Even if U.S.economic output expands in 2010 and more Americans head back to work, both critics and supporters of the president say the nation faces a more serious challenge to future economic viability: a rapidly growing deficit and a national debt estimated at more than $12 trillion.

VOA: standard.2010.01.15

The long-term fiscal challenge is largely a product of promises in our entitlement programs, medicare, medicate and social security that we have made the future generations that we cannot afford to keep.

长期财政挑战很大一部分原因,是我们承诺了很多津贴项目，我们承诺给下一代的,医疗保险和社会保险,而现在我们又没法兑现。

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