奥巴马每日发言A Budget Equal to the Task Before Us

第一篇：奥巴马每日发言A Budget Equal to the Task Before Us

奥巴马每日发言A Budget Equal to the Task Before Us(2009-03-21)

Remarks of President Barack Obama Weekly Address Saturday, March 21, 2009 Washington, DC Last week, I spent a few days in California, talking with ordinary Americans in town halls and in the places where they work.We talked about their struggles, and we talked about their hopes.At the end of the day, these men and women weren’t as concerned with the news of the day in Washington as they were about the very real and very serious challenges their families face every day: whether they’ll have a job and a paycheck to count on;whether they’ll be able to pay their medical bills or afford college tuition;whether they’ll be able to leave their children a world that’s safer and more prosperous than the one we have now.Those are the concerns I heard about in California.They are the concerns I’ve heard about in letters from people throughout this country for the last two years.And they are the concerns addressed in the budget I sent to Congress last month.With the magnitude of the challenges we face, I don’t just view this budget as numbers on a page or a laundry list of programs.It’s an economic blueprint for our future – a vision of America where growth is not based on real estate bubbles or overleveraged banks, but on a firm foundation of investments in energy, education, and health care that will lead to a real and lasting prosperity.These investments are not a wish list of priorities that I picked out of thin air – they are a central part of a comprehensive strategy to grow this economy by attacking the very problems that have dragged it down for too long: the high cost of health care and our dependence on foreign oil;our education deficit and our fiscal deficit.Now, as the House and the Senate take up this budget next week, the specific details and dollar amounts in this budget will undoubtedly change.That’s a normal and healthy part of the process.But when all is said and done, I expect a budget that meets four basic principles:

First, it must reduce our dependence on dangerous foreign oil and finally put this nation on a path to a clean, renewable energy future.There is no longer a doubt that the jobs and industries of tomorrow will involve harnessing renewable sources of energy.The only question is whether America will lead that future.I believe we can and we will, and that’s why we’ve proposed a budget that makes clean energy the profitable kind of energy, while investing in technologies like wind power and solar power;advanced biofuels, clean coal, and fuel-efficient cars and trucks that can be built right here in America.Second, this budget must renew our nation’s commitment to a complete and competitive education for every American child.In this global economy, we know the countries that out-educate us today will out-compete us tomorrow, and we know that our students are already falling behind their counterparts in places like China.That is why we have proposed investments in childhood education programs that work;in high standards and accountability for our schools;in rewards for teachers who succeed;and in affordable college education for anyone who wants to go.It is time to demand excellence from our schools so that we can finally prepare our workforce for a 21st century economy.Third, we need a budget that makes a serious investment in health care reform – reform that will bring down costs, ensure quality, and guarantee people their choice of doctors and hospitals.Right now, there are millions of Americans who are just one illness or medical emergency away from bankruptcy.There are businesses that have been forced to close their doors or ship jobs overseas because they can’t afford insurance.Medicare costs are consuming our federal budget.Medicaid is overwhelming our state budgets.So to those who say we have to choose between health care reform and fiscal discipline, I say that making investments now that will dramatically lower health care costs for everyone won’t add to our budget deficit in the long-term – it is one of the best ways to reduce it.Finally, this budget must reduce that deficit even further.With the fiscal mess we’ve inherited and the cost of this financial crisis, I’ve proposed a budget that cuts our deficit in half by the end of my first term.That’s why we are scouring every corner of the budget and have proposed $2 trillion in deficit reductions over the next decade.In total, our budget would bring discretionary spending for domestic programs as a share of the economy to its lowest level in nearly half a century.And we will continue making these tough choices in the months and years ahead so that as our economy recovers, we do what we must to bring this deficit down.I will be discussing each of these principles next week, as Congress takes up the important work of debating this budget.I realize there are those who say these plans are too ambitious to enact.To that I say that the challenges we face are too large to ignore.I didn’t come here to pass on our problems to the next President or the next generation – I came here to solve them.The American people sent us here to get things done, and at this moment of great challenge, they are watching and waiting for us to lead.Let’s show them that we are equal to the task before us, and let’s pass a budget that puts this nation on the road to lasting prosperity.

