American tax reform
美國稅制改革
本文英文部分選自經濟學人Leaders版塊
Worry about the Republicans’ tax bill—and how it was passed
If politicians sever their arguments from reality, economic policy will only get worse
sever
[動詞 + 名詞短語](formal)
~ sth (from sth) to cut sth into two pieces; to cut sth off sth 切開；割斷；切下；割下
to sever a rope ?割斷繩子
a severed artery
切斷的動脈
His hand was severed from his arm.
他的手從胳膊上截斷了。
to completely end a relationship or all communication with sb 斷絕；中斷
同義詞 break off
The two countries have severed all diplomatic links .
兩國斷絕了一切外交關系。
SOME political theorists argue that the law draws legitimacy not just from voting, but also from public debate before legislation is passed. In voting through a tax-reform bill on December 2nd, Republicans in Congress have tested this principle to destruction. The bill, like most, has its strengths and its weaknesses, but Republicans have rushed it through disregarding the value of consistency and evidence.Their success willweigh onthe quality of American government.
legitimate
for which there is a fair and acceptable reason 正當合理的；合情合理的
a legitimate grievance
合乎情理的抱怨
It seemed a perfectly legitimate question.
這似乎是完全合乎情理的問題。
Politicians are legitimate targets for satire.
政客理所當然是諷刺的對象。
allowed and acceptable according to the law 合法的；法律認可的；法定的
the legitimate government of the country
這個國家的合法政府
Is his business strictly legitimate?
他的生意是否絕對合法？
illegitimate
(of a child 小孩) born when its parents are legally married to each other 合法婚姻所生的
illegitimate
[派生詞]
legitimacy
|l??d??t?m?si|
[不可數名詞]the dubious legitimacy of her argument
她的論證是否站得住腳
I intend to challenge the legitimacy of his claim.
我打算對他聲稱的是否正確提出質疑。
legislation
[不可數名詞]
a law or a set of laws passed by a parliament 法規；法律
an important piece of legislation
一條重要的法規
New legislation on the sale of drugs will be introduced next year.
有關藥物銷售的新法規將于明年出臺。
the process of making and passing laws 立法；制訂法律
Legislation will be difficult and will take time.
立法既費力又耗時。
Weign on：使苦惱，重壓于，壓在心上，使煩惱
The Senate’s bill is broadly similar to one that passed in the House of Representatives in November. It would slash the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20% (albeit a year later than the House bill). Taxes for unincorporated businesses and individuals would fall substantially. The personal exemption, which reduces a household’s taxable income in accordance with its size, would be replaced with a much higher standard deduction, the flat amount that can be earned tax-free. The child tax credit would also rise. To raise money, the bill curbs some deductions, such as those for debt interest and state levies.
slash
to make a long cut with a sharp object, especially in a violent way （用利器）砍，劈
Someone had slashed the tyres on my car.
有人把我的汽車輪胎割破了。
She tried to kill herself by slashing her wrists.
她試圖割腕自殺。
We had to slash our way through the undergrowth with sticks.
我們揮舞著木棍一路劈砍，才在密林里開出一條路，穿了過去。
[常用被動態] (often used in newspapers 常用于報章) to reduce sth by a large amount 大幅度削減；大大降低
to slash costs/prices/fares, etc.
大幅度降低成本、價格、車費等
The workforce has been slashed by half.
職工人數裁減了一半。
albeit
(formal) although 盡管；雖然
He finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to help us.
盡管勉強，他最后還是同意幫助我們。
exemption
[不可數名詞, 可數名詞] ~ (from sth) official permission not to do sth or pay sth that you would normally have to do or pay 免除；豁免
She was given exemption from the final examination.
她已獲準期末免試。
[可數名詞] a part of your income that you do not have to pay tax on （指部分收入）免稅
a tax exemption on money donated to charity
給慈善機構的捐款免稅
deduction
[不可數名詞, 可數名詞] the process of using information you have in order to understand a particular situation or to find the answer to a problem 演繹；推論；推理
He arrived at the solution by a simple process of deduction.
他通過一番簡單的推理得出了解決問題的方法。
If my deductions are correct, I can tell you who the killer was.
如果我的推論正確的話，我可以告訴你誰是兇手。
——see also deduce ——compare induction (3)
[不可數名詞, 可數名詞] the process of taking an amount of sth, especially money, away from a total; the amount that is taken away 扣除（額）；減去（數）
deductions from your pay for tax, etc.
