这种极端贫困。而我们的采取的举措是:将更多的人纳入全球经济;拓展女性力量;向年轻有才能的人提供施展抱负的新机会;帮助社区自食其力、自我壮大和自我教育;在全球范围防止儿童不必要的死亡;实现―没有艾滋病的一代‖的承诺。这些都是我们做能做到的。(掌声)
You see, America must remain a beacon to all who seek freedom during this period of historic change.I saw the power of hope last year in Rangoon, in Burma, when Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed an American President into the home where she had been imprisoned for years;when thousands of Burmese lined the streets, waving American flags, including a man who said, ―There is justice and law in the United States.I want our country to be like that.‖ 你们知道,美国必须在这一历史性转变时期,为所有寻求自由的人们留一盏明灯。去年我去缅甸的仰光时看到了这一希望的力量。当时昂山素季将我引入她曾被软禁在那里好多年的家乡,几千名缅甸人站在街道两旁,挥舞着美国国旗,有个人说:―美国有正义和法律,我们的国家也要这样。‖
In defense of freedom, we’ll remain the anchor of strong alliances from the Americas to Africa;from Europe to Asia.In the Middle East, we will stand with citizens as they demand their universal rights, and support stable transitions to democracy.(Applause.)
为了保卫自由,我们将继续担当从美洲到非洲、从欧洲到亚洲的强大联盟的中坚力量。在中东,我们将与那些争取普世权利的人站在一起,支持向民主制度的稳定过渡。(掌声)
We know the process will be messy, and we cannot presume to dictate the course of change in countries like Egypt, but we can--and will--insist on respect for the fundamental rights of all people.We’ll keep the pressure on a Syrian regime that has murdered its own people, and support opposition leaders that respect the rights of every Syrian.And we will stand steadfast with Israel in pursuit of security and a lasting peace.(Applause.)
我们知道,转型的过程会带着混乱。我们不能假设转型的过程一定像埃及等国那样,但我们能够、也一定会坚持对人的基本权利的尊重。我们将对谋杀自己人民的叙利亚政权保持压力,并支持那些尊重每个叙利亚人权利的反对派领导人。我们也会坚定地同追求安全与持久和平的以色列站在一起。(掌声)
These are the messages I’ll deliver when I travel to the Middle East next month.And all this work depends on the courage and sacrifice of those who serve in dangerous places at great personal risk –-our diplomats, our intelligence officers, and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.As long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, we will do whatever we must to protect those who serve their country abroad, and we will maintain the best military the world has ever known.(Applause.)
下月我去中东访问时,将传递上述信息。所有这些工作,有赖于那些冒着巨大的个人风险在危险的岗位上工作的人们所付出的勇气和牺牲,他们有外交人员、情报人员和美国武装部队男女官兵。只要我还是总司令,我们将采取所有必要的手段来保护那些在海外执行任务的人,我们将保持一支世界上最好的军队。(掌声)
We’ll invest in new capabilities, even as we reduce waste and wartime spending.We will ensure equal treatment for all servicemembers, and equal benefits for their families--gay and straight.(Applause.)We will draw upon the courage and skills of our sisters and daughters and moms, because women have proven under fire that they are ready for combat.尽管减少了浪费和战时支出,我们还是会加大能力建设方面的投入。我们将确保现役人员的同等待遇以及给予他们家庭的同等利益,不论同性恋或异性恋。(掌声)我们信赖姐妹、女儿和母亲们的勇气和技能,因为女性已经被证明做好了进入战场的准备。
We will keep faith with our veterans, investing in world-class care, including mental health care, for our wounded warriors--(applause)--supporting our military families;giving our veterans the benefits and education and job opportunities that they have earned.And I want to thank my wife, Michelle, and Dr.Jill Biden for their continued dedication to serving our military families as well as they have served us.Thank you, honey.Thank you, Jill.(Applause.)
我们将信守对退伍军人的承诺,为了经历创伤的战士提供世界级的医护,包括精神护理;(掌声)援助军人家庭;给予退伍军人赢得的福利,以及受教育和工作的机会。在此,我也要感谢我的妻子米歇尔,和吉尔·拜登(副总统乔·拜登的妻子——译者注)博士,感谢她们长期致力于为军人家庭提供服务,当然她们也为我们服务。谢谢你,亲爱的。谢谢你,吉尔。(掌声)
Defending our freedom, though, is not just the job of our military alone.We must all do our part to make sure our God-given rights are protected here at home.That includes one of the most fundamental right of a democracy: the right to vote.(Applause.)When any American, no matter where they live or what their party, are denied that right because they can’t afford to wait for five or six or seven hours just to cast their ballot, we are betraying our ideals.(Applause.)
