美国真的是要出问题了！

作者：wumingdalian 标签：经济

阅读次数：14

美国真的是要出问题了！布什恳求国会通过七千亿美元救市方案，美国国会众议院今日否决了这项提案，纳税人不愿意为华尔街投机商们的巨额坏帐买单，七千亿美元相当于人均负担大约2200美元。

　　布什关于救市演讲(全文)

据MSNBC美国当地时间24日报道

　　布什：各位晚上好!此时此刻，美国的经济正在经历着历史上最困难的时期。

　　在过去的几周时间里，很多美国人都已经经历了对于他们的财政状况和未来的担忧。我深刻理解他们的担心和忧虑。

　　我们已经见证了股市超过三位数的震荡。一些主要的经济机构在破产边缘苦苦挣扎，其中的一些已经倒闭。在这种不确定性蔓延之际，很多银行都开始限制贷款，信贷市场几经冻结，无论是家庭还是商业机构都发现向银行贷款越发艰难。

　　我们处于严重的财政危机之中而我们的联邦政府正在积极地采取措施应对这一情况。

　　我们已经提高了对货币市场共同基金的信心，并采取措施防止国际投资者为了个人利益使股市下跌。

　　更为重要的是，我领导的政府正在与国会一起致力于寻找经济动荡背后的深层原因。

　　包括房屋抵押在内的金融资产由于房价的下跌而大幅度贬值，因而持有这部分金融资产的银行已经降低了信用级别，导致我们的经济处于危险的边缘。

　　因此，我建议联邦政府应该降低由这些问题资产所带来的风险，进而支持紧急救援计划，使银行和其他金融机构免于破产重新开始放贷。

　　此次救援行为旨在拯救整个美国经济，而不是单单拯救几个金融机构或是金融产业。

　　这一举措将有助于重新满足美国消费者和商业界的需要并增加就业。同时也将会给全世界发出这样一个信号：美国的金融体系重新步入正轨。

　　我知道很多美国人都不禁会问：我们如何达到这一目标?我们应对这一危机的具体办法是什么?而这么作对我们金融体系的未来又意味着什么?

　　我们对这些问题都有了明确的答案。

　　首先，我们如何达到这一目标?这样说吧，大多数经济学家都认为我们现在所经历的困难已经存在了相当长的一段时间。美国良好的商业投资环境吸引了大量的境外投资者，早在十几年前，大量的现金就从境外注入美国。

　　伴随着较低的利率，注入美国银行和相关金融机构的大量现金使美国消费者更容易获得信贷。这样越来越多的美国家庭贷款买车，购房，甚至交学费。使更多的企业家获得贷款开展新业务和曾经就业机会。

　　不幸的是，严重的消极后果也随之到来，尤其是在房屋市场。放松信贷加上房屋价格会持续上升的假象导致了房屋过度消费和很多错误的决定。

　　很多房屋抵押借贷公司在没有严格审查借贷人还款能力的前提下就轻易向借贷人发放了贷款。很多借贷人的贷款已经大大超出了他们的还款能力，还天真地认为他们会以更高的价格卖掉已经贷款购买的房屋以赚取更高的利益。

　　对于房屋价格的持续乐观态度也促成了房屋的大规模建设。最终导致新建房屋的数量远远超过了人们愿意购买的数量。由于供大于求，房屋价格下降，导致信贷危机的出现。

　　可调整的抵押贷款利率使那些已经计划已更高的价格卖出房屋的贷款人感到非常失望，他们已经无法偿还抵押贷款。

　　因此很多抵押贷款人开始拖延付款。这种大范围的未按期付款甚至波及到了房屋市场以外的领域。

　　众所周知，现在的抵押市场，房屋抵押贷款经常打包并以房地产抵押做担保的证券的形式出售。这些证券被出售给全世界的投资者们。

　　很多投资者认为这些证券是可以信赖的，并没有问及证券的实际价值。这些证券的两个主要购买者就是房利美和房地美。

　　这两家公司是由国会授权的，因此很多投资者相信这两家公司是受联邦政府保护的。这就使这两家公司可以借到大量的现金，并把现金投入可疑的投资领域，使我们的金融系统陷于危机之中。

　　房地产市场的衰弱推到了影响美国经济的多米若骨牌。当房屋价格大幅度缩水，大量贷款购房者拒绝按时付款，而那些大量持有以房地产抵押做担保的证券的投资者开始蒙受巨大的损失。

