-A Time for Choosing- (aka -The Speech-).doc

演讲稿 a time for choosing (aka the speech) ronaldreagan:atimeforchoosing(akathespeech)programannouncer:ladiesandgentlemen,wetakeprideinpresentingathoughtfuladdressbyronaldreagan.mr.reagan:reagan:thankyou.thankyouverymuch.thankyouandgoodevening.thesponsorhasbeenidentified,butunlikemosttelevisionprograms,theperformerhasntbeenprovidedwithascript.asamatteroffact,ihavebeenpermittedtochoosemyownwordsanddiscussmyownideasregardingthechoicethatwefaceinthenextfewweeks.ihavespentmostofmylifeasademocrat.irecentlyhaveseenfittofollowanothercourse.ibelievethattheissuesconfrontinguscrosspartylines.now,onesideinthiscampaignhasbeentellingusthattheissuesofthiselectionarethemaintenanceofpeaceandprosperity.thelinehasbeenused,weveneverhaditsogood.butihaveanunfortablefeelingthatthisprosperityisntsomethingonwhichwecanbaseourhopesforthefuture.nonationinhistoryhaseversurvivedataxburdenthatreachedathirdofitsnationaline.today,37centsoutofeverydollarearnedinthiscountryisthetaxcollectorsshare,andyetourgovernmentcontinuestospend17milliondollarsadaymorethanthegovernmenttakesin.wehaventbalancedourbudget28outofthelast34years.weveraisedourdebtlimitthreetimesinthelasttwelvemonths,andnowournationaldebtisoneandahalftimesbiggerthanallthebineddebtsofallthenationsoftheworld.wehave15billiondollarsingoldinourtreasury;wedontownanounce.foreigndollarclaimsare27.3billiondollars.andwevejusthadannouncedthatthedollarof1939willnowpurchase45centsinitstotalvalue.asforthepeacethatwewouldpreserve,iwonderwhoamonguswouldliketoapproachthewifeormotherwhosehusbandorsonhasdiedinsouthvietnamandaskthemiftheythinkthisisapeacethatshouldbemaintainedindefinitely.dotheymeanpeace,ordotheymeanwejustwanttobeleftinpeace?therecanbenorealpeacewhileoneamericanisdyingsomeplaceintheworldfortherestofus.wereatwarwiththemostdangerousenemythathaseverfacedmankindinhislongclimbfromtheswamptothestars,anditsbeensaidifwelosethatwar,andinsodoinglosethiswayoffreedomofours,historywillrecordwiththegreatestastonishmentthatthosewhohadthemosttolosedidtheleasttopreventitshappening.wellithinkitstimeweaskourselvesifwestillknowthefreedomsthatwereintendedforusbythefoundingfathers.nottoolongago,twofriendsofmineweretalkingtoacubanrefugee,abusinessmanwhohadescapedfromcastro,andinthemidstofhisstoryoneofmyfriendsturnedtotheotherandsaid,wedontknowhowluckyweare.andthecubanstoppedandsaid,howluckyyouare?ihadsomeplacetoescapeto.andinthatsentencehetoldustheentirestory.ifwelosefreedomhere,theresnoplacetoescapeto.thisisthelaststandonearth.andthisideathatgovernmentisbeholdentothepeople,thatithasnoothersourceofpowerexceptthesovereignpeople,isstillthenewestandthemostuniqueideainallthelonghistoryofmansrelationtoman.thisistheissueofthiselection:whetherwebelieveinourcapacityforself-governmentorwhetherweabandontheamericanrevolutionandconfessthatalittleintellectualeliteinafar-distantcapitolcanplanourlivesforusbetterthanwecanplanthemourselves.youandiaretoldincreasinglywehavetochoosebetweenaleftorright.wellidliketosuggestthereisnosuchthingasaleftorright.theresonlyanupordown-upmansold-old-ageddream,theultimateinindividualfreedomconsistentwithlawandorder,ordowntotheantheapoftotalitarianism.andregardlessoftheirsincerity,theirhumanitarianmotives,thosewhowouldtradeourfreedomforsecurityhaveembarkedonthisdownwardcourse.inthisvote-harvestingtime,theyusetermslikethegreatsociety,orasweweretoldafewdaysagobythepresident,wemustacceptagreatergovernmentactivityintheaffairsofthepeople.buttheyvebeenalittlemoreexplicitinthepastandamongthemselves;andallofthethingsinowwillquotehaveappearedinprint.thesearenotrepublicanaccusations.forexample,theyhavevoicesthatsay,thecoldwarwillendthroughouracceptanceofanotundemocraticsocialism.anothervoicesays,theprofitmotivehasbeeoutmoded.itmustbereplacedbytheincentivesofthewelfarestate.or,ourtraditionalsystemofindividualfreedomisincapableofsolvingtheplexproblemsofthe20thcentury.senatorfullbrighthassaidatstanforduniversitythattheconstitutionisoutmoded.hereferredtothepresidentasourmoralteacherandourleader,andhesaysheishobbledinhistaskbytherestrictionsofpowerimposedonhimbythisantiquateddocument.hemustbefreed,sothathecandoforuswhatheknowsisbest.andsenatorclarkofpennsylvania,anotherarticulatespokesman,definesliberalismasmeetingthematerialneedsofthemassesthroughthefullpowerofcentralizedgovernment.well,i,forone,resentitwhenarepresentativeofthepeoplereferstoyouandme,thefreemenandwomenofthiscountry,asthemasses.thisisatermwehaventappliedtoourselvesinamerica.butbeyondthat,thefullpowerofcentralizedgovernment-thiswastheverythingthefoundingfatherssoughttominimize.theyknewthatgovernmentsdontcontrolthings.agovernmentcantcontroltheeconomywithoutcontrollingpeople.andtheyknowwhenagovernmentsetsouttodothat,itmustuseforceandcoerciontoachieveitspurpose.theyalsoknew,thosefoundingfathers,thatoutsideofitslegitimatefunctions,governmentdoesnothingaswelloraseconomicallyastheprivatesectoroftheeconomy.now,wehavenobetterexampleofthisthangovernmentsinvolvementinthefarmeconomyoverthelast30years.since1955,thecostofthisprogramhasnearlydoubled.one-fourthoffarminginamericaisresponsiblefor85%ofthefarmsurplus.three-fourthsoffarmingisoutonthefreemarketandhasknowna21%increaseinthepercapitaconsumptionofallitsproduce.yousee,thatone-fourthoffarming-thatsregulatedandcontrolledbythefederalgovernment.inthelastthreeyearswevespent43dollarsinthefeedgrainprogramforeverydollarbushelofcornwedontgrow.senatorhumphreylastweekchargedthatbarrygoldwater,aspresident,wouldseektoeliminatefarmers.heshoulddohishomeworkalittlebetter,becausehellfindoutthatwevehadadeclineof5millioninthefarmpopulationunderthesegovernmentprograms.hellalsofindthatthedemocraticadministrationhassoughttogetfromcongressanextensionofthefarmprogramtoincludethatthree-fourthsthatisnowfree.hellfindthattheyvealsoaskedfortherighttoimprisonfarmerswhowouldntkeepbooksasprescribedbythefederalgovernment.thesecretaryofagricultureaskedfortherighttoseizefarmsthroughcondemnationandresellthemtootherindividuals.andcontainedinthatsameprogramwasaprovisionthatwouldhaveallowedthefederalgovernmenttoremove2millionfarmersfromthesoil.atthesametime,theresbeenanincreaseinthedepartmentofagricultureemployees.theresnowoneforevery30farmsintheunitedstates,andstilltheycanttellushow66shiploadsofgrainheadedforaustriadisappearedwithoutatraceandbilliesolestesneverleftshore.everyresponsiblefarmerandfarmorganizationhasrepeatedlyaskedthegovernmenttofreethefarmeconomy,buthow-whoarefarmerstoknowwhatsbestforthem?thewheatfarmersvotedagainstawheatprogram.thegovernmentpasseditanyway.nowthepriceofbreadgoesup;thepriceofwheattothefarmergoesdown.meanwhile,backinthecity,underurbanrenewaltheassaultonfreedomcarrieson.privatepropertyrightsaresodilutedthatpublicinterestisalmostanythingafewgovernmentplannersdecideitshouldbe.inaprogramthattakesfromtheneedyandgivestothegreedy,weseesuchspectaclesasincleveland,ohio,amillion-and-a-half-dollarbuildingpletedonlythreeyearsagomustbedestroyedtomakewayforwhatgovernmentofficialscallamorepatibleuseoftheland.thepresidenttellsushesnowgoingtostartbuildingpublichousingunitsinthethousands,whereheretoforeweveonlybuilttheminthehundreds.butfhafederalhousingauthorityandtheveteransadministrationtellustheyhave120,000housingunitstheyvetakenbackthroughmortgageforeclosure.forthreedecades,wevesoughttosolvetheproblemsofunemploymentthroughgovernmentplanning,andthemoretheplansfail,themoretheplannersplan.thelatestisthearearedevelopmentagency.theyvejustdeclaredricecounty,kansas,adepressedarea.ricecounty,kansas,hastwohundredoilwells,andthe14,000peopletherehaveover30milliondollarsondepositinpersonalsavingsintheirbanks.andwhenthegovernmenttellsyouyouredepressed,liedownandbedepressed.wehavesomanypeoplewhocantseeafatmanstandingbesideathinonewithoutingtotheconclusionthefatmangotthatwaybytakingadvantageofthethinone.sotheyregoingtosolvealltheproblemsofhumanmiserythroughgovernmentandgovernmentplanning.well,now,ifgovernmentplanningandwelfarehadtheanswer-andtheyvehadalmost30yearsofit-shouldntweexpectgovernmenttoreadthescoretousonceinawhile?shouldnttheybetellingusaboutthedeclineeachyearinthenumberofpeopleneedinghelp?thereductionintheneedforpublichousing?butthereverseistrue.eachyeartheneedgrowsgreater;theprogramgrowsgreater.weweretoldfouryearsagothat17millionpeoplewenttobedhungryeachnight.wellthatwasprobablytrue.theywereallonadiet.butnowweretoldthat9.3millionfamiliesinthiscountryarepoverty-strickenonthebasisofearninglessthan3,000dollarsayear.welfarespendingis10timesgreaterthaninthedarkdepthsofthedepression.werespending45billiondollarsonwelfare.nowdoalittlearithmetic,andyoullfindthatifwedividedthe45billiondollarsupequallyamongthose9millionpoorfamilies,wedbeabletogiveeachfamily4,600dollarsayear.andthisaddedtotheirpresentineshouldeliminatepoverty.directaidtothepoor,however,isonlyrunningonlyabout600dollarsperfamily.itwouldseemthatsomeplacetheremustbesomeoverhead.now-sonowwedeclarewaronpoverty,oryou,too,canbeabobbybaker.nowdotheyhonestlyexpectustobelievethatifweadd1billiondollarstothe45billionwerespending,onemoreprogramtothe30-oddwehave-andremember,thisnewprogramdoesntreplaceany,itjustduplicatesexistingprograms-dotheybelievethatpovertyissuddenlygoingtodisappearbymagic?well,inallfairnessishouldexplainthereisonepartofthenewprogramthatisntduplicated.thisistheyouthfeature.werenowgoingtosolvethedropoutproblem,juveniledelinquency,byreinstitutingsomethingliketheoldccccampscivilianconservationcorps,andweregoingtoputouryoungpeopleinthesecamps.butagainwedosomearithmetic,andwefindthatweregoingtospendeachyearjustonroomandboardforeachyoungpersonwehelp4,700dollarsayear.wecansendthemtoharvardfor2,700!course,dontgetmewrong.imnotsuggestingharvardistheanswertojuveniledelinquency.butseriously,whatarewedoingtothoseweseektohelp?nottoolongago,ajudgecalledmehereinlosangeles.hetoldmeofayoungwomanwhodebeforehimforadivorce.shehadsixchildren,waspregnantwithherseventh.underhisquestioning,sherevealedherhusbandwasalaborerearning250dollarsamonth.shewantedadivorcetogetan80dollarraise.sheseligiblefor330dollarsamonthintheaidtodependentchildrenprogram.shegottheideafromtwowomeninherneighborhoodwhodalreadydonethatverything.yetanytimeyouandiquestiontheschemesofthedo-gooders,weredenouncedasbeingagainsttheirhumanitariangoals.theysaywerealwaysagainstthings-wereneverforanything.well,thetroublewithourliberalfriendsisnotthattheyreignorant;itsjustthattheyknowsomuchthatisntso.now-wereforaprovisionthatdestitutionshouldnotfollowunemploymentbyreasonofoldage,andtothatendweveacceptedsocialsecurityasasteptowardmeetingtheproblem.butwereagainstthoseentrustedwiththisprogramwhentheypracticedeceptionregardingitsfiscalshortings,whentheychargethatanycriticismoftheprogrammeansthatwewanttoendpaymentstothosepeoplewhodependonthemforalivelihood.theyvecalleditinsurancetousinahundredmillionpiecesofliterature.butthentheyappearedbeforethesupremecourtandtheytestifieditwasawelfareprogram.theyonlyusetheterminsurancetosellittothepeople.andtheysaidsocialsecurityduesareataxforthegeneraluseofthegovernment,andthegovernmenthasusedthattax.thereisnofund,becauserobertbyers,theactuarialhead,appearedbeforeacongressionalmitteeandadmittedthatsocialsecurityasofthismomentis298billiondollarsinthehole.buthesaidthereshouldbenocauseforworrybecauseaslongastheyhavethepowertotax,theycouldalwaystakeawayfromthepeoplewhatevertheyneededtobailthemoutoftrouble.andtheyredoingjustthat.ayoungman,21yearsofage,workingatanaveragesalary-hissocialsecuritycontributionwould,intheopenmarket,buyhimaninsurancepolicythatwouldguarantee220dollarsamonthatage65.thegovernmentpromises127.hecouldliveitupuntilhes31andthentakeoutapolicythatwouldpaymorethansocialsecurity.nowarewesolackinginbusinesssensethatwecantputthisprogramonasoundbasis,sothatpeoplewhodorequirethosepaymentswillfindtheycangetthemwhentheyredue-thatthecupboardisntbare?barrygoldwaterthinkswecan.atthesametime,cantweintroducevoluntaryfeaturesthatwouldpermitacitizenwhocandobetteronhisowntobeexcuseduponpresentationofevidencethathehadmadeprovisionforthenon-earningyears?shouldwenotallowawidowwithchildrentowork,andnotlosethebenefitssupposedlypaidforbyherdeceasedhusband?shouldntyouandibeallowedtodeclarewhoourbeneficiarieswillbeunderthisprogram,whichwecannotdo?ithinkwerefortellingourseniorcitizensthatnooneinthiscountryshouldbedeniedmedicalcarebecauseofalackoffunds.butithinkwereagainstforcingallcitizens,regardlessofneed,intoapulsorygovernmentprogram,especiallywhenwehavesuchexamples,aswasannouncedlastweek,whenfranceadmittedthattheirmedicareprogramisnowbankrupt.theyveetotheendoftheroad.inaddition,wasbarrygoldwatersoirresponsiblewhenhesuggestedthatourgovernmentgiveupitsprogramofdeliberate,plannedinflation,sothatwhenyoudogetyoursocialsecuritypension,adollarwillbuyadollarsworth,andnot45centsworth?ithinkwereforaninternationalorganization,wherethenationsoftheworldcanseekpeace.butithinkwereagainstsubordinatingamericanintereststoanorganizationthathasbeesostructurallyunsoundthattodayyoucanmusteratwo-thirdsvoteonthefloorofthegeneralassemblyamongnationsthatrepresentlessthan10percentoftheworldspopulation.ithinkwereagainstthehypocrisyofassailingouralliesbecausehereandtheretheyclingtoacolony,whileweengageinaconspiracyofsilenceandneveropenourmouthsaboutthemillionsofpeopleenslavedinthesovietcoloniesinthesatellitenations.ithinkwereforaidingouralliesbysharingofourmaterialblessingswiththosenationswhichshareinourfundamentalbeliefs,butwereagainstdolingoutmoneygovernmenttogovernment,creatingbureaucracy,ifnotsocialism,allovertheworld.wesetouttohelp19countries.werehelping107.wevespent146billiondollars.withthatmoney,weboughta2milliondollaryachtforhaileselassie.weboughtdresssuitsforgreekundertakers,extrawivesforkenyangovernmentofficials.weboughtathousandtvsetsforaplacewheretheyhavenoelectricity.inthelastsixyears,52nationshavebought7billiondollarsworthofourgold,andall52arereceivingforeignaidfromthiscountry.nogovernmentevervoluntarilyreducesitselfinsize.sernmentsprograms,oncelaunched,neverdisappear.actually,agovernmentbureauisthenearestthingtoeternallifewelleverseeonthisearth.federalemployees-federalemployeesnumbertwoandahalfmillion;andfederal,state,andlocal,oneoutofsixofthenationsworkforceemployedbygovernment.theseproliferatingbureauswiththeirthousandsofregulationshavecostusmanyofourconstitutionalsafeguards.howmanyofusrealizethattodayfederalagentscaninvadeamanspropertywithoutawarrant?theycanimposeafinewithoutaformalhearing,letaloneatrialbyjury?andtheycanseizeandsellhispropertyatauctiontoenforcethepaymentofthatfine.inchicocounty,arkansas,jameswierover-plantedhisriceallotment.thegovernmentobtaineda17,000dollarjudgment.andau.s.marshalsoldhis960-acrefarmatauction.thegovernmentsaiditwasnecessaryasawarningtootherstomakethesystemwork.lastfebruary19thattheuniversityofminnesota,normanthomas,six-timescandidateforpresidentonthesocialistpartyticket,said,ifbarrygoldwaterbecamepresident,hewouldstoptheadvanceofsocialismintheunitedstates.ithinkthatsexactlywhathewilldo.butasaformerdemocrat,icantellyounormanthomasisnttheonlymanwhohasdrawnthisparalleltosocialismwiththepresentadministration,becausebackin1936,mr.democrathimself,alsmith,thegreatamerican,camebeforetheamericanpeopleandchargedthattheleadershipofhispartywastakingthepartyofjefferson,jackson,andclevelanddowntheroadunderthebannersofmarx,lenin,andstalin.andhewalkedawayfromhisparty,andheneverreturnedtilthedayhedied-becausetothisday,theleadershipofthatpartyhasbeentakingthatparty,thathonorableparty,downtheroadintheimageofthelaborsocialistpartyofengland.nowitdoesntrequireexpropriationorconfiscationofprivatepropertyorbusinesstoimposesocialismonapeople.whatdoesitmeanwhetheryouholdthedeedtothe-orthetitletoyourbusinessorpropertyifthegovernmentholdsthepoweroflifeanddeathoverthatbusinessorproperty?andsuchmachineryalreadyexists.thegovernmentcanfindsomechargetobringagainstanyconcernitchoosestoprosecute.everybusinessmanhashisowntaleofharassment.somewhereaperversionhastakenplace.ournatural,unalienablerightsarenowconsideredtobeadispensationofgovernment,andfreedomhasneverbeensofragile,soclosetoslippingfromourgraspasitisatthismoment.ourdemocraticopponentsseemunwillingtodebatetheseissues.theywanttomakeyouandibelievethatthisisacontestbetweentwomen-thatweretochoosejustbetweentwopersonalities.wellwhatofthismanthattheywoulddestroy-andindestroying,theywoulddestroythatwhichherepresents,theideasthatyouandiholddear?ishethebrashandshallowandtrigger-happymantheysayheis?wellivebeenprivilegedtoknowhimwhen.iknewhimlongbeforeheeverdreamedoftryingforhighoffice,andicantellyoupersonallyiveneverknownamaninmylifeibelievedsoincapableofdoingadishonestordishonorablething.thisisamanwho,inhisownbusinessbeforeheenteredpolitics,institutedaprofit-sharingplanbeforeunionshadeverthoughtofit.heputinhealthandmedicalinsuranceforallhisemployees.hetook50percentoftheprofitsbeforetaxesandsetuparetirementprogram,apensionplanforallhisemployees.hesentmonthlychecksforlifetoanemployeewhowasillandcouldntwork.heprovidesnursingcareforthechildrenofmotherswhoworkinthestores.whenmexicowasravagedbythefloodsintheriogrande,heclimbedinhisairplaneandflewmedicineandsuppliesdownthere.anex-gitoldmehowhemethim.itwastheweekbeforechristmasduringthekoreanwar,andhewasatthelosangelesairporttryingtogetaridehometoarizonaforchristmas.andhesaidthattherewerealotofservicementhereandnoseatsavailableontheplanes.andthenavoicecameovertheloudspeakerandsaid,anymeninuniformwantingaridetoarizona,gotorunwaysuch-and-such,andtheywentdownthere,andtherewasafellownamedbarrygoldwatersittinginhisplane.everydayinthoseweeksbeforechristmas,alldaylong,hedloaduptheplane,flyittoarizona,flythemtotheirhomes,flybackovertogetanotherload.duringthehecticsplit-secondtimingofacampaign,thisisamanwhotooktimeouttositbesideanoldfriendwhowasdyingofcancer.hiscampaignmanagerswereunderstandablyimpatient,buthes