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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
WASHINGTON — While official Washington remains1 preoccupied2 with a government shutdown, many experts are more concerned about another looming3 crisis. The U.S. Treasury4 Department says the government will run out of money to pay its bills by October 17 unless President Barack Obama and Congress agree to allow the government borrow more money. The impact would be felt by borrowers, lenders and investors5 around the world.
Five years ago, at the start of the Great Recession, investors raced to sell off their stocks, causing share prices to dive.
Today, retirees and investors like Paxton Baker6 are hoping to avoid another hit if the government defaults on its obligations. “I mean, I am a federal retiree. I depend on the government for my monthly annuity7, and if they do not do that, I am probably not going to get paid next month,” he said.
Baker belongs to an investment club. He and his colleagues plan to withstand uncertainty8 by investing in stocks for the long term.
“Certainly, there would be an impact on investments, but I think we feel overall that stocks will continue to be a good place to put your money,” said Baker.
Sheila Cheek is an advisor9 with Edward Jones Investments. She is telling her clients to look at the long term.
“It may take time or it could be a quick recourse. But once again, keeping the long-range investment goals in mind will help you to smooth over a lot of the short-term volatilities,” she said.
A Treasury Department report says a default could freeze credit markets, devalue the dollar, send interest rates higher and possibly cause another recession.
That would drive international investors away from the U.S., according to economist10 Stan Collender. “All they know is, this solid rock of an economy, solid rock of a political system, seems to be shaking. And that has got to drop your confidence. It means that, if they are counting on the money to be repaid at the right time also, they may just say, ‘You know what, it is not worth the risk,’” said Collender.
To avoid a calamity11, Congress needs to agree to raise the nation's debt ceiling. House Speaker John Boehner and other Republicans are demanding concessions12 from Democrats13 on spending and health care first.
"I do not believe that we should default on our debt. It is not good for our country. But after 55 years of spending more than what you bring in, something ought to be addressed," said Boehner.
Obama says he will not even discuss it. "There will be no negotiations14 over this. The American people are not pawns15 in some political game.
The damage from a default could last a long time, said Joseph Minarik at the Committee for Economic Development. "In all likelihood, that will affect the esteem16 with which lenders perceive the U.S. Treasury for a very long period of time. Trust, once it is lost, is very hard to regain17.
Meanwhile, Baker and his fellow investors are working to protect their assets in case the government fails them.
点击收听单词发音
1 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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2 preoccupied | |
adj.全神贯注的,入神的;被抢先占有的;心事重重的v.占据(某人)思想,使对…全神贯注,使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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3 looming | |
n.上现蜃景(光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼)v.隐约出现,阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 );隐约出现,阴森地逼近 | |
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4 treasury | |
n.宝库;国库,金库;文库 | |
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5 investors | |
n.投资者,出资者( investor的名词复数 ) | |
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6 baker | |
n.面包师 | |
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7 annuity | |
n.年金;养老金 | |
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8 uncertainty | |
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物 | |
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9 advisor | |
n.顾问,指导老师,劝告者 | |
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10 economist | |
n.经济学家,经济专家,节俭的人 | |
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11 calamity | |
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件 | |
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12 concessions | |
n.(尤指由政府或雇主给予的)特许权( concession的名词复数 );承认;减价;(在某地的)特许经营权 | |
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13 democrats | |
n.民主主义者,民主人士( democrat的名词复数 ) | |
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14 negotiations | |
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过 | |
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15 pawns | |
n.(国际象棋中的)兵( pawn的名词复数 );卒;被人利用的人;小卒v.典当,抵押( pawn的第三人称单数 );以(某事物)担保 | |
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16 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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17 regain | |
vt.重新获得,收复,恢复 | |
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18 avert | |
v.防止,避免;转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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