我們不要稱之為救助,而是救援
Bailout is a dirty word.
救助是一個骯臟的字眼。
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines bailout as "a rescue from financial distress."
《韋氏詞典》將救助定義為“從金融困境中拯救出來”。
So it is accurate to call the $1 trillion-plus package being debated in Congress a bailout.
因此,將國會正在討論的1萬億美元以上的救助計劃稱為救助是正確的。
But let's not call it that this time.
但這次別這么說了。
During the 2008 financial crisis, after the world economy was brought to its knees, the federal government had to prop up U.S. banks despite their destructive behavior. Hundreds of billions of dollars of taxpayer money flowed into the financial system to prevent a total collapse. Millions of people lost homes, jobs and their livelihood. An entire generation is still trying to come to terms with the repercussions of that time.
在2008年金融危機期間,在世界經(jīng)濟陷入癱瘓之后,聯(lián)邦政府不得不支持美國的銀行,盡管它們的行為具有破壞性。數(shù)千億美元的納稅人資金流入了金融系統(tǒng),以防止經(jīng)濟全面崩潰。數(shù)百萬人失去了家園、工作和生計。整整一代人仍在努力接受那個時代的影響。
Even in general use, the word bailout isn't associated with anything positive. But since the financial crisis it has acquired a truly negative meaning. It stirs up images of greedy businesses acting recklessly, enriching themselves, and then asking the government for money.
即使在一般情況下,救助一詞也與任何積極的事情沒有聯(lián)系。但自金融危機以來,它就有了真正的負面含義。它激起了貪婪的企業(yè)不顧后果的行為,讓自己富裕起來,然后向政府要錢的畫面。
The coronavirus is not the fault of businesses
冠狀病毒不是企業(yè)的錯
But let's be clear. This time, the business community bears no responsibility for the coronavirus, the suddenness of its appearance and its spread.
但我們要清楚。這一次,商界對冠狀病毒、它的突然出現(xiàn)和傳播不承擔任何責任。
Companies, large and small, are not to blame for the millions of people who are losing their jobs, the mortgages and rents they will not be able to pay, or dreams being cut short.
無論是大公司還是小公司,都不應該為數(shù)百萬人失去工作、無力支付抵押貸款和租金、夢想破滅而負責。
In fact, this time, the government bears responsibility. Local and federal governments have asked businesses like bars and restaurants to shut down. Travelers from Europe and China have been banned, hitting the airlines hard.
事實上,這一次,政府承擔了責任。地方和聯(lián)邦政府已經(jīng)要求酒吧和餐館等企業(yè)關閉。來自歐洲和中國的旅客被禁止登機,這對航空公司造成了沉重打擊。
California, New York, Michigan and Indiana are among the states that have asked only essential businesses like grocery and pharmacy stores to remain open. Dozens of towns, cities and counties have similar local directives.
加利福尼亞州、紐約州、密歇根州和印第安納州等州只要求雜貨店和藥店等基本行業(yè)繼續(xù)營業(yè)。數(shù)十個鄉(xiāng)鎮(zhèn)、市和縣都有類似的地方指令。
People are being asked to stay home to keep the nation safe from the virus. In such a situation, it is not unreasonable for businesses to expect support from the government.
人們被要求呆在家里以保護國家免受病毒感染。在這種情況下,企業(yè)指望政府的支持并非沒有道理。
Front of that line are airlines, taxi cabs, cruise operators, hotels, restaurants and tour bus operators. Then there are countless retail stores, big and small, in malls that have shut down. What about salon owners or the hot dog cart outside the museum? The list goes on and on.
排在前面的是航空公司、出租車、郵輪運營商、酒店、餐館和旅游巴士運營商。還有無數(shù)大大小小的零售商店在商場里倒閉。美容院老板或博物館外的熱狗車呢?這樣的例子不勝枚舉。
When payments are due
當付款到期時
Just like people, business owners have rent to make, equipment leases to pay and invoices to settle. Most have short-term lines of credit they draw down to buy supplies and such.
就像人一樣,企業(yè)主也要交房租、支付設備租賃費用和支付發(fā)票。他們中的大多數(shù)都有短期信貸額度,可以用來購買供應品等。
If they can't make these payments, companies will be in default. That could hurt their ability to borrow in the future and even ground their business forever. More workers will lose their jobs. The economic downturn could end up being a lot more severe and long lasting.
如果他們不能支付這些款項,公司就會違約。這可能會損害他們未來的借貸能力,甚至讓他們的業(yè)務永遠停滯不前。更多的工人將失去工作。經(jīng)濟衰退最終可能會嚴重得多,而且會持續(xù)很長時間。
So everyone is waiting with bated breath for this economic package. No one wants large businesses to take taxpayer money and enrich shareholders or line the pockets of CEOs, rather than use it to save jobs and keep businesses afloat.
因此,每個人都在屏息以待這個經(jīng)濟刺激計劃。沒有人希望大型企業(yè)拿著納稅人的錢,讓股東們中飽私囊,或者讓首席執(zhí)行官們中飽私囊,而不是用這些錢來保住工作,讓企業(yè)維持下去。
But let's not call this government package a bailout.
但是,我們不要把這個政府計劃稱為救助。
Let's call it a rescue. It's much-needed support that the American economy needs now.
我們稱之為救援吧。這是美國經(jīng)濟現(xiàn)在急需的支持。