又中又英 | Throw the bums out | 褚簡寧

　　America's midterm Congressional elections are less than two months away on November 3. President Donald Trump's Republican Party now controls both houses of Congress. But the Democrats have a spring in their step, which means they are walking with confidence or feeling excited. Polls show Trump’s approval rating is only about 30 percent. Other polls show the Democrats are almost certain to win the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate. That's why they are walking with a spring in their step. But polls are not always accurate. Trump fears impeachment if the Democrats win control of Congress.

　　Democrats have said they will begin corruption investigations into Trump's top officials if they win control of the House of Representatives. Will American voters throw the bums out? The word "bum" has several meanings. One meaning is someone who has no home or job and lives by asking others for money. To "throw the bums out" is a slang expression that means using your vote to remove politicians who are corrupt, lazy, or ineffective. Democrats believe voters will throw the bums out by voting out Congressional Republicans.

　　Trump promised last week to give every American adult citizen US$5,000, which they must spend in the US, if Republicans retain control of both houses of Congress in November's elections. It is unclear what method Trump will use to give the money or how to ensure it is spent domestically. But the law states buying votes is illegal. The US has about 245 million adult citizens, which means Trump's handouts will cost US$1.2 trillion. Experts say the US cannot afford to give away so much money. Congress must also approve the plan.

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　　還有不足兩個月，美國國會中期選舉便會於11月3日舉行。總統特朗普所屬共和黨現正掌控國會兩院，但民主黨黨員 have a spring in their step，意即他們走路步伐輕快，朝氣勃勃，充滿自信。民調顯示，特朗普的支持率僅約30%，另有民調則顯示，民主黨人差不多有望穩贏眾議院，亦很可能同時拿下參議院。因此他們現在都心情愉快（a spring in their step）。不過，民調也不一定永遠準確。特朗普擔心，若民主黨掌控了國會，自己便會遭到彈劾。

　　民主黨人已表明，一旦他們掌控眾議院，便會調查特朗普等高級官員的貪污事宜。美國選民會否 throw the bums out？Bum一字有幾個意思，其中一個意思是無家無業、無所事事，僅靠乞討維生的流浪漢。To "throw the bums out"是個俚語，意思是用選票把那些貪腐、懶惰或無能的政客趕出去。民主黨人相信，選民會以選票踢走國會內的共和黨人，將無能政客趕下台（throw the bums out）。

　　特朗普於上星期承諾，若共和黨在11月選舉中得以繼續掌控國會兩院，便會向每名美國成年公民派發5000美元，而這筆錢只能在美國境內使用。現在不確定特朗普會以哪種方式派錢，又如何確保款項限制在國內使用。然而，法律訂明購買選票乃違法行為。美國有約2.45億成年公民，意味着特朗普派錢要花上1.2兆美元。專家們說，美國根本負擔不起相關款項。計劃也必須經過國會批准。

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Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