從工資中扣除稅金等的數額
tax deductions
稅金扣除額
curb
[動詞 + 名詞短語] to control or limit sth, especially sth bad 控制，抑制，限定，約束（不好的事物）
He needs to learn to curb his temper.
他得學著控制自己的脾氣。
A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation.
為了抑制通貨膨脹實施了一系列的政策。
~ (on sth) something that controls and puts limits on sth 起控制（或限制）作用的事物
curbs on government spending
對政府開支的限制措施
Lawmakers reconciling the bills confront three main differences. First, the Senate proposal leaves the deduction for mortgage interest mostly intact; the House wisely wants to curb it. Second, whereas the House would abolish the estate (inheritance) tax entirely, the Senate would keep it. It is right to do so, though it would double the threshold at which the tax kicks in, from $22.4m (for couples). Third, the Senate has tacked on a repeal of Obamacare’s individual mandate, a fine for Americans who do not buy health insurance even if they can afford it.
reconcile
~ sth (with sth) to find an acceptable way of dealing with two or more ideas, needs, etc. that seem to be opposed to each other 使和諧一致；調和；使配合
an attempt to reconcile the need for industrial development with concern for the environment
協調工業發展的需要和環境保護之間關系的努力
It was hard to reconcile his career ambitions with the needs of his children.
他很難兼顧事業上的抱負和孩子們的需要。
[常用被動態] ~ sb (with sb) to make people become friends again after an argument or a disagreement 使和解；使和好如初
The pair were reconciled after Jackson made a public apology.
杰克遜公開道歉之后，這兩個人又言歸于好了。
He has recently been reconciled with his wife.
他最近已經和妻子和好了。
~ sb/yourself (to sth) to make sb/yourself accept an unpleasant situation because it is not possible to change it 將就；妥協
resign yourself to
He could not reconcile himself to the prospect of losing her.
他一想到有可能失去她，就覺得難以忍受。
senate
(usually the Senate)
[單數] one of the two groups of elected politicians who make laws in some countries, for example in the US, Australia, Canada and France. The Senate is smaller than the other group but higher in rank. Many state parliaments in the US also have a Senate. 參議院（美國、澳大利亞、加拿大、法國等國家的兩個立法機構之一；美國許多州議會也設有參議院）
a member of the Senate ?參議員
a Senate committee ?參議院委員會
[可數名詞, 常用單數形式, 不可數名詞] (in some countries) the group of people who control a university （某些國家的）大學理事會，大學評議會
the senate of London University
倫敦大學評議會
[單數] (in ancient Rome) the most important council of the government; the building where the council met （古羅馬的）元老院
repeal
[動詞 + 名詞短語] if a government or other group or person with authority repeals a law, that law is no longer valid 廢除，撤銷，廢止（法規）
mandate
|?m?nde?t|
~ (to do sth) | ~ (for sth) the authority to do sth, given to a government or other organization by the people who vote for it in an election （政府或組織等經選舉而獲得的）授權
The election victory gave the party a clear mandate to continue its programme of reform.
選舉獲勝使得這個政黨擁有了明確的繼續推行改革的權力。
a mandate for an end to the civil war
停止內戰的權力
the period of time for which a government is given power （政府的）任期
The presidential mandate is limited to two terms of four years each.
總統的任期不得超過兩屆，每屆四年。
~ (to do sth) (formal) an official order given to sb to perform a particular task 委托書；授權令
The bank had no mandate to honour the cheque.
銀行沒有得到指令來承兌這張支票。
the power given to a country to govern another country or region, especially in the past （尤指舊時授予某國對別國或地區的）委任統治權
【動詞】
(especially North American English) to order sb to behave, do sth or vote in a particular way 強制執行；委托辦理
[動詞 (+ that從句)]
The law mandates that imported goods be identified as such.
法律規定進口貨物必須如實標明。
[also 動詞 + 名詞短語 + 帶to的不定式, 動詞 + 名詞短語]
[動詞 + 名詞短語 + 帶to的不定式] to give sb, especially a government or a committee, the authority to do sth 授權
The assembly was mandated to draft a constitution.
大會被授權起草一份章程。
One test of the final bill is its effect on the economy. On the one hand it would limit deductions in favour of cuts to marginal tax rates—a worthwhile reform. On the other it will increase inequality, largely because business-owners tend to be rich, and it will add a trillion dollars in public borrowing by 2027, according to an official projection for the Senate’s bill.
