participate and make sure that they vote.

美國就不會出問題

When people vote, then Congress reflects the values of the country.

如果人們投票了， 國會就能反映國家的價值觀

But it's gonna require folks getting out of the mindset that we're helpless and there's nothing we can do,

但這需要人們跳出 「我們無能為力」的思維

and it's gonna require them to step up and devote a relatively modest amount of time to

需要人們投入其中， 稍微花一點時間

make sure that you're casting your ballot.

確保投票

And if you do that, then you'll see a difference.

如果你這麼做了， 就會發現事情的變化

Politics rarely gives you perfect results—it's not gonna solve every problem—but when citizens vote,

政治通常不會帶來完美的結果— 不可能解決所有問題，但如果公民投票了

things will be better.

情況就會好轉

And, you know, better historically is really important.

從歷史經驗來說， 情況好轉很重要

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 didn't eliminate racism,

1964 年的民權法案並沒有消除種族主義

but it made things a lot better for a lot of people.

但它讓很多人的狀況變好了

The passage of Social Security

通過社會保障法案

didn't mean every senior was safe from poverty,

並不意味著所有年長者都能免於貧困

but it lifted up millions of people out of poverty.

但它讓數百萬人擺脱了貧困

And that's how our government works.

這就是我們政府運行的方式

But it only works when people are actually committed to change.

但只有當人們真正致力於改變，才會有效

There are big differences between Democrats and Republicans, and I am a Democrat.

民主黨和共和黨差別很大，我是民主黨人

I think Democrats have better ideas.

我認為民主黨的想法更好

But...

但是…

the fact of the matter is that

實際上

this country was built by Democrats and Republicans.

這個國家是由民主黨人和共和黨人共同建立的

My personal political hero, my favorite president, happens to be a guy named Abraham Lincoln

我的政治偶像，我最喜歡的總統， 恰好是亞伯拉罕·林肯

who helped found the Republican Party.

他推動了共和黨的創立

And gives some indication of how far the current Republican Party

我們從中可以看出如今的共和黨

has traveled from its original foundations.

和創始之初相比變化有多大

And...

另外…

the good news is is that

有一個好消息是

the vast majority of the American people believe in the values that a Lincoln represented,

絕大多數美國人都相信林肯所代表的價值觀

or a Kennedy represented.

或者甘迺迪所代表的價值觀

That we should treat people decently and we should be honest,

我們應當善待他人，應當誠實

and we should be concerned for the less fortunate,

我們應當關心弱勢群體

and that we should invest in the future and make sure that every child gets opportunity.

我們應當投資未來， 讓所有孩子都能獲得機會

Regardless of party, there was a sense that there

無論黨派，我們有一種共識

were things that held us together:

將我們所有人連接在一起

So I'm optimistic we'll be ok as long as we say, oh,

所以只要我們足夠重視

we've got to pay attention.

我就相信美國不會出問題

We gotta vote.

我們要投票

We gotta participate.

我們要參與

Young people in particular need to vote.

尤其是年輕人需要投票

And they need to vote in midterms.

他們要在中期選舉中投票

If we do, then that

如果我們這麼做了

set of values that the majority of the American people hold dear will be reflected.

大多數美國人所注重的價值觀就能得到體現

And...

另外…

it doesn't mean every problem will be solved,

這並不代表所有問題都能得到解決

but we won't be concerned about

但這樣我們就不需要擔心

the continuity of our democracy, and

我們民主制度的延續

The fact that ultimately it's accountable to the people.

也不用擔心它最終要對人民負責