里根总统就职演讲

　　In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we've been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. But if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else?
       All of us together in and out of government must bear the burden. The solutions we seek must be equitable with no one group singled out to pay a higher price. We hear much of special interest groups. Well our concern must be for a special interest group that has been too long neglected. It knows no sectional boundaries, or ethnic and racial divisions, and it crosses political party lines. It is made up of men and women who raise our food, patrol our streets, man our mines and factories, teach our children, keep our homes, and heal us when we're sick professionals, industrialists, shopkeepers, clerks, cabbies, and truck drivers. They are, in short, “We the People.” This breed called Americans.
       Well, this Administration's objective will be a healthy, vigorous, growing economy that provides equal opportunities for all Americans with no barriers born of bigotry or discrimination. Putting America back to work means putting all Americans back to work. Ending inflation means freeing all Americans from the terror of runaway living costs. All must share in the productive work of this “new beginning”, and all must share in the bounty of a revived economy.

　　在当前这场危机中，政府不能解决我们的问题。政府就是问题所在。我们时常误以为，社会已经越来越复杂，已经不可能凭借自治方式加以管理，而一个由杰出人物组成的政府要比政府高明。可是，假如我们之中谁也管理不了自己，那么，我们之中谁还能去管理他人呢。
        我们大家不论政府官员还是平民百姓必须共同肩负起这个责任，我们谋求的解决办法必须是公平的，尽量避免任何一个群体付出较高的代价。我们听到许多关于特殊 利益集团的谈论，然而，我们必须关心一个被忽视了大久的特殊利益集团。这个集团没有区域之分，没有人种之分，没有民族之分，没有政党之分，这个集团由许许 多多的男人与女人组成，这些人供给我们粮食，巡逻街头，管理工厂和矿区，教育儿童，照看家务及治疗疾病。他们是专业人员、实业家、店主、职员、出租汽车司 机和货车驾驶员，简而言之，他们就是“我们”这个称之为美国的民族。
        本届政府的目标是必须建立一种健全的、生气勃勃的和不断发展的经济，为全美人民提供没有偏执或歧视的均等机会。让美国重新工作起来，意味着让全体美国人重 新工作起来。制止通货膨胀，意味着让全体美国人从失控的生活费用所造成的恐惧中解脱出来。人人都应分担“新开端”的富有成效的工作，人人都应分享经济复苏 的硕果。

1. From time to time 有时，时不时
He went fishing from time to time.
他时不时地去钓鱼。
2. elite  n. 精华，精英分子
elite college students精英学子
3. capacity  n. 容量， 容积， 能力
He has a great capacity for learning languages.
他学语言的能力很强。
4. equitable  a. 公平的，公正的
This is an equitable solution to the dispute.
这是对该项争议的公正解决。
5. neglect  vt. 忽视，忽略
He was so busy that he neglected his health.
他忙得连身体健康都无法顾及。
6. man our mines 管理我们的矿区
man  vt.  给……配置人员
The management manned the ship with experienced hands.
管理部门给这条船配置了有经验的人员。
7. cabbies n. 出租汽车司机
8. bigotry  n.  盲从，偏执，顽固
He found his teacher's bigotry intolerable.
他发现老师的固执难以忍受。