BRIAN: What are those?
BILL: Those are campaign placards for John Black.
BRIAN: Who is John Black?
BILL: There's an election coming up soon.I'm voting for John Black for the U.S. Senate. I'm going to put the placards out in my yard.
BRIAN: Oh, I see. So it's an election.
BILL: Yes.
BRIAN: I don't know anything about American politics. Can you tell me a little?
BILL: What do you want to know?
BRIAN: Well. Maybe you could tell me why you are voting for John Black.
BILL: That's easy. There are a few different reasons.But the main reason I'm voting for Black is that he's a Democrat.
BRIAN: Hmm. So he's in the Democratic Party, is that right?
BILL: Yes.
BRIAN: How many political parties are there in America?
BILL: Oh, there are many parties. But now there are only two powerful parties:the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. I always vote Democrat.
BRIAN: Why is that?
BILL: Because I think the Republicans are only good at giving money to big business.When the Republicans had more power, in the Eighties, the American economy was all screwed up.The Democrats do a better job of managing our country.The Democrats are more balanced between the interests of business and the interests of average people.
BRIAN: I see. So the Republican Party is the conservative party.And the Democratic Party is the more leftist party. Am I right?
BILL: I wouldn't say the Democratic Party is "leftist." I would say they are moderate.
BRIAN: I read in the paper that not so many Americans vote. Is that true?
BILL: Yes, unfortunately it is true. And I think it's a shame.Because we Americans not only have the right to vote, but we have the duty to vote too.I think people who don't vote are bad Americans.They don't realize that living in a democracy has some responsibilities.
BRIAN: I can understand your position. I always vote in elections in Taiwan.
BILL: It's important in a democratic society for people to understand politics.And they must make their voices heard by voting. That is how a democracy works.
布莱恩：那些是什么？
比尔：那是约翰?布莱克的竞选牌子。
布莱恩：约翰?布莱克是谁？
比尔：选举即将到了。我要选约翰?布莱克当参议员，我要把牌子立在院子里。
布莱恩：我明白了，这是选举。
比尔：是的。
布莱恩：我不了解美国的政治，你可以跟我说一些吗？
比尔：你想知道什么？
布莱恩：也许你可以说说为什么要投给约翰?布莱克。
比尔：很简单，有几个不同的理由。最主要的就是他是民主党人。
布莱恩：那么他是民主党的，对吗？
比尔：是的。
布莱恩：美国有多少个政党？
比尔：有很多个，但是只有两个强大的政党：民主党和共和党。我总是投给民主党。
布莱恩：为什么？
比尔：因为共和党只会拿钱给大企业。八十年代，共和党较强势的时候，美国经济一团糟。民主党把国家治理得比较好他们比较能够取得平衡在企业的利益和普遍大众的利益之间。
布莱恩：我明白了。共和党是保守党，而民主党比较倾向左派，对不对？
比尔：我不说民主党是左派，我说他们是稳健派。
布莱恩：我在报上看过不是很多美国人投票，是真的吗？
比尔：是的,很不幸是真的。我觉得很丢脸。我们美国人不仅有权利投票，更有义务投票。不投票的人不是好公民，他们不晓得住在民主国家中是有义务的。
布莱恩：我了解你的立场。我在台湾都有投票。
比尔：民主国家中的人民要了解政治，这是很重要的。人民必须通过选票来反映民声，那就是民主的运作方式。 |