美国总统奥巴马每周电台演讲12.09

译文来自恒星网友: 刘浩男的日志

Hello, everybody. Over the last few weeks, there’s been a lot of talk about deadlines we’re facing on jobs and taxes and investments. But with so much noise and so many opinions flying around, it can be easy to lose sight of what this debate is really about. It’s not about which political party comes out on top, or who wins or loses in Washington. It’s about making smart decisions that will have a real impact on your lives and the lives of Americans all across the country.

大家好。在过去的几周里，全国上下都在谈论我们面对的就业、税收和投资的底线问题。但是因为有这么多的噪声和舆论满天飞，人们难免迷失了这场辩论的实质。它不是关于哪个政党占上风，或谁入主白宫的问题。它是关于如何做出实实在在地影响你们的生活和全体美国人的生活的明智的决定的问题。

Right now, middle-class tax cuts are set to expire at the end of the year. Time is running out. And there are two things that can happen.

现在，中产阶级的减税政策即将在年底到期。时间正一分一秒地流逝。我们有两条路可以选择。

First, if Congress does nothing, every family in America will see their income taxes automatically go up on January 1st. A typical middle-class family of four would get a $2,200 tax hike. That would be bad for families, it would be bad for businesses, and it would drag down our entire economy.

第一条，    如果国会无所作为，那么美国的每个就会发现他们的税务在明年一月一号相应地增加了。一个典型的中产阶级四口之家会增加2,200美元的税务。这对所有家庭都不是什么好事，对所有企业不是什么好事，而且会拖累我们的整个经济。

Now, Congress can avoid all this by passing a law that prevents a tax hike on the first $250,000 of everybody’s income. That means 98 percent of Americans and 97 percent of small businesses wouldn’t see their income taxes go up by a single dime. Even the wealthiest Americans would get a tax cut on the first $250,000 of their income. And families everywhere would enjoy some peace of mind.

现在国会只要通过一项防止税收与每个人的手稿250,000美元收入挂钩的法案，那么这一切都可以避免。这意味着98%的美国人和97%的小企业的税务都不会增加一毛钱。即使那些最富有的美国人的首个250,000美元的收入也享受免税。所有家庭都可以获得一颗定心丸。

The Senate has already done their part. Now we’re just waiting for Republicans in the House to do the same thing. But so far, they’ve put forward an unbalanced plan that actually lowers rates for the wealthiest Americans. If we want to protect the middle class, then the math just doesn’t work.

参议院已经尽了他们的职责。现在我们就等众议院的共和党议员们同样如此。但是迄今为止，他们推出的是一个不均衡的法案，实际上仅仅降低了最富有的美国人的税率。如果我们打算保护中产阶级，那么这个方法行不通。

 We can and should do more than just extend middle class tax cuts. I stand ready to work with Republicans on a plan that spurs economic growth, creates jobs and reduces our deficit – a plan that gives both sides some of what they want. I’m willing to find ways to bring down the cost of health care without hurting seniors and other Americans who depend on it. And I’m willing to make more entitlement spending cuts on top of the $1 trillion dollars in cuts I signed into law last year.

 我们能够也应该不仅仅局限于延长中产阶级的减税政策。我随时准备着和共和党人合作推出一个刺激经济增长的计划，创造就业机会并且减少赤字—一个让争论的双方都有所收获的计划。我希望找到不损害依赖医保的老年人和其他美国人的利益且降低医疗成本的各种方法。我希望在我去年签署为法案的一万亿美元的削减计划中首先增加应享权益开支的削减。

 But if we’re serious about reducing our deficit while still investing in things like education and research that are important to growing our economy – and if we’re serious about protecting middle-class families –then we’re also going to have to ask the wealthiest Americans to pay higher tax rates. That’s one principle I won’t compromise on.

 但是如果我们审慎地考虑减少我们的赤字同时增加在诸如教育和科研之类对我们的经济增长举足轻重的事业的投资—审慎地考虑保护中产阶级家庭—那么我们就不得不要求最富有的美国人略微增加一点税务。在这个原则上我不会让步。

 After all, this was a central question in the election. A clear majority of Americans – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – agreed with a balanced approach that asks something from everyone, but a little more from those who can most afford it. It’s the only way to put our economy on a sustainable path without asking even more from the middle class. And it’s the only kind of plan I’m willing to sign.

 毕竟这是选举的核心问题。绝大多数美国人—民主党人、共和党人和独立人士—都赞同一个均衡的途径要求每个人一些什么，但是要求更有承受能力的人们略微多一点。这是我们唯一的引导我们的经济走上可持续发展之路而又要求中产阶级付出更多的途径。这是我唯一愿意签署的计划。

 Everyone agrees we need to bring down our deficit and strengthen our economy for the long-term. The question is whether we can do it in a responsible way that allows us to keep investing in the things that have always made America strong. I’m convinced we can. And if both sides are willing to compromise, I believe we can give businesses and families a sense of security going into the New Year.

 每个人都赞同我们应该长远地减少我们的赤字并且加强我们的经济。问题是我们是否能用一种负责任的方法来实现这个目标，使我们能够继续投资于那些一直使美国强大的事业。我相信我们能。如果双方都愿意妥协，我相信我们可以让企业和家庭带着一颗定心丸进入新年。

 Thanks, and have a great weekend.
谢谢，周末愉快。