Mr. Obama was elected for similar reasons. People had hoped that his unique story, personality and speaking skills could bring the country together, overcome paralysis and deliver nation-building at home. A lot of the disappointment settling in among Obama voters today is prompted by their dawning realization that maybe, like Arnold, he can’t.
奥巴马的当选也是基于类似的原因。人们原指望他不同凡响的经历、性格和演讲技巧能使全国上下一心，重振雄风，建设国家。而今天奥巴马的支持者们开始逐渐意识到他和施瓦辛格一样，做不到这些，失望情绪于是开始蔓延。
So what do we do? The standard answer is that we need better leaders. The real answer is that we need better citizens. We need citizens who will convey to their leaders that they are ready to sacrifice, even pay, yes, higher taxes, and will not punish politicians who ask them to do the hard things. Otherwise, folks, we’re in trouble. A great power that can only produce suboptimal responses to its biggest challenges will, in time, fade from being a great power — no matter how much imagination it generates.
那我们该如何是好？这个问题的标准答案是我们需要更优秀的领导者。真正的答案，是我们需要更优秀的国民。能向领导者表示自己已决意奉献，甚至支付更高的税款，不会因当政者对自身的苛求而责怪他们，我们需要的正是这样的国民。反之，我们就真有麻烦了。一个面临最棘手的挑战时仅能拿出亚最佳解决方案的强国，不管激发了多少想象，也迟早会衰退。