第二篇：奥巴马发言本拉登之死

Good evening.Tonight I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children.It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history.The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory.Hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky, the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground, black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon, the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.And yet, we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world, the empty seat at the dinner table, children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father, parents who would never know the feeling of their child's embrace.Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.On September 11th, 2001 in our time of grief, the American people came together.We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our blood.We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community and country.On that day, no matter where we came from, what god we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice.We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda, an organization headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocence in our country and around the globe.And so we went to war against al Qaeda, to protect our citizens, our friends and our allies.Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professionals, we've made great strides in that effort.We've disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense.In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support.And around the globe, we've worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot.Yet, Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan.Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world.And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle and defeat his network.Then last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden.It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground.I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside Pakistan.And finally last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability.No Americans were harmed.They took care to avoid civilian casualties.After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body.For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda's leader and symbol and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies.The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda.Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort.There's no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us.We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad.As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not and never will be at war with Islam.I've made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam, because bin Laden was not a Muslim leader.He was a mass murderer of Muslims.Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own.So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity.Over the years, I have repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was.That is what we've done.But it's important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding.Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people.Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counterparts.They agree that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations.And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates.The American people did not choose this fight.It came to our shores and started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens.After nearly 10 years of service, struggle and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war.These efforts weigh on me every time I, as commander-in-chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of a service member who's been gravely wounded.So Americans understand the costs of war.Yet, as a country, we will never tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people have been killed.We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and our friends and allies.We will be true to the values that make us who we are.And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have lost loved ones to al Qaeda's terror: Justice has been done.Tonight we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome.The American people do not see their work or know their names, but tonight they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country.And they're a part of the generation that has borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11.I know that it has, at times, frayed.Yet today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people.The cause of securing our country is not complete, but tonight we are once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to.That is the story of our history, whether it's the pursuit of prosperity for our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens, our commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.Let us remember that we can do these things, not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.Thank you.May God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.

第三篇：奥巴马演讲

奥巴马演讲

Hello, everybody.In the State of the Union, I laid out three areas we need to focus on if we're going to build an economy that lasts: new American manufacturing, new skills and education for American workers, and new sources of American-made energy.These days, we're getting another painful reminder why developing new energy is so important to our future.Just like they did last year, gas prices are starting to climb.Only this time, it's happening earlier.And that hurts everyone – everyone who owns a car;everyone who owns a business.It means you have to stretch your paycheck even further.Some folks have no choice but to drive a long way to work, and high gas prices are like a tax straight out of their paychecks.Now, some politicians always see this as a political opportunity.And since it's an election year, they're already dusting off their three-point plans for $2 gas.I'll save you the suspense: Step one is drill, step two is drill, and step three is keep drilling.We hear the same thing every year.Well the American people aren't stupid.You know that's not a plan – especially since we're already drilling.It's a bumper sticker.It's not a strategy to solve our energy challenge.It's a strategy to get politicians through an election.You know there are no quick fixes to this problem, and you know we can't just drill our way to lower gas prices.If we're going to take control of our energy future and avoid these gas price spikes down the line, then we need a sustained, all-of-the-above strategy that develops every available source of American energy – oil, gas, wind, solar, nuclear, biofuels, and more.We need to keep developing the technology that allows us to use less oil in our cars and trucks;in our buildings and plants.That's the strategy we're pursuing, and that's the only real solution to this challenge.Now, we absolutely need safe, responsible oil production here in America.That's why under my Administration, America is producing more oil today than at any time in the last eight years.In 2010, our dependence on foreign oil was under 50% for the first time in more than a decade.And while there are no short-term silver bullets when it comes to gas prices, I've directed my administration to look for every single area where we can make an impact and help consumers in the months ahead, from permitting to delivery bottlenecks to what's going on in the oil markets.But over the long term, an all-of-the-above energy strategy means we have to do more.It means we have to make some choices.Here's one example.Right now, four billion of your tax dollars subsidize the oil industry every year.Four billion dollars.Imagine that.Maybe some of you are listening to this in your car right now, pulling into a gas station to fill up.As you watch those numbers rise, know that oil company profits have never been higher.Yet somehow, Congress is still giving those same companies another four billion dollars of your money.That's outrageous.It's inexcusable.And it has to stop.A century of subsidies to the oil companies is long enough.It's time to end taxpayer giveaways to an industry that's never been more profitable, and use that money to reduce our deficit and double-down on a clean energy industry that's never been more promising.Because of the investments we've already made, the use of wind and solar energy in this country has nearly doubled – and thousands of Americans have jobs because of it.And because we put in place the toughest fuel economy standards in history, our cars will average nearly 55 miles per gallon by the middle of the next decade – something that, over time, will save the typical family more than $8,000 at the pump.Now Congress needs to keep that momentum going by renewing the clean energy tax credits that will lead to more jobs and less dependence on foreign oil.Look, we know there's no silver bullet that will bring down gas prices or reduce our dependence on foreign oil overnight.But what we can do is get our priorities straight, and make a sustained, serious effort to tackle this problem.That's the commitment we need right now.And with your help, it's a commitment we can make.Thank you.