然而,保卫我们自由并不仅仅是军队的职责。我们必须从我做起,在国内保卫我们的天赋权利。其中最重要的基本民主权利之一是:投票权。(掌声)如果任何美国人——无论住在何处或属于哪个政党——因为等不起5个、6个或7个小时来投票而舍弃了这项权利,那么我们就被判了自己的理想。(掌声)
So tonight, I’m announcing a nonpartisan commission to improve the voting experience in America.And it definitely needs improvement.I’m asking two long-time experts in the field--who, by the way, recently served as the top attorneys for my campaign and for Governor Romney’s campaign--to lead it.We can fix this, and we will.The American people demand it, and so does our democracy.(Applause.)因此,今晚我将宣布一个无党派的委员会,来改进美国的投票体验。当然,这最终需要通过国会批准。这个委员会将由两位实践领域的资深专家来领导,他们分别是我与罗姆尼州长竞选期间的最高法律顾问。我们可以解决这个问题。美国人要求解决这个问题,我们的民主制度也要去解决这个问题。(掌声)
Of course, what I’ve said tonight matters little if we don’t come together to protect our most precious resource: our children.It has been two months since Newtown.I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence.But this time is different.Overwhelming majorities of Americans--Americans who believe in the Second Amendment--have come together around common-sense reform, like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun.(Applause.)Senators of both parties are working together on tough new laws to prevent anyone from buying guns for resale to criminals.Police chiefs are asking our help to get weapons of war and massive ammunition magazines off our streets, because these police chiefs, they’re tired of seeing their guys and gals being outgunned.当然,如果我们不齐心协力保护我们最珍贵的资源——我们的孩子们,我今晚所说的这些就都没有意义。纽镇校园枪击事件已经过去两个月了。我知道这不是美国第一次就缓解涉枪暴力展开辩论,但这次有所不同。数量庞大的美国人——他们信赖第二修正案——联合起来希望改变常识,诸如设立持枪者背景情况调查,以使犯罪分子难以获得枪支。(掌声)来自两党的参议员联合起来草拟新的严格法律,以防止枪支转售给犯罪分子。警方要求我们立法禁止战争武器和大容量弹匣枪支携带上街,因为他们再也受不了警察反被对方火力压制。
Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress.(Applause.)Now, if you want to vote no, that’s your choice.But these proposals deserve a vote.Because in the two months since Newtown, more than a thousand birthdays, graduations, anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun--more than a thousand.这些提案,每一个都都有理由交国会投票表决。(掌声)现在,如果你想投反对票,这是你的权利。但这些提案有理由提交表决。因为就在纽镇枪击事件两个月后,又有1000多个生日庆祝、毕业典礼、纪念被从我们的生活中偷走了,所用的是一支枪、一颗子弹。
One of those we lost was a young girl named Hadiya Pendleton.She was 15 years old.She loved Fig Newtons and lip gloss.She was a majorette.She was so good to her friends they all thought they were her best friend.Just three weeks ago, she was here, in Washington, with her classmates, performing for her country at my inauguration.And a week later, she was shot and killed in a Chicago park after school, just a mile away from my house.其中有一个失去生命的叫海迪亚·潘德尔顿的小女孩。她才15岁。她喜欢无花果酥和唇膏。她是学校的乐队指挥。她对朋友们很好,他们都把她当最好的朋友。就在三周以前,她还在华盛顿,和同学们一起在我的就职典礼上演奏。一周以后放学时,她在芝加哥一个公园里遭枪击身亡,那里离我家不过一英里。
Hadiya’s parents, Nate and Cleo, are in this chamber tonight, along with more than two dozen Americans whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence.They deserve a vote.They deserve a vote.(Applause.)Gabby Giffords deserves a vote.(Applause.)The families of Newtown deserve a vote.(Applause.)The families of Aurora deserve a vote.(Applause.)The families of Oak Creek and Tucson and Blacksburg, and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence –-they deserve a simple vote.(Applause.)They deserve a simple vote.海迪亚的父母内特和克里欧今晚就在会场,同时在场还有20多名被涉枪暴力夺去亲人的美国人。他们有理由要求一个表决。他们有理由要求一个表决。(掌声)嘉比·吉福德有理由要求表决。(掌声)纽镇枪击案受害者家庭有理由要求表决。(掌声)奥罗拉电影院枪击案家庭有理由要求表决。(掌声)奥克里克、图森和布莱克斯堡的受害者家庭有理由要求表决。(掌声)无数被涉枪暴力摧毁的社区有理由要求表决——他们有理由要求一个简单的表决。(掌声)他们有理由要求一个简单的表决。
