U.S. President Barack Obama says Friday's report showing unemployment in the United States has reached the highest level in 25 years, underscores the importance of the economic stimulus package he has signed in an effort to jump start the stalled economy.
美国总统奥巴马说，星期五公布的失业报告凸显了他所签署的经济刺激计划的重要性。这个经济刺激计划就是要重新启动陷入困境的美国经济。
President Obama says the world's largest economy has now lost 4.4 million jobs since the recession began 14 months ago.
奥巴马总统说，美国作为世界上最大的经济体，从14个月前陷入经济衰退以来，已经丧失了440万个工作。
The unemployment rate rose sharply to 8.1 percent in February, the highest in a quarter century.
根据劳工部的报告，2月份，美国的失业率大幅攀升到8.1%，达到过去四分之一个世纪以来的最高水平。
Mr. Obama called the job losses "astounding." But he says the American people are up to the challenge of a rapidly deteriorating economy.
奥巴马总统说，如此庞大的失业人数令人震惊。但是他表示，美国人民能够迎接经济急剧恶化所带来的挑战。
"But I also know that this country has never responded to a crisis by sitting on the sidelines and hoping for the best," he said. "I know that throughout our history, we have met every great challenge with bold action and big ideas. That is what has fueled a shared and lasting prosperity. And I know that at this defining moment for America we have a responsibility to ourselves and to our children to do it once again."
他说：“我也知道，这个国家在面对一场危机的时候从来没有采取过袖手旁观、守株待兔的态度。我知道在我们的整个历史中，我们都是以勇敢的行动和精明的策略来迎接每一个挑战的。正是这些造就了我们共同和持久的繁荣。我知道，目前对于美国来说是一个决定性的时刻，我们要再次肩负起我们对自己的责任，对孩子们的责任。”
President Obama made his remarks in the Midwestern state of Ohio, a state hit hard by the recession. He spoke at a graduation ceremony for 25 police recruits, who owe their jobs to the massive spending bill the president signed into law last month.
奥巴马总统是在中西部的俄亥俄州发表这番讲话的。俄亥俄州受到这次经济衰退的重创。在当地25位新警官的毕业典礼仪式上，奥巴马总统发表了讲话。正是由于奥巴马总统上个月把大规模的政府开支法案签署成为法律，才使这些警官保住了他们的工作。
Mr. Obama says the $787 billion stimulus package will save or create 3.5 million American jobs over the next two years.
奥巴马总统说，金额高达7870亿美元的经济刺激计划将在今后的两年中为美国人保住或创造350万个就业机会。
"So for those who still doubt the wisdom of our recovery plan, I ask them to talk to the teachers who are still able to teach our children because we passed this plan," he said. "I ask them to talk to the nurses who are still able to care for our sick and the firefighters and first responders who are still able to keep our communities safe."
他说：“所以，对于那些仍然怀疑我们的复苏计划是否明智的人，我请他们去问一问那些因为我们通过了这个计划而得以继续教学的老师。我请他们去问一问那些得以继续照顾病人的护士，还有那些继续保卫我们社区安全的消防队员和其他急救人员。”
President Obama, in office less than two months, warns the economy's downward slide cannot be corrected quickly.
不到两个月前入主白宫的美国总统奥巴马警告说，经济的下行轨迹不会很快得到逆转。
But he has also returned to his campaign message of hope for the future.
但是，他在讲话中重拾去年竞选期间的未来希望主题。
"If we are willing to look out for one another and listen to one another, if we are willing to pull together and do our part, if we can show even a fraction of the courage and selflessness that these cadets have already demonstrated, then I have no doubt that we will emerge from this crisis stronger than before and keep this nation's dream alive for future generations," he said.
奥巴马说：“如果我们愿意互相照顾，倾听彼此的看法；如果我们愿意齐心协力，各尽所能；如果我们能拿出这些未来警官已经展示出的无私无畏的几分之一的话，那么我毫不怀疑，我们将渡过危机，变得更加强大，并将确保美国梦的活力世代相传。”
President Obama has proposed a $3.5 trillion spending plan for the 2010 fiscal year.
奥巴马总统最近为2010财政年度提出了一项3.5万亿美元的政府开支法案。
The White House predicts the United States will enter the fiscal year with a budget deficit of $1.75 trillion, the largest since World War II.
白宫预计，进入新财年，美国联邦预算赤字将高达1.75万亿美元，是二战以来的最高水平。
Republican members of Congress, like Kevin Brady from Texas, say more government spending is not the answer to the ailing economy.
"Unfortunately, the administration's solution to the problem posed by this excessive debt burden is to propose an avalanche of more deficit spending and higher federal debt," he said.
Economic analysts expect the jobless rate will continue to rise, possibly as high as 10 percent of the American labor force.
The Obama administration is hoping to stabilize the fractured financial system and the collapsing housing market, which are at the heart of the recession.
奥巴马政府希望稳定已经破裂的金融体系和崩溃的房地产市场，因为二者都是引发本轮经济衰退的核心因素。 |