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Unfortunately, over the last decade, we have not done what is necessary to shore up the foundation of our own prosperity. We have spent over a trillion dollars at war, often financed by borrowing from overseas. This, in turn, has short-changed investments in our own people, and contributed to record deficits. For too long, we have put off tough decisions on everything from our manufacturing base to our energy policy to education reform. As a result, too many middle class families find themselves working harder for less, while our nation's long-term competitiveness is put at risk.
不幸地是，在过去10年间，我们没有为这些支持国家繁荣的“柱石”提供太多必要帮助。我们花费一万亿美元用于战争，经常靠海外借款维持财政。这样做不仅欺骗了自己的人民，还让美国的赤字居高不下。长期以来，我们一直在制造业、能源政策以及教育改革等领域推迟采取强硬措施，结果许多中产阶级家庭发现，越努力工作获取的就越少，而我们国家的长期竞争力正陷入危险之中。
And so at this moment, as we wind down the war in Iraq, we must tackle those challenges at home with as much energy, and grit, and sense of common purpose as our men and women in uniform who have served abroad. They have met every test that they faced. Now, it is our turn. Now, it is our responsibility to honor them by coming together, all of us, and working to secure the dream that so many generations have fought for -the dream that a better life awaits anyone who is willing to work for it and reach for it.
此时此刻，当我们结束伊拉克战争的时候，我们必须同时着手解决这些国内挑战，比如能源、电力以及国内外部队之间缺乏认同感的问题。这些军人已经通过了所有考验，现在该轮到我们了。给与他们应得的荣誉是我们的责任，我们所有人都必须努力确保无数仁人志士为之奋斗的梦想——每个人都能过上更好的生活。
Our most urgent task is to restore our economy, and put the millions of Americans who have lost their jobs back to work. To strengthen our middle class, we must give all our children the education they deserve, and all our workers the skills that they need to compete in a global economy. We must jumpstart industries that create jobs, and end our dependence on foreign oil. We must unleash the innovation that allows new products to roll off our assembly lines, and nurture the ideas that spring from our entrepreneurs. This will be difficult. But in the days to come, it must be our central mission as a people, and my central responsibility as President.
现在我们面临的最紧迫任务就是恢复国内经济，帮助数百万失业美国人重新找到工作。为了加强我们的中产阶级，我们必须给与所有孩子应得的教育，给与所有工人在全球竞争中需要的技术；我们必须启动能够创造工作机会的行业，结束对外国石油的依赖；我们必须鼓励革新，允许新产品尽快投入生产，并且培养企业家的创新意识。尽管这些工作很困难，但在未来的日子里，它们毕将成为我们的中心任务，也是我作为总统的重要职责。
Part of that responsibility is making sure that we honor our commitments to those who have served our country with such valor. As long as I am President, we will maintain the finest fighting force that the world has ever known, and do whatever it takes to serve our veterans as well as they have served us. This is a sacred trust. That is why we have already made one of the largest increases in funding for veterans in decades. We are treating the signature wounds of today's wars post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, while providing the health care and benefits that all of our veterans have earned. And we are funding a post-9/11 GI Bill that helps our veterans and their families pursue the dream of a college education. Just as the GI Bill helped those who fought World War II- including my grandfather- become the backbone of our middle class, so today's servicemen and women must have the chance to apply their gifts to expand the American economy. Because part of ending a war responsibly is standing by those who have fought it.
我的部分责任是确保那些为国家英勇服役的军人获得应得的荣誉。只要我还是美国总统，我将竭力维护这支世界上最好的战斗部队，像他们为我们服务那样，竭尽所能为他们提供服务。这是一种神圣的信任，也是数十年来我们对老兵的支持不断增加的原因。我们正在为战争中受伤的士兵提供最好的治疗，并且为所有老兵提供医疗保障和其他帮助；我们还为那些“9-11”恐怖袭击后的老兵和他们的家人，追求大学梦想提供资金支持。就如帮助二战中的老兵一样（包括我的祖父），他们如今都已经成为中产阶级的骨干，因此今天的军人有机会应用他们的天赋，为发展美国经济出力。
