奥巴马XXXX国情咨文演讲英文版

Mr.Speaker,Mr.VicePresident,MembersofCongress,distinguishedguests,andfellowAmericans:TonightIwanttobeginbycongratulatingthemenandwomenofthe112thCongress,aswellasyournewSpeaker,JohnBoehner.Andaswemarkthisoccasion,wearealsomindfuloftheemptychairinthisChamber,andprayforthehealthofourcolleague–andourfriend–GabbyGiffords.It’snosecretthatthoseofusheretonighthavehadourdifferencesoverthelasttwoyears.Thedebateshavebeencontentious;wehavefoughtfiercelyforourbeliefs.Andthat’sagoodthing.That’swhatarobustdemocracydemands.That’swhathelpssetusapartasanation.Butthere’sareasonthetragedyinTucsongaveuspause.Amidallthenoiseandpassionsandrancorofourpublicdebate,Tucsonremindedusthatnomatterwhoweareorwherewecomefrom,eachofusisapartofsomethinggreater–somethingmoreconsequentialthanpartyorpoliticalpreference.WearepartoftheAmericanfamily.Webelievethatinacountrywhereeveryraceandfaithandpointofviewcanbefound,wearestillboundtogetherasonepeople;thatwesharecommonhopesandacommoncreed;thatthedreamsofalittlegirlinTucsonarenotsodifferentthanthoseofourownchildren,andthattheyalldeservethechancetobefulfilled.That,too,iswhatsetsusapartasanation.Now,byitself,thissimplerecognitionwon’tusherinaneweraofcooperation.Whatcomesofthismomentisuptous.Whatcomesofthismomentwillbedeterminednotbywhetherwecansittogethertonight,butwhetherwecanworktogethertomorrow.Ibelievewecan.Ibelievewemust.That’swhatthepeoplewhosentushereexpectofus.Withtheirvotes,they’vedeterminedthatgoverningwillnowbeasharedresponsibilitybetweenparties.NewlawswillonlypasswithsupportfromDemocratsandRepublicans.Wewillmoveforwardtogether,ornotatall–forthechallengeswefacearebiggerthanparty,andbiggerthanpolitics.Atstakerightnowisnotwhowinsthenextelection–afterall,wejusthadanelection.Atstakeiswhethernewjobsandindustriestakerootinthiscountry,orsomewhereelse.It’swhetherthehardworkandindustryofourpeopleisrewarded.It’swhetherwesustaintheleadershipthathasmadeAmericanotjustaplaceonamap,butalighttotheworld.Wearepoisedforprogress.Twoyearsaftertheworstrecessionmostofushaveeverknown,thestockmarkethascomeroaringback.Corporateprofitsareup.Theeconomyisgrowingagain.Butwehavenevermeasuredprogressbytheseyardsticksalone.Wemeasureprogressbythesuccessofourpeople.Bythejobstheycanfindandthequalityoflifethosejobsoffer.Bytheprospectsofasmallbusinessownerwhodreamsofturningagoodideaintoathrivingenterprise.Bytheopportunitiesforabetterlifethatwepassontoourchildren.That’stheprojecttheAmericanpeoplewantustoworkon.Together.WedidthatinDecember.Thankstothetaxcutswepassed,Americans’paychecksarealittlebiggertoday.Everybusinesscanwriteoffthefullcostofthenewinvestmentstheymakethisyear.Thesesteps,takenbyDemocratsandRepublicans,willgrowtheeconomyandaddtothemorethanonemillionprivatesectorjobscreatedlastyear.Butwehavemoreworktodo.Thestepswe’vetakenoverthelasttwoyearsmayhavebrokenthebackofthisrecession–buttowinthefuture,we’llneedtotakeonchallengesthathavebeendecadesinthemaking.Manypeoplewatchingtonightcanprobablyrememberatimewhenfindingagoodjobmeantshowingupatanearbyfactoryorabusinessdowntown.Youdidn’talwaysneedadegree,andyourcompetitionwasprettymuchlimitedtoyourneighbors.Ifyouworkedhard,chancesareyou’dhaveajobforlife,withadecentpaycheck,goodbenefits,andtheoccasionalpromotion.Maybeyou’devenhavetheprideofseeingyourkidsworkatthesamecompany.Thatworldhaschanged.Andformany,thechangehasbeenpainful.I’veseenitintheshutteredwindowsofonceboomingfactories,andthevacantstorefrontsofoncebusyMainStreets.I’vehearditinthefrustrationsofAmericanswho’veseentheirpaychecksdwindleortheirjobsdisappear–proudmenandwomenwhofeelliketheruleshavebeenchangedinthemiddleofthegame.They’reright.Theruleshavechanged.Inasinglegeneration,revolutionsintechnologyhavetransformedthewaywelive,workanddobusiness.Steelmillsthatonceneeded1,000workerscannowdothesameworkwith100.Today,justaboutanycompanycansetupshop,hireworkers,andselltheirproductswhereverthere’saninternetconnection.Meanwhile,nationslikeChinaandIndiarealizedthatwithsomechangesoftheirown,theycouldcompeteinthisnewworld.Andsotheystartededucatingtheirchildrenearlierandlonger,withgreateremphasisonmathandscience.They’reinvestinginresearchandnewtechnologies.Justrecently,Chinabecamehometotheworld’slargestprivatesolarresearchfacility,andtheworld’sfastestcomputer.Soyes,theworldhaschanged.Thecompetitionforjobsisreal.Butthisshouldn’tdiscourageus.Itshouldchallengeus.Remember–forallthehitswe’vetakentheselastfewyears,forallthenaysayerspredictingourdecline,Americastillhasthelargest,mostprosperouseconomyintheworld.Noworkersaremoreproductivethanours.Nocountryhasmoresuccessfulcompanies,orgrantsmorepatentstoinventorsandentrepreneurs.Wearehometotheworld’sbestcollegesanduniversities,wheremorestudentscometostudythananyotherplaceonEarth.What’smore,wearethefirstnationtobefoundedforthesakeofanidea–theideathateachofusdeservesthechancetoshapeourowndestiny.Thatiswhycenturiesofpioneersandimmigrantshaveriskedeverythingtocomehere.It’swhyourstudentsdon’tjustmemorizeequations,butanswerquestionslike“Whatdoyouthinkofthatidea?Whatwouldyouchangeabouttheworld?Wh