第四篇：奥巴马演讲

Thank you.(Applause.)Thank you very much.Everybody, please have a seat.Well, Madam President, that was an outstanding introduction.(Laughter.)We are so proud of Donae for representing this school so well.And in addition, I also want to acknowledge your outstanding principal, who has been here for 20 years--first as a teacher, now as an outstanding principal--Anita Berger.Please give her a big round of applause.(Applause.)I want to acknowledge, as well, Mayor Gray is here--the mayor of Washington, D.C.is here.Please give him a big round of applause.(Applause.)And I also want to thank somebody who is going to go down in history as one of the finest Secretaries of Education that we’ve ever had--Arne Duncan is here.(Applause.)

Now, it is great to be here at Benjamin Banneker High School, one of the best high schools not only in Washington, D.C., but one of the best high schools in the country.(Applause.)But we’ve also got students tuning in from all across America.And so I want to welcome you all to the new school year, although I know that many of you already have been in school for a while.I know that here at Banneker, you’ve been back at school for a few weeks now.So everything is starting to settle in, just like for all your peers all across the country.The fall sports season is underway.Musicals and marching band routines are starting to shape up, I believe.And your first big tests and projects are probably just around the corner.I know that you’ve also got a great deal going on outside of school.Your circle of friends might be changing a little bit.Issues that used to stay confined to hallways or locker rooms are now finding their way onto Facebook and Twitter.(Laughter.)Some of your families might also be feeling the strain of the economy.As many of you know, we’re going through one of the toughest economic times that we’ve gone through in our lifetime--in my lifetime.Your lifetime hasn’t been that long.And so, as a consequence, you might have to pick up an after-school job to help out your family, or maybe you’re babysitting for a younger sibling because mom or dad is working an extra shift.So all of you have a lot on your plates.You guys are growing up faster and interacting with a wider world in a way that old folks like me, frankly, just didn’t have to.So today, I don’t want to be just another adult who stands up and lectures you like you’re just kids--because you’re not just kids.You’re this country’s future.You’re young leaders.And whether we fall behind or race ahead as a nation is going to depend in large part on you.So I want to talk to you a little bit about meeting that responsibility.It starts, obviously, with being the best student that you can be.Now, that doesn’t always mean that you have to have a perfect score on every assignment.It doesn’t mean that you’ve got to get straight As all the time--although that’s not a bad goal to have.It means that you have to stay at it.You have to be determined and you have to persevere.It means you’ve got to work as hard as you know how to work.And it means that you’ve got to take some risks once in a while.You can’t avoid the class that you think might be hard because you’re worried about getting the best grade if that’s a subject that you think you need to prepare you for your future.You’ve got to wonder.You’ve got to question.You’ve got to explore.And every once in a while, you need to color outside of the lines.That’s what school is for: discovering new passions, acquiring new skills, making use of this incredible time that you have to prepare yourself and give yourself the skills that you’re going to need to pursue the kind of careers that you want.And that’s why when you’re still a student you can explore a wide range of possibilities.One hour you can be an artist;the next, an author;the next, a scientist, or a historian, or a carpenter.This is the time where you can try out new interests and test new ideas.And the more you do, the sooner you’ll figure out what makes you come alive, what stirs you, what makes you excited--the career that you want to pursue.Now, if you promise not to tell anybody, I will let you in on a little secret: I was not always the very best student that I could be when I was in high school, and certainly not when I was in middle school.I did not love every class I took.I wasn’t always paying attention the way I should have.I remember when I was in 8th grade I had to take a class called ethics.Now, ethics is about right and wrong, but if you’d ask me what my favorite subject was back in 8th grade, it was basketball.I don’t think ethics would have made it on the list.But here’s the interesting thing.I still remember that ethics class, all these years later.I remember the way it made me think.I remember being asked questions like: What matters in life? Or, what does it mean to treat other people with dignity and respect? What does it mean to live in a diverse nation, where not everybody looks like you do, or thinks like you do, or comes from the same neighborhood as you do? How do we figure out how to get along?