　　不久以后，这些证券变得不再可靠。一些投资银行诸如雷曼兄弟发现自己拥有大量不能出售的金融资产。他们的资金链出现断裂，随之面临着破产危机。而另外一些银行则处于严重的金融危机之中，这些银行开始紧紧控制住手中的现金，使贷款濒于枯竭。美国转动着的金融系统的齿轮慢慢停了下来。

　　随着经济局势的不稳定性与日俱增，我作为美国总统面临着一个艰难的选择：是与美国政府一起插手帮助恢复美国经济还是坐视不理任由破坏美国金融体系安全的不负责任的行为横行。

　　我是自由企业的坚定拥护者，因此我的第一反应是反对政府的干涉。我认为那些做了错误决定的公司必将遭到市场的淘汰。

　　在通常情况下，我都会遵循这一原则，但是我们现在所处的是非一般的情况，金融市场已经不能正常的发挥作用。美国消费者已经对美国的金融市场严重缺乏信心，美国金融系统的主要部门面临着倒闭的危险。

　　美国政府的首席经济学家们警告说，如果没有国会的立即行动，美国将会陷入巨大的经济恐慌之中。美国经济最痛苦的篇章即将展开。

　　包括我们所居住社区内的越来越多的银行将会倒闭。持续下跌的股市也会使人们将来的退休金大大贬值。人们的房屋价格将会暴跌。丧失抵押品所有权的现象将会大规模的泛滥。如果你拥有一家企业或一家农场，你将会发现获得贷款越来越难，利息越来越高。更多的企业将会关门倒闭，数以百万计的美国人将会失去工作。

　　即使你拥有良好的信用记录，你也会发现你贷款买车或是供子女上大学变得越发艰难。最终我们的国家将会经历一段漫长痛苦的经济萧条时期。

　　亲爱的美国民众，我们不能让此类事件发生。我很欣赏国会中的民主和共和两党的相关领导人对于解决这一问题所做出的努力以及对我领导的政府所提出的应对方案的改进计划。

　　我再次对民主共和两党的合作精神以及国会和政府之间的众志成城表示感谢。基于这种合作精神，我已经邀请麦凯恩和奥巴马参加明天在白宫举行的国会领导人会议，以加速两党在这一问题上的投票讨论。

　　我深知这一经济拯救计划将使很多国会议员们面对非常艰难的投票。这一拯救计划将花费大量纳税人辛苦挣来的钱，议员们很难投票赞成。

　　我也深知那些按时还贷，拒绝为华尔街金融市场买单的负责任的美国消费者的巨大失落感。

　　但是根据我们所面临的形式，现在不通过这一拯救计划将使美国人民付出更大的代价。

　　任何拯救计划都应该保护纳税人的利益，应该欢迎大大小小的金融机构的广泛参与，更应该确保那些做出错误决定的决策者们从纳税人手里得不到一分钱。

　　我们应该建立起一个两党共同管理的委员会一起监管这一计划的实施，并且越快越好。

　　与财政部长保尔森、美联储主席伯南克、证交会主席考克斯紧密磋商后，我在上周五宣布了这一拯救计划。

　　首先，我认为这一计划足以解决现在所面临的严峻问题。在我们的计划中，联邦政府将会动用7000亿美元资金用于购买严重妨碍金融体系正常运转的不良资产。

　　这一举措将使银行在短期内重新向美国家庭和企业发放贷款，进而使美国经济好转。

　　其次，由于市场对以房地产抵押作担保的证券已经失去信心导致这些证券大幅下跌，将来这些资产的收购价格将会高于他们的现行价格，因为绝大部分美国消费者还是能够最终偿还完贷款的。

　　政府就是要有足够的耐心和资源以现在较低的价格收购这些不良资产以期待市场恢复正常状态。

　　一旦市场恢复，现金将重新回到财政部门，我们投入的资金将会如数返回。

　　最后一个问题就是：这么作对我们金融体系的未来又意味着什么?这样说吧，我今晚所列出的这些步骤的目的就是要保护美国工人、家庭和小企业的财政利益。联邦政府还将继续完善立法来保护他们的金钱不受侵犯。

　　一旦这一危机得以解决，那将是我们重新完善财政制度的时期。20世纪已经过时的相关法律已经不符合我们21世纪的全球经济。今年早些时候，财政部长保尔森就曾规划出改进金融体系规章制度的蓝图。

　　从长远来看，美国民众有理由对我们的经济有信心。我们的经济制度解放了生产力和民众的创业精神，使我国经济拥有适应振动、调整和反弹的能力。

　　我们的经济正面临着前所未有的巨大挑战，我们之前已经数次克服了类似的困难，而这一次我们也同样会取得胜利。

　　我深知美国人民有时候会感到挫折，但是历史表明，美国政府是经得起考验的。

　　最后我们将再一次向世人证明美国是一个怎样的国家：我们将直面困难，在困难面前团结一心，每个美国人都会努力工作，发挥他们的天赋并且实现自己的梦想。

　　非常感谢!  愿上帝保佑!

