Government cuts in welfare have resulted in hunger and suffering for a lot of people, not just me.

政府削减福利开支已经导致许多人挨饿受苦，我只是其中之一。

But people with spinal cord injuries felt the cuts in a unique way: The government stopped taking care of our chairs.

但它对脊柱伤残的人的影响更为突出：政府已经不管我们的轮椅了。

Each time mine broke down, lost a screw, needed a new roller bearing, the brake wouldn't work, etc., and I called Suzanne, I had to endure a little lecture.

每次我的轮椅出问题，掉了螺丝，需要换个新轴承，或刹车不灵时，我都打电话给苏珊娜，但每次都要挨训。

Finally, she'd say, \if I can find time today, I'll call the medical worker.\

她最后总会说：“好吧，如果今天我能抽出时间的话，我会找医务人员的。”

She was supposed to notify the medical worker, who would certify that there was a problem.

她该通知医务人员，由医务人员来确认问题确实存在，

Then the medical worker called the wheelchair repair companies to get the cheapest bid

然后打电话给各家轮椅维修公司，拿到最低的报价。

Then the medical worker alerted the main welfare office at the state capital. 接着医务人员就通知州政府的福利总部，

They considered the matter for days while I lay in bed, unable to move. 他们再花几天时间考虑这件事。而这期间我只能躺在床上，动弹不得。

Finally, if I was lucky, they called back and approved the repair. 最后，如果我幸运的话，他们会给我回电话，同意维修。

When welfare learned I was making money on my cartoons, Suzanne started \every fortnight instead of every two months.

当福利部门获悉我画漫画赚钱时，苏珊娜就开始每两个星期“拜访”我一次，而不再是每两个月一次了。 She looked into every corner in search of unreported appliances, or maids, or a roast pig in the oven, or a new helicopter parked out back.

她寻遍每个角落，想找出我未上报的电器，或者是女仆、烤炉里的烤猪、停在房后新买的直升飞机什么的。

She never found anything, but there was always a thick pile of forms to fill out at the end of each visit, accounting for every penny.

她从来都是一无所获，但最后我总要填厚厚的一叠表格，说明每一分钱的来历。

There is no provision in the law for a gradual shift away from welfare.

如何逐渐脱离福利照顾，这在法律条款中没有明确规定。

I am an independent businessman, slowly building up my market.

我是一个独立的生意人，正在慢慢建立起自己的市场。

It's impossible to jump off welfare and suddenly be making two thousand dollars a month. But I would love to be able to pay for some of my living and not have to go through an embarrassing situation every time I need a spare part for my wheelchair.

要脱离福利救济，一下子每月挣2, 000美元是不可能的。但我很想自己负担部分生活费用，不必在每次需要为轮椅买点配件时都去尴尬地求人。

There needs to be a lawyer who can act as a champion for the rights of welfare clients, because the system so easily lends itself to abuse by the welfare givers as well as by the clients.

真需要有一位律师来捍卫福利救济对象的权利，因为这一福利体制不仅容易使福利提供者滥用权力，也很容易使救济对象滥用权力。

Welfare sent Suzanne to look around in my apartment the other day because the chemist said I was using a larger than usual amount of medical supplies. 前几天，由于药剂师说我使用的医疗用品超出常量，于是福利部门派苏珊娜到我的住所调查。

I was, indeed: The hole that has been surgically cut to drain urine had changed size and the connection to my urine bag was leaking.

我确实多用了，因为外科手术中切的排尿孔的大小改变了，尿袋的连接处发生渗漏。

While she was taking notes, my phone rang and Suzanne answered it. 她正做着记录，我家的电话铃响了。

The caller was a state senator, which scared Suzanne a little. 苏珊娜接听了电话，是一位州议员打来的，这使她慌了一下。

Would I sit on the governor’s committee and try to do something about the thousands

of welfare clients who, like me, could earn part or all of their own livings if they were allowed to do so, one step at a time 数以千计像我这样的福利救济对象，如果允许的话，可以慢慢地负担自己的一部分甚至全部生活费用，对此，我要不要在州政府的委员会里尝试着做点儿什么呢

Hell, yes, I would! 还用说吗我当然要！

Someday people like me will thrive under a new system that will encourage them, not seek to convict them of cheating. 总有一天，像我这样的福利救济对象将在一种新的福利制度下过上好日子，这种制度不会千方百计证明福利救济对象在欺骗，而是要鼓励他们自立。

They will be free to develop their talents without guilt or fear—or just hold a good, steady job.

他们将能自由地、毫无愧疚、毫不担忧地发挥他们的才干，或拥有一份稳定的好工作。

**************************************************************************************************************************************************************

本单元完

**************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Unit 4

A transformation is occurring that should greatly boost living standards in the developing world.

一个将会大大提高发展中国家生活水准的转变正方兴未艾。