Each of these questions led to new questions.And I didn’t always know the right answers, but those discussions and that process of discovery--those things have lasted.Those things are still with me today.Every day, I’m thinking about those same issues as I try to lead this nation.I’m asking the same kinds of questions about, how do we as a diverse nation come together to achieve what we need to achieve? How do we make sure that every single person is treated with dignity and respect? What responsibilities do we have to people who are less fortunate than we are? How do we make sure that everybody is included in this family of Americans?

Those are all questions that date back to this class that I took back in 8th grade.And here’s the thing: I still don’t always know the answers to all these questions.But if I’d have just tuned out because the class sounded boring, I might have missed out on something that not only did I turn out enjoying, but has ended up serving me in good stead for the rest of my life.So that’s a big part of your responsibility, is to test things out.Take risks.Try new things.Work hard.Don’t be embarrassed if you’re not good at something right away.You’re not supposed to be good at everything right away.That’s why you’re in school.The idea, though, is, is that you keep on expanding your horizons and your sense of possibility.Now is the time for you to do that.And those are also, by the way, the things that will make school more fun.Down the road, those will be the traits that will help you succeed, as well--the traits that will lead you to invent a device that makes an iPad look like a stone tablet.Or what will help you figure out a way to use the sun and the wind to power a city and give us new energy sources that are less polluting.Or maybe you’ll write the next great American novel.Now, to do almost any of those things, you have to not only graduate from high school,--and I know I’m just--I’m in the “amen” corner with Principal Berger here--not only do you have to graduate from high school, but you’re going to have to continue education after you leave.You have to not only graduate, but you’ve got to keep going after you graduate.That might mean, for many of you, a four-year university.I was just talking to Donae, and she wants to be an architect, and she’s interning with a architectural firm, and she’s already got her sights set on what school she wants to go to.But it might, for some other folks, be a community college, or professional credentialing or training.But the fact of the matter is, is that more than 60 percent of the jobs in the next decade will require more than a high school diploma--more than 60 percent.That’s the world you’re walking into.So I want all of you to set a goal to continue your education after you graduate.And if that means college for you, just getting into college is not enough.You also have to graduate.One of the biggest challenges we have right now is that too many of our young people enroll in college but don’t actually end up getting their degree, and as a consequence--our country used to have the world’s highest proportion of young people with a college degree;we now rank 16th.I don't like being 16th.I like being number one.That’s not good enough.So we’ve got to use--we’ve got to make sure your generation gets us back to the top of having the most college graduates relative to the population of any country on Earth.If we do that, you guys will have a brighter future.And so will America.We’ll be able to make sure the newest inventions and the latest breakthroughs happen right here in the United States of America.It will mean better jobs, and more fulfilling lives, and greater opportunities not only for you, but also for your kids.So I don’t want anybody who’s listening here today to think that you’re done once you finish high school.You are not done learning.In fact, what’s happening in today’s economy is--it’s all about lifelong learning.You have to constantly upgrade your skills and find new ways of doing things.Even if college isn't for you, even if a four-year college isn't for you, you’re still going to have to get more education after you get out of high school.You’ve got to start expecting big things from yourself right now.I know that may sound a little intimidating.And some of you may be wondering how you can pay for college, or you might not know what you want to do with your life yet.And that’s okay.Nobody expects you to have your entire future mapped out at this point.And we don't expect you to have to make it on your own.First of all, you’ve got wonderful parents who love you to death and want you to have a lot more opportunity than they ever had--which, by the way, means don’t give them a hard time when they ask you to turn off the video games, turn off the TV and do some homework.You need to be listening to them.I speak from experience because that’s what I’ve been telling Malia and Sasha.Don’t be mad about it, because we’re thinking about your future.You’ve also got people all across this country--including myself and Arne and people at every level of government--who are working on your behalf.We’re taking every step we can to ensure that you’re getting an educational system that is worthy of your potential.We’re working to make sure that you have the most up-to-date schools with the latest tools of learning.We’re making sure that this country’s colleges and universities are affordable and accessible to you.We’re working to get the best class--teachers into the classroom as well, so they can help you prepare for college and a future career.Let me say something about teachers, by the way.Teachers are the men and women who might be working harder than just about anybody these days.