美国总统奥巴马每周电台演讲2013.09.01

Hi, everybody.  This Labor Day weekend, as we gather with family and friends, we’ll also come together as a nation to honor some of our own – the working men and women of America who, across the generations, built this country up and helped make us who we are today.

大家好。在这个劳工节周末，当我们与亲朋好友相聚时，我们还将作为一个国家向我们中的一些人致敬—勤奋工作的美国人，他们是推动这个国家蒸蒸日上和使我们成为今天的我们的几代人。

On Monday, we’ll celebrate that proud history.  We’ll pay tribute to the values working Americans embody – hard work; responsibility; sacrifice; looking out for one another.  And we’ll recommit ourselves to their cause; to securing for them a better bargain so that everyone who works hard in America has a chance to get ahead.

周一，我们将欢庆这个骄傲的历史时刻。我们将盛赞辛勤的美国人代表的价值—勤奋工作；担当责任；牺牲奉献；同舟共济。我们将继续投身这个事业；为他们争取更大一块“蛋糕”，这样每个勤奋工作的美国人就会有机会过得好。

See, over the past four and a half years, we’ve fought our way back from the worst recession of our lifetimes.  And thanks to the grit and resilience of the American people, we’ve begun to lay a foundation for stronger, more durable economic growth.  But as any working family will tell you, we’re not where we need to be. 

回首过去的四年半里，我们从我们一生中最严峻的衰退中突围了。感谢美国人民的刚毅和坚韧，我们已经初步为一个更加强劲的、更加可持续的经济增长打下了坚实的基础。但是正如每个勤奋的美国今天所说，我们还要更进一步。

For over a decade, working Americans have seen their wages and incomes stagnate, even as corporate profits soar and the pay of a fortunate few explodes.  For even longer than that, inequality has steadily risen; the journey of upward mobility has become harder.  And in too many communities across this country, the shadow of poverty continues to cast a pall over our fellow citizens.

在过去的十年里，勤奋的美国人的工资收入一直滞涨，尽管公司的利润飞涨和少数走运的人的收入暴涨。甚至更早以前，不平等就一直在增长；前进的旅程变得越来越艰难。在全国的很多社区，贫困的阴影一直笼罩在我们的公民的心头。

Reversing that trend needs to be Washington’s highest priority.  It’s certainly mine.  That’s why, over the past month, I’ve traveled all across America, laying out my ideas for how we can build on the cornerstones of what it means to be middle class.  A good job that pays a good wage.  A good education.  A home of your own.  Health care when you get sick.  A secure retirement even if you’re not rich.  And more chances for folks to earn their way into the middle class as long as they’re willing to work for it. 

扭转这种趋势应该是华盛顿的第一要务。它肯定是我的第一要务。这就是为什么在过去的几个月里，我走遍了美国大地，提出了我的关于我们如何在决定什么上资产阶级这个基石上立国的设想。这个基石就是收入好的好工作。良好的教育。居者有其屋。生病了有医保。尽管你不富裕，但是退休后可以安享晚年。以及给那些想靠勤奋工作跻身中产阶级行列的人们机会。

The truth is, it’s not going to be easy to reverse the forces that have conspired – for decades – against working Americans.  But if we take a few bold steps – and if Washington is able to come together with common purpose and common resolve – we’ll get there.  Our economy will keep getting stronger and more Americans will be able to join the ranks of the middle-class.

事实上，几十年来，战胜这些阻碍勤奋的美国人的集团势力并非易事。但是如果我们采取几个大胆的举措—如果华盛顿能够与民众同心同德—我们可以实现这个目标。我们的经济将越来越强劲，更多的美国人将有机会跻身中产阶级行列。

So this Labor Day, while you’re out there grilling in the backyard, or taking that final trip for the summer, I hope you’ll also take a moment to reflect on the many contributions of our working men and women.  For generations, it was the great American middle class that made our economy the envy of the world.  And as long as I’m President, I’m going to keep fighting to make sure that happens again.

所以在这个劳工节，当你们在后院烤肉时或做夏日最后一次旅行时，我希望你们花点时间深思一下我们的勤奋的男男女女们的丰功伟绩。多少代以来，是美国的中产阶级使我们的经济令世人羡慕。只要我是总统，我就要为维系美国的这个地位而奋斗。

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

多谢，周末愉快。