Good evening. This is an extraordinary period for America’s economy.
Over the past few weeks, many Americans have felt anxiety about their finances and their future. I understand their worry and their frustration.
In this video image from APTN, President Bush speaks in a prime-time address from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington, Wednesday. (Associated Press)

We’ve seen triple-digit swings in the stock market. Major financial institutions have teetered on the edge of collapse, and some have failed. As uncertainty has grown, many banks have restricted lending, credit markets have frozen, and families and businesses have found it harder to borrow money.

We’re in the midst of a serious financial crisis, and the federal government is responding with decisive action.
We boosted confidence in money market mutual funds and acted to prevent major investors from intentionally driving down stocks for their own personal gain.

Most importantly, my administration is working with Congress to address the root cause behind much of the instability in our markets.

Financial assets related to home mortgages have lost value during the house decline, and the banks holding these assets have restricted credit. As a result, our entire economy is in danger.

So I propose that the federal government reduce the risk posed by these troubled assets and supply urgently needed money so banks and other financial institutions can avoid collapse and resume lending.

This rescue effort is not aimed at preserving any individual company or industry. It is aimed at preserving America’s overall economy.

It will help American consumers and businesses get credit to meet their daily needs and create jobs. And it will help send a signal to markets around the world that America’s financial system is back on track.

I know many Americans have questions tonight: How did we reach this point in our economy? How will the solution I propose work? And what does this mean for your financial future?

These are good questions, and they deserve clear answers.

First, how did our economy reach this point? Well, most economists agree that the problems we’re witnessing today developed over a long period of time. For more than a decade, a massive amount of money flowed into the United States from investors abroad because our country is an attractive and secure place to do business.

This large influx of money to U.S. banks and financial institutions, along with low interest rates, made it easier for Americans to get credit. These developments allowed more families to borrow money for cars, and homes, and college tuition, some for the first time. They allowed more entrepreneurs to get loans to start new businesses and create jobs.

Unfortunately, there were also some serious negative consequences, particularly in the housing market. Easy credit, combined with the faulty assumption that home values would continue to rise, led to excesses and bad decisions.

Many mortgage lenders approved loans for borrowers without carefully examining their ability to pay. Many borrowers took out loans larger than they could afford, assuming that they could sell or refinance their homes at a higher price later on.

Optimism about housing values also led to a boom in home construction. Eventually, the number of new houses exceeded the number of people willing to buy them. And with supply exceeding demand, housing prices fell, and this created a problem.

Borrowers with adjustable-rate mortgages, who had been planning to sell or refinance their homes at a higher price, were stuck with homes worth less than expected, along with mortgage payments they could not afford.

As a result, many mortgage-holders began to default. These widespread defaults had effects far beyond the housing market.

See, in today’s mortgage industry, home loans are often packaged together and converted into financial products called mortgage-backed securities. These securities were sold to investors around the world.

Many investors assumed these securities were trustworthy and asked few questions about their actual value. Two of the leading purchasers of mortgage-backed securities were Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Because these companies were chartered by Congress, many believed they were guaranteed by the federal government. This allowed them to borrow enormous sums of money, fuel the market for questionable investments, and put our financial system at risk.

The decline in the housing market set off a domino effect across our economy. When home values declined, borrowers defaulted on their mortgages, and investors holding mortgage-backed securities began to incur serious losses.

Before long, these securities became so unreliable that they were not being bought or sold. Investment banks, such as Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, found themselves saddled with large amounts of assets they could not sell. They ran out of money needed to meet their immediate obligations, and they faced imminent collapse.

Other banks found themselves in severe financial trouble. These banks began holding on to their money, and lending dried up, and the gears of the American financial system began grinding to a halt.

With the situation becoming more precarious by the day, I faced a choice, to step in with dramatic government action or to stand back and allow the irresponsible actions of some to undermine the financial security of all.

I’m a strong believer in free enterprise, so my natural instinct is to oppose government intervention. I believe companies that make bad decisions should be allowed to go out of business.

Under normal circumstances, I would have followed this course. But these are not normal circumstances. The market is not functioning properly. There has been a widespread loss of confidence, and major sectors of America’s financial system are at risk of shutting down.

The government’s top economic experts warn that, without immediate action by Congress, America could slip into a financial panic and a distressing scenario would unfold.