(Applause.)Whether you go to a big school or a small one, whether you attend a public or a private or charter school –-your teachers are giving up their weekends;they’re waking up at dawn;they’re cramming their days full of classes and extra-curricular activities.And then they’re going home, eating some dinner, and then they’ve got to stay up sometimes past midnight, grading your papers and correcting your grammar, and making sure you got that algebra formula properly.And they don’t do it for a fancy office.They don’t--they sure don’t do it for the big salary.They do it for you.They do it because nothing gives them more satisfaction than seeing you learn.They live for those moments when something clicks;when you amaze them with your intellect or your vocabulary, or they see what kind of person you’re becoming.And they’re proud of you.And they say, I had something to do with that, that wonderful young person who is going to succeed.They have confidence in you that you will be citizens and leaders who take us into tomorrow.They know you’re our future.So your teachers are pouring everything they got into you, and they’re not alone.But I also want to emphasize this: With all the challenges that our country is facing right now, we don’t just need you for the future;we actually need you now.America needs young people’s passion and their ideas.We need your energy right now.I know you’re up to it because I’ve seen it.Nothing inspires me more than knowing that young people all across the country are already making their marks.They’re not waiting.They’re making a difference now.There are students like Will Kim from Fremont, California, who launched a nonprofit that gives loans to students from low-income schools who want to start their own business.Think about that.So he’s giving loans to other students.He set up a non-for-profit.He’s raising the money doing what he loves--through dodgeball tournaments and capture-the-flag games.But he’s creative.He took initiative.And now he’s helping other young people be able to afford the schooling that they need.There is a young man, Jake Bernstein, 17 years old, from a military family in St.Louis, worked with his sister to launch a website devoted to community service for young people.And they’ve held volunteer fairs and put up an online database, and helped thousands of families to find volunteer opportunities ranging from maintaining nature trails to serving at local hospitals.And then last year, I met a young woman named Amy Chyao from Richardson, Texas.She’s 16 years old, so she’s the age of some of you here.During the summer, I think because somebody in her family had an illness, she decided that she was interested in cancer research.She hadn’t taken chemistry yet, so she taught herself chemistry during the summer.And then she applied what she had learned and discovered a breakthrough process that uses light to kill cancer cells.Sixteen years old.It’s incredible.And she's been approached by some doctors and researchers who want to work with her to help her with her discovery.The point is you don’t have to wait to make a difference.You’re first obligation is to do well in school.You’re first obligation is to make sure that you’re preparing yourself for college and career.But you can also start making your mark right now.A lot of times young people may have better ideas than us old people do anyway.We just need those ideas out in the open, in and out of the classroom.When I meet young people like yourselves, when I sat and talk to Donae, I have no doubt that America’s best days are still ahead of us, because I know the potential that lies in each of you.Soon enough, you will be the ones leading our businesses and leading our government.You will be the one who are making sure that the next generation gets what they need to succeed.You will be the ones that are charting the course of our unwritten history.And all that starts right now--starts this year.So I want all of you who are listening, as well as everybody here at Banneker, I want you to make the most of the year that’s ahead of you.I want you to think of this time as one in which you are just loading up with information and skills, and you’re trying new things and you’re practicing, and you’re honing--all those things that you’re going to need to do great things when you get out of school.Your country is depending on you.So set your sights high.Have a great school year.Let’s get to work.Thank you very much, everybody.God bless you.God bless the United States of America.(Applause.)

