VOA标准英语2011--Hundreds of Unemployed Storm Capitol Hill to Meet with Congress

Hundreds of Unemployed¹ Storm Capitol Hill to Meet with Congress

Thousands of Occupy Congress activists² have decended on Washington this week to press their agenda of jobs and a fair economy for all. The three days of protests and events was kicked off by a visit to Capitol Hill where hundreds of constituents⁴ demanding meetings with their members of Congress. They are angry about the lack of progress on a jobs bill and a host of other economic issues.

At 9 a.m., they assemble on Washington’s Mall. More than 1,000 unemployed and underemployed Americans from across the country. They have come to Washington to pressure Congress for more action on job creation and an extension of unemployment benefits. Jeremy Collins is from Columbus Ohio.

"If any politician would walk by, you could see that there is a lot constituents out here," said Jeremy Collins," who is unemployed. "There are a lot of people here who are registered voters. And if they want to get elected they need to listen to the people."

This week’s events are sponsored by a coalition⁵ of organizations and labor⁶ unions that say Congress has not done its part to create more jobs. But some believe it will take more than jobs legislation and unemployment extensions to fix America’s economic problems. Ryan Isabel is from West Palm Beach, Florida.

“I think the message needs to escalate⁷ to more major reform," said Ryan Isabel. "More sincere drastic changes to the operation of our economy and our society and our systems of government.”

VOA followed more than 20 constituents from South Florida as they tried to meet with Representative Allen West, a conservative member of the Tea Party. They and hundreds of others plan to drop in on congressional offices unannounced, and demand a meeting with their representatives. For most, this is their first time in Washington and the first time they have tried to meet with their member of Congress.

When they arrive, they are told the congressman⁸ is out, but will be back to two hours. They are told to wait out in the hall. As the staff member leaves, the group decides to wait inside the office anyway. Holly⁹ Albert is among them.

“So we are going to wait here for two hours until Allen West speaks, gives in and speaks to us," said Albert. "And so we are going to talk about an array of problems in which we hope that he can pull his heart strings¹⁰ and concede to our needs.”

But the congressman’s staff is clearly annoyed. Eventually the chief of staff shows up along with two Capitol Hill police officers.

“Do you have an organized group here? Do you have a supervisor¹¹?," asked a policeman.

The staff member and officer ask to meet with two members of the group in private. They soon return to report to the group.

“Three of us can stay here in this room," said a constituent³. "And the rest of us have to move to the hallway.”

The congressman will only meet with three of them for 10 or 15 minutes. The rest must leave or risk arrest. Some are shocked to learn the congressman can refuse to meet with constituents.

“The congressman is not refusing," said a staff member. "The congressman is meeting with individuals that have said they are the leaders of your group.”

Representative West eventually met with four constituents. We were told they did not agree on anything. For many it was a tough lesson on just how difficult compromise in Washington has become.

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 constituent   

n.选民；成分，组分；adj.组成的，构成的

参考例句：

• Sugar is the main constituent of candy.食糖是糖果的主要成分。
• Fibre is a natural constituent of a healthy diet.纤维是健康饮食的天然组成部分。

4 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》

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 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。

7 escalate   

v.(使)逐步增长(或发展)，(使)逐步升级

参考例句：

• It would tempt Israel's neighbors to escalate their demands.它将诱使以色列的邻国不断把他们的要求升级。
• Defeat could cause one side or other to escalate the conflict.失败可能会导致其中一方将冲突升级。

8 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。

9 holly   

n.[植]冬青属灌木

参考例句：

• I recently acquired some wood from a holly tree.最近我从一棵冬青树上弄了些木料。
• People often decorate their houses with holly at Christmas.人们总是在圣诞节时用冬青来装饰房屋。

10 strings   

n.弦

参考例句：

• He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
• She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。

11 supervisor   

n.监督人，管理人，检查员，督学，主管，导师

参考例句：

• Between you and me I think that new supervisor is a twit.我们私下说，我认为新来的主管人是一个傻瓜。
• He said I was too flighty to be a good supervisor.他说我太轻浮不能成为一名好的管理员。