经济危机吃一堑,长一智

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A: I think they probably were bearing in mind what they have lost personally. But of course, they were saying sorry on behalf of their organizations which have affected literally millions of people－shareholders，pensioners , account holders，and of course the taxpayer.

B: What did you learn today that you didn't learn before, besides just the threat of the event？

A: Probably two things. One is that those they will charge with taking the final decisions in such, probably didn't have sufficient experience or training to really understand the Risk Management issues. And secondly, I think the speed with which this event occurred, like... like, it was liken into a tsunami, if you like, this morning. I think that came across; there is something that perhaps we didn't quite understand. We believe, in fact, there was plenty of time for the bankers to adjust their policies and their business models. But they were saying that "no", there was so little time for changing. I think that took about surprise.

B: It was fairly horrifying to listen to so many people basically saying and that this happens so quickly. But also that perhaps they didn't fully understand the entire market. There seemed to be people who were extremely qualified but not qualified in this area--running banks.

A: I think it's exactly right. And I think they relied far too much on outside advice, most notably, of course, the Credit Ratings Agency. From my point of view, it seemed almost impossible that you can consider a mortgage to someone who had no assets, no income and no job, who had ever been part of a AAA derivative.

B: You are a politician. You have to justify the billions of dollars and pounds being spent. And are you angry, are your constituents telling you they are angry? And do you get the feeling that this anger is simmering or is building?

A: There is genuine anger, but the need to actually undertake such a huge bailout of taxpayers' money to people who apparently, and I say  "apparently", are still being able to access or have access to bonuses which they have been paid on fictitious profits. And I think there is still no end to the situation, many people feel that we may not be at the end yet. There may still have to be even more government assistance one from another to get us out this enormous hole of the banks' dark forest.

B: Are you angry as a politician?

A: I am angry as a politician and as a former banker myself, because I think that I’m very proud of profession and a banking history which goes back to centuries has been brought down to this sort of ignominy. And I am angry of that and I am angry they have actually had to resort to huge amount of taxpayers’ money which could be much better spent on other things.

GLOSSARY

1.         bear in mind                           v.记住  牢记不完  

2.         literally                               Really; actually:真实地；确切地（表示强调语气）

3.         Risk Management                     风险管理          

4.         come across                          来到, 偶遇, <口>给人印象深刻 不期而遇,交付    

5.         Credit Ratings Agency                  信用等级评价机构            

6.         derivative                              n.派生的事物, 派生词adj.引出的, 系出的

7.         constituent                             n.委托人, 要素adj.有选 举权的； 

8.         simmer                                  vt.慢煮 煨, 炖, n.将沸腾的状态,

9.         fictitious profit                            虚构利润  

10.       government assistance                    n.政府援助           

11.       ignominy                                 n.耻辱