VOA标准英语2011--US Congress’ Popularity at All Time Low

US Congress’ Popularity at All Time Low

As Americans head into the Christmas holidays, the U.S. Congress is again gridlocked. President Barack Obama and his Republican rivals seem poised¹ to fight it out rather than reach an agreement over tax increases set to take effect January 1.

Washington gridlock may be fueling an anti-incumbent mood among voters, with Congress’ popularity extremely low as voters head into next year’s elections.

It’s Christmas time in Washington, but members of Congress are not feeling jolly. The latest squabble between Democrats² and Republicans is over whether to extend a popular payroll³ tax cut through the holidays.

"We oppose that bill because the two-month extension will create more uncertainty⁴ for job creators in our country when millions of Americans are out of work," stated Representative John Boehner, (R), U.S. House Speaker.

"If we do not have a middle income tax cut, if we do not have a payroll tax cut come January 1 it will be because of the Tea Party minority within the Republican majority," said Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic Leader.

Even the president weighed in.

“It’s no secret that there hasn’t been an abundance of partisanship⁵ this year,” President Barack Obama added.

It’s gridlock again, with a tax hike imminent⁶. That’s something neither side wants to see now, with Americans tiring of the endless fights on Capitol Hill.

“It’s disgusting… beyond disgusting … I mean I just think Congress is disgusting,“ Ann MacDonald, a concerned citizen stated.

“I don’t think much of Congress right now," stated Maureen Canick, another concerned citizen. "I think that they are not performing, not cooperating and are doing a crummy job.”

Matthew Dallek runs the University of California’s Washington Center and teaches politics and history. He says a poor economy fuels some discontent. But there's more to it.

“Congress is in the single digits⁷, maybe they have broken the double digits, according to some of these polls they are more unpopular now than they have even been," he noted⁸. "I think people just perceive Congress as fighting and fighting and fighting over every issue and they are sick of it.”

Dallek and others say Republican Party members known as Tea Partiers are responsible for some of the impasses⁹.

“They are not interested in building consensus¹⁰. Their attitude is that we came to Washington to shake things up, to change the dynamic and to stand for limited government principle, and their attitude is we don’t care whose toes we step on, we don’t care if there’s gridlock,” he said.

They say it’s what their constituents¹¹ want. And while many Americans disapprove¹² of Congress, they may approve of their own congressman¹³. But will they like a tax hike?

1 poised   

a.摆好姿势不动的

参考例句：

• The hawk poised in mid-air ready to swoop. 老鹰在半空中盘旋，准备俯冲。
• Tina was tense, her hand poised over the telephone. 蒂娜心情紧张，手悬在电话机上。

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

4 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

5 Partisanship   

n. 党派性, 党派偏见

参考例句：

• Her violent partisanship was fighting Soames's battle. 她的激烈偏袒等于替索米斯卖气力。
• There was a link of understanding between them, more important than affection or partisanship. ' 比起人间的感情，比起相同的政见，这一点都来得格外重要。 来自英汉文学

6 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

7 digits   

n.数字( digit的名词复数 )；手指，足趾

参考例句：

• The number 1000 contains four digits. 1000是四位数。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The number 410 contains three digits. 数字 410 中包括三个数目字。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 impasses   

绝境（impasse的复数形式）

参考例句：

• In the history of coalition warfare such impasses have been common, and sometimes disastrous. 在联合作战的历史中，这种相持不下的局面是很普通的，往往也是灾难性的。
• I see conundrums, dilemmas, quandaries, impasses, gnarly thickets of fateful possibility with no obvious way out. 眼看问题经纬万端，进退两难、入困境，死路一条，盘根错节的命定可能性，但找不到明显的出路。

10 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

11 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 disapprove   

v.不赞成，不同意，不批准

参考例句：

• I quite disapprove of his behaviour.我很不赞同他的行为。
• She wants to train for the theatre but her parents disapprove.她想训练自己做戏剧演员，但她的父母不赞成。

13 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。