U.S. President Barack Obama says the first signs of an economic recovery are beginning to emerge. But at the same time he warns the process is only beginning and much hard work lies ahead.
美国总统奥巴马说，经济复苏的最初迹象已经开始出现。但他同时警告说，复苏进程仅仅处于初始阶段，未来的任务仍然艰巨。
With his administration about to reach the symbolic hundred day marker, the president went before the American people with an assessment of the economy.
奥巴马总统主政即将满一百天。在这个具有象征意义的时刻，他为美国公众评估了经济现状。
He said the measures he has put in place in his first months in office are beginning to bear fruit. But he acknowledged 2009 will continue to be a difficult year.
奥巴马说，他在就任最初几个月采取的经济措施已经开始见效。但他承认，2009年仍将是艰巨的一年。
"There is no doubt that times are still tough," said Mr. Obama. "By no means are we out of the woods just yet. But from where we stand, for the very first time, we are beginning to see glimmers of hope."
“毫无疑问，形势仍然严峻，我们远未摆脱困境。但是，就我们目前所处的位置而言，我们第一次开始看到希望的曙光。”
In a speech at Georgetown University, a short drive from the White House, President Obama mixed optimism with a dose of reality.
奥巴马在距离白宫只有一箭之遥的乔治敦大学发表了上述讲话。他在表达乐观情绪的同时，也提到现实情况。
Sounding at times like a college professor, he spoke in great detail about action already taken to stimulate the economy, free up credit, and repair the damaged financial sector.
在演讲过程中，奥巴马总统时而像大学教授一样，详细阐述美国政府在刺激经济，疏缓信贷、以及修复残破的金融系统方面采取的具体措施。
"All of these actions - the Recovery Act, the bank capitalization program, the housing plan, the strengthening of the non-bank credit market, the auto plan, and our work at the G20 - all have been necessary pieces of the recovery puzzle," he said.
“所有这些行动，包括经济恢复和再投资法案、银行注资项目、房主偿付能力和稳定计划、对非银行信贷市场的加强、汽车工业救助计划、以及我们在20国集团所做的工作，所有这些行动都是解决经济复苏这道难题的必要步骤。”
But he said these efforts must be just the beginning of a sustained often difficult drive to put the economy on a sounder footing.
但是，奥巴马说，在巩固经济基础这个持久而艰难的过程中，所有这些努力都仅仅只是开端。
Using a Bible story to make his point, he said America can not rebuild its economic foundation on a pile of sand.
"We must build our house upon a rock," continued President Obama. "We must lay a new foundation for growth and prosperity - a foundation that will move us from an era of borrow and spend to one where we save and invest; where we consume less at home and send more exports abroad."
“我们必须把房屋建在磐石之上。我们必须为经济增长和繁荣打下坚实基础。这样的根基将把我们从借钱和消费的时代引入节省和投资，即减少消费和增加出口的时代。”
President Obama said that stronger foundation will require new rules for Wall Street, and new investments in education, renewable energy and health care.
奥巴马总统说，更为坚实的经济基础意味着加强对华尔街的监管、以及增加教育、可更新能源和医疗保健等领域的投资。
Critics charge he is advocating reckless government spending in tough economic times.
批评人士认为，奥巴马正在经济困难时期宣扬毫无节制的政府开支。
The president said that view is shortsighted. He said what is needed is the political will to make difficult decisions.
奥巴马说，这是一种短视的观点。他认为，美国现在需要的是做出艰难决定的政治意愿。
"We have been called to govern in extraordinary times. And that requires an extraordinary sense of responsibility - to ourselves, to the men and women who sent us here, and to the many generation whose lives will be affected for good or for ill because of what we do here," he said.
“我们临危受命。这要求我们具备不同寻常的责任感。这种责任感不仅仅是针对我们自己和赋予我们权力的广大选民，同时也是为了子孙后代。我们今天的所作所为将和他们的祸福得失息息相关。”
The head of the U.S. central bank echoed some of Mr. Obama's remarks in a speech of his own on Tuesday. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said there have been signs that the sharp decline in economic activity may be slowing. But he also made clear a sustainable recovery hinges on the ability to stabilize financial markets, and get credit flowing freely again.
美联储主席伯南克在星期二的一次讲话中表达了和奥巴马总统类似的观点。他说，有迹象显示，美国经济活动的急剧下滑可能开始放慢。但是他同时强调，可持续的经济复苏将取决于美国能否稳定金融市场和恢复信贷流动。 |