奥巴马总统每周电台演讲:要公平地对待中产阶级
Today, America faces a make-or-break moment for the middle class.
After the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes, some still want to return to the same policies that got us into this mess. They’re the same policies that have stacked the deck against working Americans for too long. They’re part of a philosophy that says we’re better off when everyone is left to fend for themselves and play by their own rules.
But I have a different vision. I believe that we are greater together than we are on our own. I believe that this country succeeds when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone engages in fair play.
To ensure fair play, last year, we passed the toughest financial reform in generations.
See, for too long, the rules weren’t the same on Wall Street as they were on Main Street. Risky bets were made with other people’s money. Some folks made a lot of money taking advantage of consumers. It was wrong. And this irresponsible behavior on the part of some contributed to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.
So this financial reform refocuses the financial sector on what’s really important: getting capital to entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses, and financing to millions of families who want to buy a house or send their kids to college.
A key part of that was putting in place the first-ever consumer watchdog – someone whose job it is to protect American families from being taken advantage of by mortgage lenders, payday lenders, and debt collectors.
Tens of millions of Americans use these services. Protecting them from unscrupulous practices is an important job. And that’s why I nominated Richard Cordray to serve as the head of this consumer watchdog agency.
As the former Attorney General of Ohio, Richard helped recover billions of dollars on behalf of retirees and stood up to dishonest lending practices. He has the support of most Attorneys General across the country, both Democrats and Republicans. Members of Congress from both parties say he’s more than qualified for the job. And yet on Thursday, Republicans blocked his nomination. They refused to even allow it to come up for a vote.
That doesn’t make any sense. Do Republicans in Congress think our financial crisis was caused by too much oversight of mortgage lenders or debt collectors? Of course not. And every day America has to wait for a new consumer protection watchdog is another day that dishonest businesses can target and take advantage of students, seniors, and service members.
So I refuse to take “no” for an answer. Financial institutions have plenty of high-powered lawyers and lobbyists looking out for them. It’s time consumers had someone on their side.
And while they’re at it, Republicans in Congress should stop the games and extend the payroll tax cut for working Americans. Because if they don’t, nearly 160 million Americans will see their taxes go up at the end of this month.
Congress can’t end the year by taking money out of the pockets of working Americans. Now is not the time for playing politics. Now is the time to do what’s right for the American people.
No one should go home for the holidays until we get this done. So tell your Members of Congress, don’t be a Grinch. Tell them to do the right thing for you and for our economy. Thank you.
今天，美国中产阶级面临一个成败的关键时刻。
我们有生之年最严重的经济危机后，有些人仍想回到造成现在这个烂摊子的相同的政策。他们坚定地反对者美国工人的要求。他们有一种哲学，说我们最好撒手不管，让每个人都留下自谋生路，并按自己的规则行事。
但我有不同的看法。我相信，有更多人的人立场和我们一致。我相信，每个人都得到一个公平的的机会，每个人都得到应得的，每个人公平竞争，这个国家就成功了。
为了确保公平竞争，去年，我们通过了几个年代中最严格的金融改革。
时间太长了，看看华尔街的规则和美国大街上的不一样。危险的赌注是用别人的钱。利用消费者，有些人挣了很多钱。这是错误的。而这些不负责任的行为加剧了自大萧条以来最严重的金融危机。
所以这个金融改革重新调整关注什么是真正重要的的金融部门：让希望发展其业务的资本企业家来发展经济资助数百万想要买房子或送他们的孩子上大学的家庭。
消费监察机构的重要任务之一就是护美国家庭不被抵押贷款者和债务征收者利用。
数以千万计的美国人使用这些服务。保护他们免受不良手法的侵害是一项重要的工作。这就是为什么我任命理Richard Cordray作为这种消费监督机构负责人的原因。
由于俄亥俄州的前总检察长理查德代表退休人员代表，帮助恢复数十亿美元，并起来反抗不诚实的借贷行为。在全国范围内他有很多首席检察官的支持，民主党和共和党都有人支持他。从双方的国会议员说，他更能胜任工作。然而，上周四，共和党人却阻止他的提名。他们甚至拒绝允许来为此事进行投票。
但这没有任何意义。议会中的共和党人认为：我们的金融危机是由太的抵押贷款机构或债务征收机构的失败造成的吗？当然不是。每天美国等待一个新的消费者保护监察机构就是不诚实的企业利用对学生，老年人和服务人员的新的一天
所以，我拒绝回答“不”。金融机构有很多寻找高功率的律师和说客。是消费者有人保护的时候了。
而他们，在国会中的共和党人应停止耍花招，并延长美国工人的工资税削减期限。因为如果他们不这样做，在本月底近160万美国人要多支出税收。
国会不能将美国工人口袋里的钱掏出来就结束今年。现在不是玩弄政治的时间。现在是时候做对美国人民负责。
我们完成这件事之前，任何人都不应回家度假。因此，告诉国会议员们，不要做令人扫兴的事。告诉他们要为你和我们的经济做正确的事情。谢谢。
NSDA“SDcamps”全国英语演讲与辩论大赛（大学组）/SDcamps全国中小学生英语演讲与辩论大会（中小学及幼儿组）/美式辩论赛（以下简称大赛/大会）现诚招全国省市合作伙伴或城市合伙人，共同进行推广NSDA赛事品牌、举办赛事及培训活动、开展素质教育、美式营地项目等多方面合作。
我们希望认同NSDA理念，有赛事组织经验，或有教育资源，特别是有理想有热情的机构或个人一起携手，共同推广NSDA品牌、赛事及素质教育。以机构的形式，或以城市合伙人的方式均可。具体的赛事组织、盈利模式，欢迎电话或微信咨询。
微信：0012133598196