第五篇：奥巴马演讲词

Remarks of President Barack ObamaMay 19, 2012 For the past three and a half years, we’ve been fighting our way back from an historic economic crisis – one caused by breathtaking irresponsibility on the part of some on Wall Street who treated our financial system like a casino.Not only did that behavior nearly destroy the financial system – it cost our economy millions of jobs, hurt middle-class families, and left taxpayers holding the bag.Since then, we’ve recovered taxpayer dollars that were used to stabilize troubled banks.And we’ve put in place Wall Street reform with smarter, tougher, commonsense rules that serve one primary purpose: to prevent a crisis like that from ever happening again.And yet, for the past two years, too many Republicans in Congress and an army of financial industry lobbyists have actually been waging an all-out battle to delay, defund, and dismantle Wall Street reform.Recently, we’ve seen why we can’t let that happen.We found out that a big mistake at one of our biggest banks resulted in a two billion dollar loss.While that bank can handle a loss of that size, other banks may not have been able to.And without Wall Street reform, we could have found ourselves with the taxpayers once again on the hook for Wall Street’s mistakes.That’s why it’s so important that Members of Congress stand on the side of reform, not against it;because we can’t afford to go back to an era of weak regulation and little oversight;where excessive risk-taking on Wall Street and a lack of basic oversight in Washington nearly destroyed our economy.We can't afford to go back to that brand of “you’re-on-your-own” economics.Not after the American people have worked so hard to come back from this crisis.We’ve got to keep moving forward.We’ve got to finish the job of implementing this reform and putting these rules in place.These new rules say that, if you’rea big bank or financial institution, you now have to hold more cash on hand so that if you make a bad decision you pay for it, not the taxpayers.You have to write out a “living will” that details how you’ll be wound down if you do fail.The new law takes away big bonuses and paydays from failed CEOs, while giving shareholders a say on executive salaries.And for the first time in our nation’s history, we have in place a consumer watchdog whose sole job is to look out for working families by protecting them from deceptive and unfair practices.So unless you run a financial institution whose business model is built on cheating consumers, or making risky bets that could damage the whole economy, you have nothing to fear from Wall Street reform.Yes, it discourages big banks and financial institutions from making risky bets with taxpayer-insured money.And it encourages them to do things that actually help the economy – like extending loans toentrepreneurs with good ideas, to middle-class families who want to buy a home, to students who want to pursue higher education.That is what Wall Street reform is all about – making this economy stronger for you.And we are going to keep working – to recover every job lost to the recession;to build an economy where hard work and responsibility are once again rewarded;to restore an America where everyone has a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules.I believe the free market is one of the greatest forces for progress in human history;that businesses are the engine of growth;that risk-takers and innovators should be celebrated.But I also believe that at its best, the free market has never been a license to take whatever you want, however you can get it.Alongside our entrepreneurial spirit and rugged individualism, America only prospers when we meet our obligations to one another;and to future generations.If you agree with me, let your Member of Congress know.Tell them to spend less time working to undermine rules that are there to protect the economy, and spend more time actually working to strengthen the economy.Thanks and have a great weekend.Vicky: What are you working on? Issac: If I tell you, will you promise not to laugh? Vicky: All right.What is it? Issac: It’s a love letter to Julie.Vicky: Isn’t it a little premature? You’ve only been going out for a month.Issac: Maybe, but I really want her to know how I feel.Vicky: Let me see it.“Dear Julie.I’m writing this letter to pour my heart out to you.When we met, it was love at first sight and I can’t get you out of my head.You mean everything to me.Now that we’re together, how can I ever live without you?”