But there is another test, which is the effect on governance. The Republicans have argued that their bill is aimed at helping middle-class Americans and that it will spark enough economic growth to pay for itself. This is belied by experience— witness the rise in de?cits after the tax cuts of 1981 and the early 2000s(see page 31). Not even economists in sympathetic think tanks believe that the Republican claims will be borne out. Steve Mnuchin, the treasury secretary, has failed to produce any analysis justifying his predictions of much higher growth (his department’s inspector-general is investigating why not). The Treasury did, however, delete a study from its website that was unhelpful to the administration’s argument.
belie
(belies, belying, belied, belied)
[動詞 + 名詞短語](formal)
to give a false impression of sb/sth 掩飾；遮掩；使…給人以假象
Her energy and youthful good looks belie her 65 years.
她的活力與年輕美貌使人看不出她有65歲了。
to show that sth cannot be true or correct 顯示（某事）不正確；證明（某事）錯誤
Government claims that there is no poverty are belied by the number of homeless people on the streets.
大街上無家可歸者的人數證明政府所聲稱的沒有貧困的說法是謊言。
sympathetic
~ (to/towards sb) kind to sb who is hurt or sad; showing that you understand and care about their problems 同情的；有同情心的；表示同情的
a sympathetic listener
體恤別人的聽者
I did not feel at all sympathetic towards Kate.
我對凱特一點也不同情。
I'm here if you need a sympathetic ear (= sb to talk to about your problems) .
要是你想訴訴苦，那就跟我說吧。
~ (to/towards sb/sth) showing that you approve of sb/sth or that you share their views and are willing to support them 贊同的；支持的
to be sympathetic to the party's aims
贊同該黨的目標
Russian newspapers are largely sympathetic to the president.
俄羅斯報章大都支持總統。
(of a person 人) easy to like 讓人喜歡的；招人喜愛的
a sympathetic character in a novel
小說中一個討人喜歡的人物
I don't find her a very sympathetic person.
我覺得她并不十分招人喜歡。
treasury
the Treasury [單數名詞 +單數/復數 動詞] (in Britain, the US and some other countries) the government department that controls public money （英國、美國和其他一些國家的）財政部
[可數名詞] a place in a castle, etc. where valuable things are stored （城堡等中的）金銀財寶庫，寶庫
All politicians exaggerate the bene?ts of their policies, and some Republicans have made unconvincing claims about the rewards of tax cuts for decades. However, in the1980s the party undertook a robust debate over the merits of supply-side economics, and in the 2000s George W. Bush’s own economists cautioned against over-rosy growth forecasts. This time, most Republican senators simply brushed off the official projection that the bill’s effects would contradict their sunny promises. In addition, they attacked the independent forecasters?whom they have previously championed as a valuable restraint on self-serving politicians. And to minimize scrutiny, they rushed the bill through barely a day after the forecast was released. Perhaps, after the failure of health-care reform, they were desperate for a signi?cant legislative achievement.
contradict
to say that sth that sb else has said is wrong, and that the opposite is true 反駁；駁斥；批駁
[動詞 + 名詞短語]
All evening her husband contradicted everything she said.
整個晚上她說什么丈夫都反駁。
You've just contradicted yourself (= said the opposite of what you said before) .
你恰好與你以前說的自相矛盾。
[also 動詞 + 直接引語, 動詞 + 名詞短語 + 直接引語]
[動詞 + 名詞短語] (of statements or pieces of evidence 陳述或證據) to be so different from each other that one of them must be wrong 相抵觸；相矛盾；相反
The two stories contradict each other.
這兩種說法相互抵觸。
restraint
[可數名詞, 常用復數] ~ (on sb/sth) a rule, a fact, an idea, etc. that limits or controls what people can do 約束力；管制措施；制約因素
The government has imposed export restraints on some products.
政府對一些產品實行了出口控制。
[不可數名詞] the act of controlling or limiting sth because it is necessary or sensible to do so 控制；限制
wage restraint 薪限
[不可數名詞] the quality of behaving calmly and with control 克制；抑制；約束
The police appealed to the crowd for restraint.
警方呼吁群眾保持克制。
He exercised considerable restraint in ignoring the insults.
他表現出極大的克制，沒去理會種種侮辱。
[不可數名詞](formal) the use of physical force to control sb who is behaving in a violent way （武力）阻止，制止，制伏
the physical restraint of prisoners
對囚犯的人身限制
[可數名詞](formal) a type of seat belt or safety device 座椅安全帶；安全裝置
Children must use an approved child restraint or adult seat belt.
