（下边有中文翻译请继续看到底。 谢谢。）
On January 15, 2025, President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address from the Oval Office, reflecting on his administration’s tenure and outlining his concerns and recommendations for the future of the United States. While the address attempted to highlight key issues and achievements, a deeper analysis reveals significant flaws in both the administration’s policies and its handling of major national and international events.
Warnings Against Emerging Oligarchy
President Biden expressed concerns about the growing concentration of wealth and power among a select few, warning of the threats posed by an oligarchic structure. However, the influence of powerful groups and lobbies is not a new phenomenon in the U.S. political system. Historically, administrations have been shaped and influenced by industrialists, corporations, defense contractors, and special interest groups. These entities have consistently directed policy decisions to serve their interests. Biden’s rhetoric, while well-meaning, added little to the discourse on combating systemic inequalities. His administration itself was no exception, as it was marked by similar influences and financial dependencies.
Concerns Over the ‘Tech-Industrial Complex’
President Biden drew parallels to Eisenhower’s warning about the military-industrial complex by highlighting the dangers of a growing “tech-industrial complex.” While the influence of technology giants is a real and present issue, this is also a long-standing problem that previous administrations, including Biden’s, have failed to adequately address. The unchecked spread of misinformation and the dominance of tech companies are systemic challenges rooted in decades of neglect, lobbying, and lack of regulation. Biden’s administration’s efforts in this area were insufficient and did not result in meaningful change, rendering his warning a hollow reiteration of well-known problems.
Call for Reforms
President Biden’s proposed reforms, while commendable in intent, faced significant practical challenges:
Tax Reforms: Achieving a fairer taxation system is a perpetual challenge in any administration. Biden’s proposals faced resistance from various quarters, and his tenure did not see significant progress in reducing wealth inequality.
Campaign Finance Transparency: Transparency in political donations is critical for reducing undue influence. However, despite Biden’s emphasis on this issue, his administration’s inability to ensure robust media independence and judiciary empowerment undermined these efforts. Meaningful reform in this area remained largely aspirational.
Supreme Court Term Limits: While the idea of judicial accountability is laudable, such a reform faces considerable constitutional and political hurdles, and Biden’s administration made little headway in translating this proposal into action.
Ban on Stock Trading by Congress Members: In a capitalist society, restricting stock trading for lawmakers may appear counterintuitive, especially when ordinary citizens are permitted to engage in such activities. This proposal, while aimed at reducing conflicts of interest, was met with skepticism and viewed by many as incompatible with a free-market economy.
Achievements of the Biden Administration
President Biden enumerated several achievements during his term, including economic recovery, infrastructure modernization, healthcare advancements, and gun safety legislation. However, these accomplishments were overshadowed by significant policy failures:
Afghanistan Withdrawal: The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan was a major humiliation for the United States, marked by the abandonment of $80 billion worth of military equipment and the collapse of the Afghan National Army. The hasty and poorly executed withdrawal left a power vacuum that was quickly filled by the Taliban, leading to widespread criticism of Biden’s handling of the situation.
Ukraine Conflict: Biden’s insistence on Ukraine’s inclusion in NATO, despite clear warnings from Russia, was a key factor in escalating tensions that ultimately led to the ongoing war. The conflict not only devastated Ukraine but also strained Europe’s resources and diverted billions of American tax dollars with little to show in terms of resolution.
Support for Israel: Biden’s unwavering support for Israel during its military actions in Gaza drew sharp criticism. His administration’s stance was widely perceived as facilitating genocide, tarnishing America’s global image. Domestically, student protests against his policies reflected a deep divide between public opinion and his administration’s approach.
UN Failures: Biden’s administration faced embarrassment at the United Nations Security Council, where several of his resolutions failed to gain support, even from close allies. This highlighted a decline in U.S. diplomatic influence under his leadership.
Peaceful Transition of Power
President Biden emphasized the importance of democratic norms and a peaceful transition of power to President-elect Donald Trump. However, this point seemed disingenuous, as Biden had already withdrawn from the presidential race and endorsed Kamala Harris as his successor. The narrative of ensuring a smooth transition appeared unnecessary, given his lack of candidacy and inability to influence the process.
Summary
President Biden’s farewell address painted a selective and overly optimistic picture of his administration’s legacy. The reality is that his tenure was marred by significant failures, both domestically and internationally. From the Afghanistan debacle to the Ukraine war, his administration’s policies often led to disastrous outcomes. The disconnect between public sentiment and his administration’s actions further exacerbated societal divisions, as evidenced by widespread protests and discontent.
The defeat of Kamala Harris in the presidential race can be directly attributed to the missteps and controversies of the Biden administration. Historians are likely to view his tenure as a period of missed opportunities and misguided priorities, casting a long shadow over his farewell address and legacy.