Issac: So, what do you think? Vicky: I thought it would have some simple sweet nothings.I didn’t expect it to be this heavy.Issac: Do you think it needs more terms of endearment? Maybe I should have called her “my love,” “my darling,” or “sweetheart.” Tell me the truth, do you think it’s too much? I don’t want to scare her off.Vicky: Well, I know you’re head over heels in love with her, but if I were you, I’d play it by ear.Give it to her when you feel the time is right.Issac: Okay, thanks.I’ll try to play it cool, for now.《纯正英语一分钟》第194课：Multiculturalism Multiculturalism is everywhere today.As the world gets smaller, multiculturalism becomes bigger.Few of us today live in towns in which there is only one culture.Today, we live in towns where we are surrounded by many other cultures.If we live in a city, we will see people from all over the world.Of course, some cities are more multicultural than others.New York is a real melting pot.It is called the most multicultural city on Earth.A city like Tokyo isn’t so multicultural.I think multiculturalism is a great thing.It’s fantastic walking out of your door and seeing other cultures.This didn’t happen when I was young.People didn’t understand other cultures.They didn’t even want to understand.I’m glad things are changing today.打赌

Suzanna: Hey, the back of the line is over there.Ivan: I was here.I just stepped out of line for a minute to get some cash.Suzanna: Yeah, right.I don’t remember you being in line ahead of me.Ivan: Come on.Let’s do this.We’ll flip for it.If it’s heads, I win and I get to get back into line.If it’s tails, you win and I’ll go to the back of the line.Suzanna: All right.I’ll take those odds.You’re on.Ivan: Here goes…Oh, it’s heads!I win.Suzanna: I guess it’s your lucky day.Ivan: I guess so.How about going double or nothing? Suzanna: What are the stakes? Ivan: If it’s tails and you win, I go to the back of the line and I have to buy you a drink when we get inside.If It’s heads and I win, I get in back in line in front of you and you buy me a drink.Suzanna: So, no matter what happens I have to have a drink with you? Ivan: That’s the idea.What do you say?

Suzanna: Okay, you talked me into it.Let’s see if your luck will hold up.Ivan: I’ve got a good feeling it will.Muscle Where would we be without muscles? Probably a mess on the floor.Muscles are pretty interesting things.Everybody has lots of them.Some people look after them better than others.Bodybuilders want to have really big muscles.The bigger the better.They spend hours in the gym lifting weights to make their muscles as big as they can.Athletes work on the specific muscles they need for their sport.If you look at a hundred-metre runner, you’ll notice they have large shoulder and arm muscles.This is so they can power ahead when they run.An interesting thing about muscles is that it takes more face muscles to frown than it does to smile.This means smiling uses less energy, so we should do it more.