評論
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Unfortunately, over the last decade, we have not done what is necessary to shore up the foundation of our own prosperity. We have spent over a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas. This, in turn, has short-changed investments in our own people, and contributed to record deficits. For too long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base to our energy policy to education reform. As a result, too many middle class families find themselves working harder for less, while our nation's long-term competitiveness is put at risk.
不幸地是，在過去10年間，我們沒有為這些支持國家繁榮的“柱石”提供太多必要幫助。我們花費一萬億美元用于戰(zhàn)爭，經(jīng)常靠海外借款維持財政。這樣做不僅欺騙了自己的人民，還讓美國的赤字居高不下。長期以來，我們一直在制造業(yè)、能源政策以及教育改革等領域推遲采取強硬措施，結(jié)果許多中產(chǎn)階級家庭發(fā)現(xiàn)，越努力工作獲取的就越少，而我們國家的長期競爭力正陷入危險之中。
And so at this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have met every test that they faced. Now, it is our turn. Now, it is our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for -the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it.
此時此刻，當我們結(jié)束伊拉克戰(zhàn)爭的時候，我們必須同時著手解決這些國內(nèi)挑戰(zhàn)，比如能源、電力以及國內(nèi)外部隊之間缺乏認同感的問題。這些軍人已經(jīng)通過了所有考驗，現(xiàn)在該輪到我們了。給與他們應得的榮譽是我們的責任，我們所有人都必須努力確保無數(shù)仁人志士為之奮斗的夢想——每個人都能過上更好的生活。
Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy. We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil. We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.
現(xiàn)在我們面臨的最緊迫任務就是恢復國內(nèi)經(jīng)濟，幫助數(shù)百萬失業(yè)美國人重新找到工作。為了加強我們的中產(chǎn)階級，我們必須給與所有孩子應得的教育，給與所有工人在全球競爭中需要的技術；我們必須啟動能夠創(chuàng)造工作機會的行業(yè)，結(jié)束對外國石油的依賴；我們必須鼓勵革新，允許新產(chǎn)品盡快投入生產(chǎn)，并且培養(yǎng)企業(yè)家的創(chuàng)新意識。盡管這些工作很困難，但在未來的日子里，它們畢將成為我們的中心任務，也是我作為總統(tǒng)的重要職責。
Part of that responsibility is making sure that we honor our commitments to those who have served our country with such valor. As long as I am President, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and do whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. This is a sacred trust. That is why we have already made one of the largest increases in funding for veterans in decades. We are treating the signature wounds of today's wars post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, while providing the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have earned. And we are funding a post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and their families pursue the dream of a college education. Just as the GI Bill helped those who fought World War II- including my grandfather- become the backbone of our middle class, so today's servicemen and women must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the American economy. Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it.
我的部分責任是確保那些為國家英勇服役的軍人獲得應得的榮譽。只要我還是美國總統(tǒng)，我將竭力維護這支世界上最好的戰(zhàn)斗部隊，像他們?yōu)槲覀兎漳菢樱弑M所能為他們提供服務。這是一種神圣的信任，也是數(shù)十年來我們對老兵的支持不斷增加的原因。我們正在為戰(zhàn)爭中受傷的士兵提供最好的治療，并且為所有老兵提供醫(yī)療保障和其他幫助；我們還為那些“9-11”恐怖襲擊后的老兵和他們的家人，追求大學夢想提供資金支持。就如幫助二戰(zhàn)中的老兵一樣（包括我的祖父），他們?nèi)缃穸家呀?jīng)成為中產(chǎn)階級的骨干，因此今天的軍人有機會應用他們的天賦，為發(fā)展美國經(jīng)濟出力。