兒童必須使用經過認可的兒童安全帶或成人座椅安全帶。
A lack of consistency makes Republicans seem unprincipled. They have spent the past decade claiming that the national debt is among their main concerns. In 2009 they opposed President Barack Obama’s ?scal stimulus, arguing that it was unaffordable. Yet it cost less than today’s tax bill would. It passed when unemployment was over 8% and interest rates were stuck near zero. Today unemployment is 4.1% and rates have started rising because the Federal Reserve is worried about in?ation. The Fed will probably raise rates faster after the tax bill, limiting the boost to economic growth.
stimulus
~ (to/for sth) | ~ (to do sth)
[常用單數形式] something that helps sb/sth to develop better or more quickly 促進因素；激勵因素；刺激物
Books provide children with ideas and a stimulus for play.
書不僅給孩子們以思想，而且使他們玩得更有意思。
The new tax laws should act as a stimulus to exports.
新稅法應該能促進出口。
something that produces a reaction in a human, an animal or a plant （使生物產生反應的）刺激，刺激物
sensory/verbal/visual stimuli
感官 / 言語 / 視覺刺激
The animals were conditioned to respond to auditory stimuli (= sounds) .
經過訓練，那些動物對聲音形成了條件反射。
The whiff?of self-enrichment does not help. President Donald Trump assures Americans that the bill will be “not good” for his bank balance. Without seeing histax returns, that is impossible to know.But he holds interests in around 500 “pass- through” businesses, which are among the main bene?ciaries of the tax bill. As a property developer, he is almost uniquely fortunate in being allowed to keep most of his tax exemptions.
Tax return
納稅申報單
Talking is good
對話有益
When Democrats cried foul after the bill passed, Mitch McConnell, the Senate leader, retorted that: “You complain about process when you are losing.” Nonsense. A robust and factual debate is essential to good policymaking. The erosion of standards will feed on itself. Already, some voices on the left are saying that deficits should never again stop Democrats from spending freely when they are in power. In a country facing a huge long-term fiscal shortfall, that is a worrying thought.
democrat
a person who believes in or supports democracy 民主主義者
Democrat (abbr. D, Dem.) a member or supporter of the Democratic party of the US （美國）民主黨黨員，民主黨人，民主黨支持者
retort
to reply quickly to a comment, in an angry, offended or humorous way （生氣或幽默地）反駁，回嘴
[動詞 + 直接引語]
‘Don't be ridiculous! ’ Pat retorted angrily.
“別荒唐了！”帕特生氣地回答道。
[動詞 (+ that從句)]
Sam retorted that it was my fault as much as his.
薩姆反駁說我和他同樣有錯。
【名詞】
a quick, angry or humorous reply （生氣或幽默的）回應，反駁
She bit back (= stopped herself from making) a sharp retort.
她克制住了自己，沒有尖刻地反駁。
a closed bottle with a long narrow bent spout that is used in a laboratory for heating chemicals 曲頸甑；曲頸瓶；蒸餾器
erode
[常用被動態] ~ (sth) (away)
to gradually destroy the surface of sth through the action of wind, rain, etc.; to be gradually destroyed in this way 侵蝕；腐蝕；風化
[動詞 + 名詞短語]
The cliff face has been steadily eroded by the sea.
峭壁表面逐漸被海水侵蝕。
[單獨使用的動詞]
The rocks have eroded away over time.
這些巖石隨著時間的推移逐漸風化了。
to gradually destroy sth or make it weaker over a period of time; to be destroyed or made weaker in this way 逐漸毀壞；削弱；損害
[動詞 + 名詞短語]
Her confidence has been slowly eroded by repeated failures.
她的自信心因屢屢失敗慢慢消磨掉了。
Mortgage payments have been eroded (= decreased in value) by inflation.
償還的按揭貸款因通貨膨脹而貶值。
[also 單獨使用的動詞]
[派生詞]
erosion
|??r???n; 美 ??ro??n|
noun
[不可數名詞]the erosion of the coastline by the sea
海水對海岸線的侵蝕
fiscal
connected with government or public money, especially taxes 財政的；國庫的；國家歲入的
fiscal policies/reforms
財政政策 / 改革
shortfall
~ (in sth) if there is a shortfall in sth, there is less of it than you need or expect 缺口；差額；虧空
Democracy requires deliberation, and deliberation requires honesty. After this bill, a great fear of theFounding Fathers—a politics of warring factions and interests, scrapping over the public purse—looks closer than ever.
