中国PK美国 谁将问鼎21世纪

The miniversion of this is California, which, as others have noted, is becoming America’s biggest “failed state.” Californians had hoped they could overcome their dysfunctional system by electing an outsider, a former movie star, Arnold Schwarzenegger. He would slay the system, like the Terminator. But he couldn’t.
加州便是这种状况的一个缩影。别人都已经注意到，加州正成为美国最失败的一个州。加州人曾寄期望于一个局外人，前电影明星阿诺施瓦辛格，以为选他当州长就能战胜弊端。他会像终结者那样大刀阔斧改革不正常的机制。但他做不到。

Mr. Obama was elected for similar reasons. People had hoped that his unique story, personality and speaking skills could bring the country together, overcome paralysis and deliver nation-building at home. A lot of the disappointment settling in among Obama voters today is prompted by their dawning realization that maybe, like Arnold, he can’t.
奥巴马的当选也是基于类似的原因。人们原指望他不同凡响的经历、性格和演讲技巧能使全国上下一心，重振雄风，建设国家。而今天奥巴马的支持者们开始逐渐意识到他和施瓦辛格一样，做不到这些，失望情绪于是开始蔓延。 

So what do we do? The standard answer is that we need better leaders. The real answer is that we need better citizens. We need citizens who will convey to their leaders that they are ready to sacrifice, even pay, yes, higher taxes, and will not punish politicians who ask them to do the hard things. Otherwise, folks, we’re in trouble. A great power that can only produce suboptimal responses to its biggest challenges will, in time, fade from being a great power — no matter how much imagination it generates.
那我们该如何是好？这个问题的标准答案是我们需要更优秀的领导者。真正的答案，是我们需要更优秀的国民。能向领导者表示自己已决意奉献，甚至支付更高的税款，不会因当政者对自身的苛求而责怪他们，我们需要的正是这样的国民。反之，我们就真有麻烦了。一个面临最棘手的挑战时仅能拿出亚最佳解决方案的强国，不管激发了多少想象，也迟早会衰退。