问答题 We"ve come to a turning point, a moment for hard decision. I have asked that Cabinet and my staff a question and now I put the same question to all of you. If not us, who? And if not now, when? 6 It must be done by all of us going forward with a program aimed at reaching a balanced budget. We can then begin reducing the national debt.
I will shortly submit a budget to the Congress aimed at freezing government program spending for the next year. 7 Beyond this, we must take further steps to permanendy control government"s power to tax and spend.
We must act now to protect further generation form government"s desire to spent its citizens money and tax them into servitude when the bills come due. 8 Let us make it unconstitutional for the Federal Government to spend more than the Federal Government takes in.
We have already started returning to the people and to state and local governments responsibilities better handled by them. Now, there is a place for the Federal Government in matters of social compassion. 9 But our fundamental goals must be to reduce dependency and upgrade the dignity of those who are infirm or disadvantage. And here a growing economy and support from family and community offer our best chance for a society where compassion is a way of life, where the old and infirm are cared for, the young and, yes the unborn, protected, and the unfortunate looked after and made self-sufficient.
Now there is another area where the Federal Government can play a part. As an older American, I remember a time when people of different race, creed or ethnic origin in our land found hatred and prejudice installed in social custom and, yes, in law. There"s no story more heartening in our history than the progress that we"ve made toward the brotherhood of man that God intended for us. 10 Let us resolve: there will be no turning back or hesitation on the road to an America rich in dignity and abundant with opportunity for all our citizens.