【美国总统电台演说】2008-08-30

THE PRESIDENT:  Good morning.  This weekend, millions of Americans will celebrate Labor¹ Day.  This holiday marks the traditional end of the summer season.  It is also an opportunity to reflect on the contributions of hardworking Americans all across our country - from teachers, farmers, and health care professionals, to firefighters, police officers, small business owners, and workers on the assembly line.  

The American workforce² continues to be the marvel³ of the world.  Yet many working families have been weathering tough economic times.  There are families across our country struggling to make ends meet.  There is an understandable concern about the high price of gas and food.  And many Americans are worried about the health of our housing and job markets.

I share these concerns about our economy.  Yet there have been some recent signs that our economy is beginning to improve.  While the housing market is continuing to experience difficulty, the decline in home sales has leveled off recently, and sales are rising in some parts of the country.  Orders for some durable⁴ goods, such as business equipment, are rising.  And earlier this week we received a report that America's economy grew in the second quarter at an annual rate of 3.3 percent - surprising analysts⁵ who were predicting an economic recession.   

These welcome signs indicate that the economic stimulus⁶ package that I signed earlier this year is having its intended effect.  The growth package will return more than $150 billion back to American families and businesses this year.  Many Americans who received tax rebates⁷ are spending them.  Businesses are taking advantage of tax incentives⁸ to purchase new equipment this year.  And there are signs that the stimulus package will continue to have a beneficial impact on the economy in the second half of the year.  

Labor Day is also the traditional start of the election season.  In the coming months, it will be tempting⁹ for some in Congress to try to score political points instead of getting work done for the American people.  Our citizens deserve better.  We still have time to accomplish important goals for our country.  My Administration remains¹⁰ hopeful that we can work with Democratic leaders in Congress on bipartisan measures to help Americans cope with this period of economic uncertainty¹¹.  

We need to work together on a comprehensive approach to our energy problems.  I've called on Congress to permit us to tap vast, unused sources of oil and gas, expand domestic refining capacity, and encourage the development of alternative energy sources.  Congress continues to stand in the way of this comprehensive approach.  At a minimum, Democratic leaders in Congress should move forward on common-sense energy proposals that have bipartisan support - and it is not too late to do this. They should act responsibly by lifting the ban on offshore¹² drilling, expanding access to oil shale¹³, and implementing¹⁴ long-term tax credits to spur the development of alternative sources of energy like wind, solar, and nuclear power.  

We need to work together to open up markets for American goods.  Exports account for a greater share of America's gross domestic product than at any time in our history.  It is not too late for Congress to approve free trade agreements with strong allies like Colombia, Panama, and South Korea - so that we can create more opportunities for American farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs. 

We need to work together to keep your taxes low.  At a time of economic challenge, the last thing American families need is a massive tax increase.  It's not too late for Congress to make the tax relief we passed in 2001 and 2003 permanent.

Despite our economic difficulties, there is every reason to be optimistic about America's future.  Our workforce is dynamic and productive.  Our economy is showing that it is resilient.  And our Nation is the most industrious¹⁵, creative, and prosperous on earth.  

Laura and I wish you a safe and joyous¹⁶ Labor Day weekend.  Thank you for listening.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

3 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

4 durable   

adj.持久的，耐久的

参考例句：

• This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
• They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。

5 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

6 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

7 rebates   

n.退还款( rebate的名词复数 )；回扣；返还（退还的部份货价）；折扣

参考例句：

• The VAT system offers advantages, such as rebates on exports. 增值税有其优点，如对出口商品实行回扣。 来自辞典例句
• In more recent years rate rebates have been introduced for households. 近年地方税的减免已适用于家庭。 来自辞典例句

8 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

9 tempting   

a.诱人的, 吸引人的

参考例句：

• It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。
• It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。

10 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 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。

12 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

13 shale   

n.页岩，泥板岩

参考例句：

• We can extract oil from shale.我们可以从页岩中提取石油。
• Most of the rock in this mountain is shale.这座山上大部分的岩石都是页岩。

14 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

15 industrious   

adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的

参考例句：

• If the tiller is industrious,the farmland is productive.人勤地不懒。
• She was an industrious and willing worker.她是个勤劳肯干的员工。

16 joyous   

adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的

参考例句：

• The lively dance heightened the joyous atmosphere of the scene.轻快的舞蹈给这场戏渲染了欢乐气氛。
• They conveyed the joyous news to us soon.他们把这一佳音很快地传递给我们。