富人为何要低调

 Lloyd Blankfein's new Sumptuary Laws have touched off all manner of protest.

Mr. Blankfein had the audacity¹ to suggest that with millions of Americans out of work and out of homes, Goldman bankers receiving millions of dollars in bonuses (thanks in part to the bailout from self-same Americans) should spend quietly.

In other words, no 'Yacht Bailout' headlines. No 'Goldman Banker Sets New Mansion² Record' stories. No quotes from Lambo dealers³ saying 'Thank God for Goldman.'

It sounded like a reasonable request, given the populist attacks on the wealthy in general and the Goldman wealthy in particular. But wealth celebrators took umbrage⁴. Why should the wealthy be afraid to spend? Isn't this America?

Neil Cavuto of Fox News said the Goldman edict is a sign that 'All of the sudden, we're ashamed of doing OK' and that its 'open season' on the wealthy.

In an interview with the normally conspicuous⁵ Donald Trump⁶, however, Mr. Cavuto got a lesson in new Rich-onomics. 'Well, the world is a different place, Neil,' The Donald said. There's no question. But I think Lloyd is doing the right by saying low-key it.'

Mr. Trump, a man who plasters his name on his private jumbo jet, took it a step further and proclaimed himself a quiet spender. 'Well, I don't think I─I don't think of myself as being someone that really shows wealth,' The Donald said. 'I work hard. I employ thousands of people.'

Mr. Cavuto pressed on, saying more thrift⁷ would mean fewer people in Mr. Trump's tony golf clubs and flashy condo towers. Mr. Trump said, 'Well, there is a little movement in that direction, but it will change. And as things get a little bit better, it will change a little bit more.'

Say what you want about Trump, he knows which way the wind blows (preferably not over his hair).

Do you think the rich should lay low, or is their newfound thrift un-American?

高盛集团(Goldman Sachs)首席执行长布兰克费恩(Lloyd Blankfein)的“禁奢令”已经激发了形形色色的抗议。

布兰克费恩竟然提出，在数百万美国人没有工作、没房子住的情况下，接受数百万奖金的高盛银行家花钱时应当低调（要知道他们的奖金一部分也是来自同一类美国人的救助）。

换句话说，不能让“游艇救助”成为新闻头条，不能有“高盛银行家创下豪宅新纪录”之类的报导，也不能让兰博基尼的经销商发出“感谢上帝创造高盛”之类的感叹。

考虑到民粹主义者对富人普遍大加挞伐，高盛的有钱人更是首当其冲，上述要求听上去很合理。但崇富者对此却感到不快。富人为什么要怕花钱呢？难道这不是在美国吗？

福克斯新闻(Fox News)的主播卡吾托(Neil Cavuto)说，高盛的规定显示出“突然之间我们因自己干得好而羞愧”，同时现在已到了对富人展开攻击的时候。

不过，在采访言行常常惹人注目的特朗普(Donald Trump)时，卡吾托又了解了新的富人经济学。特朗普说，现在已经是世易时移，这是毫无疑问的，但我觉得布兰克费恩要求大家低调是对的。

特朗普将自己的姓名刷在他的私人喷气飞机上，然而他却更进一步，宣称自己花钱就很低调。他说，我并不觉得自己是炫富的人，我工作很努力，手下雇了数千人。

卡吾托质疑说，要是人们都更加节俭的话，特朗普名下那些奢侈的高尔夫俱乐部和豪华公寓大楼的客户就会减少。特朗普说，是有一点这种趋势，不过这种情况会改变的。随着经济一点点变好，这种情况的变化也会加大。

不管怎么说，特朗普是个识时务的人（知道如何不让自己成为靶子）。

你觉得富人现在应当低调行事吗，还是觉得他们新近兴起的节俭之风不像美国人？

1 audacity   

n.大胆，卤莽，无礼

参考例句：

• He had the audacity to ask for an increase in salary.他竟然厚着脸皮要求增加薪水。
• He had the audacity to pick pockets in broad daylight.他竟敢在光天化日之下掏包。

2 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

3 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

4 umbrage   

n.不快；树荫

参考例句：

• Everything gives umbrage to a tyrantny.所有事情都使专制君主生气。
• She took umbrage at my remarks about her hair.我对她头发的评论使她很不高兴。

5 conspicuous   

adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的

参考例句：

• It is conspicuous that smoking is harmful to health.很明显，抽烟对健康有害。
• Its colouring makes it highly conspicuous.它的色彩使它非常惹人注目。

6 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

7 thrift   

adj.节约，节俭；n.节俭，节约

参考例句：

• He has the virtues of thrift and hard work.他具备节俭和勤奋的美德。
• His thrift and industry speak well for his future.他的节俭和勤勉预示着他美好的未来。