Our actions will not prevent every senseless act of violence in this country.In fact, no laws, no initiatives, no administrative acts will perfectly solve all the challenges I’ve outlined tonight.But we were never sent here to be perfect.We were sent here to make what difference we can, to secure this nation, expand opportunity, uphold our ideals through the hard, often frustrating, but absolutely necessary work of self-government.我们的行动不可能防止这个国家所有无意义的暴力行为。事实上,没有哪个法律、倡议、行政行为能够完全完美地解决所有以上提到的挑战。但我们不是来寻求完美的。我们是来寻求力所能及的改变的,来保护国家、拓展机会,在困难且经常是令人沮丧的境况下坚持我们的理想,进行绝对必要的自我管理。
We were sent here to look out for our fellow Americans the same way they look out for one another, every single day, usually without fanfare, all across this country.We should follow their example.我们是来为美国同胞寻求解决办法的,正如他们日复一日、默默无闻地相互为同胞寻找着解决办法。我们应该以他们为榜样。
We should follow the example of a New York City nurse named Menchu Sanchez.When Hurricane Sandy plunged her hospital into darkness, she wasn’t thinking about how her own home was faring.Her mind was on the 20 precious newborns in her care and the rescue plan she devised that kept them all safe.我们应该以纽约市护士曼楚·桑切斯为榜样。当桑迪飓风笼罩她所在的医院时,她想到的不是自己的家,而是通过精心照料和施救,保全了医院里20个珍贵的新生儿。
We should follow the example of a North Miami woman named Desiline Victor.When Desiline arrived at her polling place, she was told the wait to vote might be six hours.And as time ticked by, her concern was not with her tired body or aching feet, but whether folks like her would get to have their say.And hour after hour, a throng of people stayed in line to support her--because Desiline is 102 years old.(Applause.)And they erupted in cheers when she finally put on a sticker that read, ―I voted.‖(Applause.)
我们应该以北迈阿密女性德斯琳·维克多为榜样。她到投票点的时候,有人告诉她需要等6个小时,而她想到的不是身体的疲惫和脚的酸痛,而是像她一样的人能够投下自己的一票。时间一点点过去,一大群人在支持着她,因为德斯琳已经102岁了。(掌声)当她最终投下一票时,人群中爆发出热烈的欢呼声。(掌声)
We should follow the example of a police officer named Brian Murphy.When a gunman opened fire on a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and Brian was the first to arrive, he did not consider his own safety.He fought back until help arrived and ordered his fellow officers to protect the safety of the Americans worshiping inside, even as he lay bleeding from 12 bullet wounds.And when asked how he did that, Brian said, ―That’s just the way we’re made.‖ 我们应该以警官布莱恩·墨菲为榜样。当一名枪手在威斯康辛州一个锡克教神庙开枪时,布莱恩第一个赶到,他不顾安危保护正在庙里参拜的公民,直到后援赶到。而他身中12枪,倒在地上流血不止。事后有人问他是如何做到的,布莱恩说:―我们就是干这些事的。‖
That’s just the way we’re made.We may do different jobs and wear different uniforms, and hold different views than the person beside us.But as Americans, we all share the same proud title--we are citizens.It’s a word that doesn’t just describe our nationality or legal status.It describes the way we’re made.It describes what we believe.It captures the enduring idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations, that our rights are wrapped up in the rights of others;and that well into our third century as a nation, it remains the task of us all, as citizens of these United States, to be the authors of the next great chapter of our American story.我们就是干这些事的。我们可能干着不同的工作,穿着不同的制服,怀着不同于身边人的想法。但作为美国人,我们共同拥有一个自豪的头衔:我们是公民。这个词不仅仅描述了我们的国籍或法律地位。它描述了我们是如何被造就的。它描述了我们所深信的。它体现了一个经久不变的信念,那就是:只有当我们接受对彼此、对后代的特定义务时,这个国家才会运转;我们自己的权利是通同他人的权利密不可分的;面向建国以来的第三个世纪,作为美利坚合众国公民的我们依旧面临一项任务,去书写美国传奇的下一个伟大篇章。
Thank you.God bless you, and God bless these United States of America.(Applause.)谢谢你们。上帝保佑你们,上帝保佑美利坚合众国。(掌声)