And, Ohio, we have done that.  The economy is growing again. The financial markets have stabilized.  The private sector has created jobs for the last eight months in a row.  (Applause.)  And there are roughly 3 million Americans who are working today because of the economic plan we put into place.

But the truth is progress has been painfully slow.  Millions of jobs were lost before our policies even had a chance to take effect.  We lost 4 million in the six months before I took office.  It was a hole so deep that even though we’ve added jobs again, millions of Americans remain unemployed.  Hundreds of thousands of families have lost their homes.  Millions more can barely pay the bills or make the mortgage.  The middle class is still treading water, and those aspiring to reach the middle class are doing everything they can to keep from drowning.

And meanwhile, some of the very steps that were necessary to save the economy -– like temporarily supporting the banks and the auto industry -– fed the perception that Washington is still ignoring the middle class in favor of special interests.

And so people are frustrated and they’re angry and they’re anxious about the future.  I understand that.  I also understand that in a political campaign, the easiest thing for the other side to do is to ride this fear and anger all the way to Election Day.   

That’s what’s happening right now.  A few weeks ago, the Republican leader of the House came here to Cleveland and offered his party’s answer to our economic challenges.  Now, it would be one thing if he had admitted his party’s mistakes during the eight years that they were in power, if they had gone off for a while and meditated（考虑，计划） , and come back and offered a credible new approach to solving our country’s problems.

But that’s not what happened.  There were no new policies from Mr. Boehner.  There were no new ideas.  There was just the same philosophy that we had already tried during the decade that they were in power -- the same philosophy that led to this mess in the first place:  Cut more taxes for millionaires and cut more rules for corporations.

Instead of coming together like past generations did to build a better country for our children and grandchildren, their argument is that we should let insurance companies go back to denying care for folks who are sick, or let credit card companies go back to raising rates without any reason.  Instead of setting our sights higher, they’re asking us to settle for a status quo（现状） of stagnant（停滞的，不景气的） growth and eroding（侵蚀的） competitiveness and a shrinking middle class.
  
Cleveland, that is not the America I know.  That is not the America we believe in.  (Applause.)

A lot has changed since I came here in those final days of the last election, but what hasn’t is the choice facing this country.  It’s still fear versus hope; the past versus the future.  It’s still a choice between sliding backward and moving forward.  That’s what this election is about. That’s the choice you will face in November.  (Applause.)  

Now, we have a different vision for the future.  See, I’ve never believed that government has all the answers to our problems.  I’ve never believed that government’s role is to create jobs or prosperity.  I believe it’s the drive and the ingenuity of our entrepreneurs（企业家） , our small businesses; the skill and dedication of our workers -- (applause) -- that’s made us the wealthiest nation on Earth.  (Applause.)  I believe it’s the private sector that must be the main engine for our recovery.

I believe government should be lean; government should be efficient.  I believe government should leave people free to make the choices they think are best for themselves and their families, so long as those choices don’t hurt others.  (Applause.)  

But in the words of the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, I also believe that government should do for the people what they cannot do better for themselves.  (Applause.)  And that means making the long-term investments in this country’s future that individuals and corporations can't make on their own:  investments in education and clean energy, in basic research and technology and infrastructure.  (Applause.)

That means making sure corporations live up to their responsibilities to treat consumers fairly and play by the same rules as everyone else.  (Applause.)  Their responsibility is to look out for their workers, as well as their shareholders, and create jobs here at home.

And that means providing a hand-up for middle-class families –- so that if they work hard and meet their responsibilities, they can afford to raise their children, and send them to college, see a doctor when they get sick, retire with dignity and respect.  (Applause.)  #p#分页标题#e#

That’s what we Democrats believe in -– a vibrant（振动的，充满生气的） free market, but one that works for everybody.  (Applause.)  That’s our vision.  That's our vision for a stronger economy and a growing middle class.  And that’s the difference between what we and Republicans in Congress are offering the American people right now.

Let me give you a few specific examples of our different approaches.  This week, I proposed some additional steps to grow the economy and help businesses spur（激励，刺激） hiring.  One of the keys to job creation is to encourage companies to invest more in the United States.  But for years, our tax code has actually given billions of dollars in tax breaks that encourage companies to create jobs and profits in other countries.

I want to change that.  (Applause.)  I want to change that. Instead of tax loopholes that incentivize（激励） investment in overseas jobs, I’m proposing a more generous, permanent extension of the tax credit that goes to companies for all the research and innovation they do right here in Ohio, right here in the United States of America.  (Applause.)

And I’m proposing that all American businesses should be allowed to write off all the investment they do in 2011.  And this will help small businesses upgrade their plants and equipment, and will encourage large corporations to get off the sidelines and start putting their profits to work in places like Cleveland and Toledo and Dayton.  (Applause.)  

Now, to most of you, I'll bet this just seems like common sense.  (Laughter.)  But not to Mr. Boehner and his allies.  For years, Republicans have fought to keep these corporate loopholes open.  In fact, when Mr. Boehner was here in Cleveland he attacked us for closing a few of these loopholes -– and using the money to help states like Ohio keep hundreds of thousands of teachers and cops and firefighters on the job.  (Applause.) 

Mr. Boehner dismissed these jobs we saved –- teaching our kids, patrolling our streets, rushing into burning buildings -– as “government jobs” -– jobs I guess he thought just weren’t worth saving.

And I couldn’t disagree more.  I think teachers and police officers and firefighters are part of what keeps America strong.  (Applause.)  And, Ohio, I think if we’re going to give tax breaks to companies, they should go to companies that create jobs in America -– not that create jobs overseas.  (Applause.)  That’s one difference between the Republican vision and the Democratic vision.  That’s what this election is all about.  (Applause.)