【新闻精讲】

Schumpeter
Status contentment
It’s getting easier for the merely rich to live like tycoons
LAMENTING the rise of inequality is one of the few growth industries in an age of stagnation. One authority on the American wealthy, Robert Frank of CNBC, a TV channel, worries that the rich are “floating off” into their own country. Chrystia Freeland, a journalist-turned-politician, frets about the rise of the “new global super-rich” and the fall of everyone else. Charles Murray, America’s gloomiest social scientist, warns that society is “coming apart” as the rich retreat into their gated communities.
At the top of the income scale, however, a small counter-trend is observable. Never before have so many people been able to get access to the accoutrements of tycoonery—private planes, luxury yachts, fancy cars and interior-designed, exclusive homes. There is only so much comfort to be had from the fact that it is easier for the merely rich to lay claim to the lifestyle of the super-rich. But as a result of a combination of new technologies and businesses, that is nonetheless what is happening.

【精讲文本】
LAMENTING the rise of inequality is one of the few growth industries in an age of stagnation. One authority on the American wealthy, Robert Frank of CNBC, a TV channel, worries that the rich are “floating off” into their own country.
在经济停滞时期还能有增长的领域并不多，人们对社会日趋不平等的怨念便是其中之一。供职于美国全国广播公司财经频道CNBC的罗伯特•弗兰克（Robert Frank）是研究美国富豪的专家，他担心富豪们正日渐自成一国。

lament v. 哀叹
- She lamented over the loss of her best friend.
stagnation n.停滞
- stagnate v.停滞
- stagnant adj.停滞的
- stagnant economy
float v.飘荡

Chrystia Freeland, a journalist-turned-politician, frets about the rise of the “new global super-rich” and the fall of everyone else. Charles Murray, America’s gloomiest social scientist, warns that society is “coming apart” as the rich retreat into their gated communities.
从记者转身成为政客的克里斯提亚•弗里兰（Chrystia Freeland）为“全球新型超级富豪”的崛起以及其他所有人的没落而忧虑。美国最悲观的社会学家查尔斯•默里（Charles Murray）警告说，随着富人们退避至重门深户内，社会正在“分崩离析”。

fret v.使烦恼/担心
- fret about 担心
- Fretting about the situaton isn't going to help.
gloomy adj.忧郁的
retreat v.撤退
- retreat from public life
gated adj.大门紧闭的

At the top of the income scale, however, a small counter-trend is observable. Never before have so many people been able to get access to the accoutrements of tycoonery—private planes, luxury yachts, fancy cars and interior-designed, exclusive homes. There is only so much comfort to be had from the fact that it is easier for the merely rich to lay claim to the lifestyle of the super-rich. But as a result of a combination of new technologies and businesses, that is nonetheless what is happening.
然而，在顶层收入群体中，却可观察到一个小小的逆趋势。从来没有那么多人可以享用到大亨式的行头装备——私人飞机、豪华游艇、炫目豪车，以及装潢考究的高档住宅。小富之人愈加容易拥有巨富的生活方式了，这一点带给人们的安慰颇为有限。不过，由于一系列新科技和新业务的结合，这确实是正在发生的事。

counter adj.相反的
observable adj.可观察的
accountrement n.装备
tycoonery n.巨头作为
- tycoon n.巨头
- an oil tycoon
yacht n.游艇
fancy adj.炫目的
exclusive adj. 高级的，独家的
lay claim to自称有...权利
nonetheless adv.但是