More banks could fail, including some in your community. The stock market would drop even more, which would reduce the value of your retirement account. The value of your home could plummet. Foreclosures would rise dramatically.

And if you own a business or a farm, you would find it harder and more expensive to get credit. More businesses would close their doors, and millions of Americans could lose their jobs.

Even if you have good credit history, it would be more difficult for you to get the loans you need to buy a car or send your children to college. And, ultimately, our country could experience a long and painful recession.

Fellow citizens, we must not let this happen. I appreciate the work of leaders from both parties in both houses of Congress to address this problem and to make improvements to the proposal my administration sent to them.

There is a spirit of cooperation between Democrats and Republicans and between Congress and this administration. In that spirit, I’ve invited Senators McCain and Obama to join congressional leaders of both parties at the White House tomorrow to help speed our discussions toward a bipartisan bill.

I know that an economic rescue package will present a tough vote for many members of Congress. It is difficult to pass a bill that commits so much of the taxpayers” hard-earned money.

I also understand the frustration of responsible Americans who pay their mortgages on time, file their tax returns every April 15th, and are reluctant to pay the cost of excesses on Wall Street.

But given the situation we are facing, not passing a bill now would cost these Americans much more later.

Many Americans are asking, how would a rescue plan work? After much discussion, there’s now widespread agreement on the principles such a plan would include.

It would remove the risk posed by the troubled assets, including mortgage-backed securities, now clogging the financial system. This would free banks to resume the flow of credit to American families and businesses.

Any rescue plan should also be designed to ensure that taxpayers are protected. It should welcome the participation of financial institutions, large and small. It should make certain that failed executives do not receive a windfall from your tax dollars.

It should establish a bipartisan board to oversee the plan’s implementation, and it should be enacted as soon as possible.
In close consultation with Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, and SEC Chairman Chris Cox, I announced a plan on Friday.

First, the plan is big enough to solve a serious problem. Under our proposal, the federal government would put up to $700 billion taxpayer dollars on the line to purchase troubled assets that are clogging the financial system.

In the short term, this will free up banks to resume the flow of credit to American families and businesses, and this will help our economy grow.

Second, as markets have lost confidence in mortgage-backed securities, their prices have dropped sharply, yet the value of many of these assets will likely be higher than their current price, because the vast majority of Americans will ultimately pay off their mortgages.

The government is the one institution with the patience and resources to buy these assets at their current low prices and hold them until markets return to normal.

And when that happens, money will flow back to the Treasury as these assets are sold, and we expect that much, if not all, of the tax dollars we invest will be paid back.

The final question is, what does this mean for your economic future? Well, the primary steps _ purpose of the steps I’ve outlined tonight is to safeguard the financial security of American workers, and families, and small businesses. The federal government also continues to enforce laws and regulations protecting your money.

The Treasury Department recently offered government insurance for money market mutual funds. And through the FDIC, every savings account, checking account, and certificate of deposit is insured by the federal government for up to $100,000.

The FDIC has been in existence for 75 years, and no one has ever lost a penny on an insured deposit, and this will not change.
Once this crisis is resolved, there will be time to update our financial regulatory structures. Our 21st-century global economy remains regulated largely by outdated 20th-century laws.

Recently, we’ve seen how one company can grow so large that its failure jeopardizes the entire financial system.

Earlier this year, Secretary Paulson proposed a blueprint that would modernize our financial regulations. For example, the Federal Reserve would be authorized to take a closer look at the operations of companies across the financial spectrum and ensure that their practices do not threaten overall financial stability.

There are other good ideas, and members of Congress should consider them. As they do, they must ensure that efforts to regulate Wall Street do not end up hampering our economy’s ability to grow.

In the long run, Americans have good reason to be confident in our economic strength. Despite corrections in the marketplace and instances of abuse, democratic capitalism is the best system ever devised.

It has unleashed the talents and the productivity and entrepreneurial spirit of our citizens. It has made this country the best place in the world to invest and do business. And it gives our economy the flexibility and resilience to absorb shocks, adjust, and bounce back.

Our economy is facing a moment of great challenge, but we’ve overcome tough challenges before, and we will overcome this one.
I know that Americans sometimes get discouraged by the tone in Washington and the seemingly endless partisan struggles, yet history has shown that, in times of real trial, elected officials rise to the occasion.

And together we will show the world once again what kind of country America is: a nation that tackles problems head on, where leaders come together to meet great tests, and where people of every background can work hard, develop their talents, and realize their dreams.

Thank you for listening. May God bless you.