2025年1月15日，乔·拜登总统在椭圆形办公室发表了告别演说，回顾了他的任期，并概述了他对美国未来的担忧和建议。虽然演讲试图强调关键问题和成就，但更深入的分析显示，本届政府的政策以及对重大国内和国际事件的处理存在重大缺陷。
对新兴寡头的警告
拜登总统对财富和权力日益集中在少数人手中表示担忧，并对寡头结构构成的威胁发出警告。然而，强大的团体和游说团体的影响在美国政治制度中并不是一个新现象。从历史上看，政府一直受到实业家、企业、国防承包商和特殊利益集团的塑造和影响。这些实体一贯指导政策决定为其利益服务。拜登的言论虽然是善意的，但对打击系统性不平等的讨论没有什么帮助。b他的政府本身也不例外，因为它具有类似的影响和财务依赖性。
对“科技产业园区”的担忧
拜登总统通过强调日益增长的“科技工业综合体”的危险，将艾森豪威尔关于军事工业综合体的警告与之相提并论。虽然科技巨头的影响是一个真实而现实的问题，但这也是包括拜登在内的历届政府未能充分解决的长期问题。不受控制的错误信息传播和科技公司的主导地位是系统性挑战，根植于数十年来的忽视、游说和缺乏监管。拜登政府在这方面的努力不够，没有带来有意义的改变，使得他的警告只是空洞地重复众所周知的问题。
呼吁改革
拜登总统提出的改革，虽然意图值得称赞，但面临着重大的实际挑战：
税收改革：实现更公平的税收制度对任何政府来说都是一个永恒的挑战。拜登的提议遭到了各方面的抵制，在他的任期内，在减少财富不平等方面没有取得重大进展。
竞选资金透明度：政治捐款的透明度对于减少不当影响至关重要。然而，尽管拜登强调了这个问题，但b他的政府无法确保强大的媒体独立性和司法赋权，破坏了这些努力。在这一领域进行有意义的改革在很大程度上仍是空想。
最高法院任期限制：虽然司法问责制的想法值得称赞，但这样的改革面临着相当大的宪法和政治障碍，而拜登政府在将这一提议付诸行动方面几乎没有取得进展。
禁止国会议员进行股票交易：在资本主义社会，限制议员进行股票交易似乎有悖常理，尤其是在普通公民被允许从事此类活动的情况下。这一提议虽然旨在减少利益冲突，但遭到了质疑，许多人认为这与自由市场经济不相容。
拜登政府的政绩
拜登总统列举了他任期内的几项成就，包括经济复苏、基础设施现代化、医疗保健进步和枪支安全立法。然而，这些成就被重大的政策失败所掩盖：
阿富汗撤军：从阿富汗的混乱撤军对美国来说是一个重大的耻辱，其标志是放弃了价值800亿美元的军事装备，阿富汗国民军崩溃。仓促和执行不力的撤军留下了权力真空，很快被塔利班填补，导致对拜登处理局势的广泛批评。
乌克兰冲突：拜登不顾俄罗斯的明确警告，坚持让乌克兰加入北约，这是导致紧张局势升级的一个关键因素，最终导致了持续不断的战争。这场冲突不仅摧毁了乌克兰，也使欧洲的资源紧张，转移了美国数十亿美元的税收，但在解决问题方面却几乎看不到任何迹象。
对以色列的支持：拜登在以色列对加沙的军事行动期间对以色列的坚定支持招致了尖锐的批评。布什的立场被广泛认为是助长了种族灭绝，玷污了美国的全球形象。在国内，学生抗议他的政策，反映了公众舆论和他的做法之间的深刻分歧。
联合国的失败：拜登政府在联合国安理会面临尴尬，他的几项决议未能获得支持，甚至来自亲密盟友。这凸显了在他的领导下美国外交影响力的下降。
权力的和平过渡
拜登总统强调了民主规范以及向当选总统川普和平移交权力的重要性。然而，这一点似乎是不诚实的，因为拜登已经退出了总统竞选，并支持卡玛拉哈里斯作为他的继任者。考虑到他没有候选人资格，也无法影响选举进程，确保平稳过渡的说法似乎没有必要。
总结
拜登总统的告别演说为他的政治遗产描绘了一幅有选择性的、过于乐观的画面。现实情况是，无论是在国内还是在国际上，他的任期都受到了重大失败的影响。从阿富汗的溃败到乌克兰战争，美国的政策常常导致灾难性的后果。公众情绪与b他的政府行动之间的脱节进一步加剧了社会分裂，广泛的抗议和不满就是明证。
卡玛拉·哈里斯在大选中落败，直接归因于拜登政府的失误和争议。历史学家很可能将他的任期视为错失机遇、优先事项被误导的时期，这给他的告别演说和政治遗产蒙上了长长的阴影。
( 注意： 本文是用AI翻译的，或有误差。请以原版英文为准。谢谢。)
Reference Link:- https://www2.apdnews.cn/en/item/25/0120/axjdjdggf7e0eba00e6df9.html