奥巴马2010年国情咨文中英文版.doc

美国总统巴拉克-奥巴马(Barack Obama)2010年国情咨文：The White House has released the full text of President Barack Obamas State of the Union Address, as prepared for delivery:Madame Speaker, Vice President Biden, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union. For two hundred and twenty years, our leaders have fulfilled this duty. They have done so during periods of prosperity and tranquility. And they have done so in the midst of war and depression; at moments of great strife and great struggle.Its tempting to look back on these moments and assume that our progress was inevitable - that America was always destined to succeed. But when the Union was turned back at Bull Run and the Allies first landed at Omaha Beach, victory was very much in doubt. When the market crashed on Black Tuesday and civil rights marchers were beaten on Bloody Sunday, the future was anything but certain. These were times that tested the courage of our convictions, and the strength of our union. And despite all our divisions and disagreements; our hesitations and our fears; America prevailed because we chose to move forward as one nation, and one people.Again, we are tested. And again, we must answer historys call.One year ago, I took office amid two wars, an economy rocked by severe recession, a financial system on the verge of collapse, and a government deeply in debt. Experts from across the political spectrum warned that if we did not act, we might face a second depression. So we acted - immediately and aggressively. And one year later, the worst of the storm has passed.But the devastation remains. One in ten Americans still cannot find work. Many businesses have shuttered. Home values have declined. Small towns and rural communities have been hit especially hard. For those who had already known poverty, life has become that much harder.This recession has also compounded the burdens that Americas families have been dealing with for decades - the burden of working harder and longer for less; of being unable to save enough to retire or help kids with college.So I know the anxieties that are out there right now. Theyre not new. These struggles are the reason I ran for President. These struggles are what Ive witnessed for years in places like Elkhart, Indiana and Galesburg, Illinois. I hear about them in the letters that I read each night. The toughest to read are those written by children - asking why they have to move from their home, or when their mom or dad will be able to go back to work.Story continues below For these Americans and so many others, change has not come fast enough. Some are frustrated; some are angry. They dont understand why it seems like bad behavior on Wall Street is rewarded but hard work on Main Street isnt; or why Washington has been unable or unwilling to solve any of our problems. They are tired of the partisanship and the shouting and the pettiness. They know we cant afford it. Not now.So we face big and difficult challenges. And what the American people hope - what they deserve - is for all of us, Democrats and Republicans, to work through our differences; to overcome the numbing weight of our politics. For while the people who sent us here have different backgrounds, different stories and different beliefs, the anxieties they face are the same. The aspirations they hold are shared. A job that pays the bills. A chance to get ahead. Most of all, the ability to give their children a better life.You know what else they share? They share a stubborn resilience in the face of adversity. After one of the most difficult years in our history, they remain busy building cars and teaching kids; starting businesses and going back to school. Theyre coaching little league and helping their neighbors. As one woman wrote me, We are strained but hopeful, struggling but encouraged.It is because of this spirit - this great decency and great strength - that I have never been more hopeful about Americas future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, its time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength.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，