我们不要称之为救助，而是救援

我们不要称之为救助，而是救援

Bailout is a dirty word.

救助是一个肮脏的字眼。

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines bailout as "a rescue from financial distress."

《韦氏词典》将救助定义为“从金融困境中拯救出来”。

So it is accurate to call the $1 trillion-plus package being debated in Congress a bailout.

因此，将国会正在讨论的1万亿美元以上的救助计划称为救助是正确的。

But let's not call it that this time.

但这次别这么说了。

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年金融危机期间，在世界经济陷入瘫痪之后，联邦政府不得不支持美国的银行，尽管它们的行为具有破坏性。数千亿美元的纳税人资金流入了金融系统，以防止经济全面崩溃。数百万人失去了家园、工作和生计。整整一代人仍在努力接受那个时代的影响。

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.

即使在一般情况下，救助一词也与任何积极的事情没有联系。但自金融危机以来，它就有了真正的负面含义。它激起了贪婪的企业不顾后果的行为，让自己富裕起来，然后向政府要钱的画面。

The coronavirus is not the fault of businesses

冠状病毒不是企业的错

But let's be clear. This time, the business community bears no responsibility for the coronavirus, the suddenness of its appearance and its spread.

但我们要清楚。这一次，商界对冠状病毒、它的突然出现和传播不承担任何责任。

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.

无论是大公司还是小公司，都不应该为数百万人失去工作、无力支付抵押贷款和租金、梦想破灭而负责。

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.

事实上，这一次，政府承担了责任。地方和联邦政府已经要求酒吧和餐馆等企业关闭。来自欧洲和中国的旅客被禁止登机，这对航空公司造成了沉重打击。

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.

加利福尼亚州、纽约州、密歇根州和印第安纳州等州只要求杂货店和药店等基本行业继续营业。数十个乡镇、市和县都有类似的地方指令。

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.

人们被要求呆在家里以保护国家免受病毒感染。在这种情况下，企业指望政府的支持并非没有道理。

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、出租车、邮轮运营商、酒店、餐馆和旅游巴士运营商。还有无数大大小小的零售商店在商场里倒闭。美容院老板或博物馆外的热狗车呢?这样的例子不胜枚举。

When payments are due

当付款到期时

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.

就像人一样，企业主也要交房租、支付设备租赁费用和支付发票。他们中的大多数都有短期信贷额度，可以用来购买供应品等。

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.

如果他们不能支付这些款项，公司就会违约。这可能会损害他们未来的借贷能力，甚至让他们的业务永远停滞不前。更多的工人将失去工作。经济衰退最终可能会严重得多，而且会持续很长时间。

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，每个人都在屏息以待这个经济刺激计划。没有人希望大型企业拿着纳税人的钱，让股东们中饱私囊，或者让首席执行官们中饱私囊，而不是用这些钱来保住工作，让企业维持下去。

But let's not call this government package a bailout.

但是，我们不要把这个政府计划称为救助。

Let's call it a rescue. It's much-needed support that the American economy needs now.

我们称之为救援吧。这是美国经济现在急需的支持。