In his first speech to the nation as president, Barack Obama pledged America will not shrink from or compromise on core ideals when it comes to civil liberties, the rule of law, the quest for peace, and democracy.
在他作为总统向全国发表的首次演讲中，奥巴马承诺，美国在涉及民权、法制、追求和平与民主等核心理念上决不会退缩，也不会妥协。
But on economic matters Mr. Obama sought to distance himself from ideological debates on the role of government and the free market that have raged in Washington for decades. He argued that what matters is not the size of government, but rather its effectiveness. He had similar words about the promise and risks of capitalism.
但是在经济问题上，奥巴马却努力避开有关政府的角色以及自由市场方面的思想辩论，这个辩论在华盛顿激烈地进行了几十年。奥巴马提出，重要的不是政府的规模有多大，而是它的工作效率有多高。奥巴马对资本主义所带来的希望和风险表达了同样的看法。
"Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill," said Mr. Obama. "Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous."
“我们面对的问题，不是市场力量是正是邪。市场在创造财富和扩大自由方面的威力无可比拟，但是，这个危机提醒我们，如果我们不留心监管，市场就会失控，一个国家如果只偏袒富人，它的繁荣就不会持久。”
The president is inheriting a recession, with rising unemployment and a huge budget deficit. _______________________________________________________________________________. But he said there is work to be done.
这一任总统从上届政府手中接过的是经济衰退、失业率上升，以及庞大的预算赤字。
但是，奥巴马承认仍有工作要做。
