As a taxpaying American, I demand an end to the public bailouts of government-sponsored enterprises and private institutions.

America's economic success is largely due to our free-market system, in which risk is a fundamental element. Some businesses succeed tremendously, some fail spectacularly. But they should do so on their own, not with the backing of millions of reluctant citizens' paychecks.

If troubled institutions seek relief, they should restructure their businesses the way millions of families have had to restructure their budgets, rather than bellying up to Congress' trough.

Bailouts that keep mismanaged organizations afloat delay natural corrections to unsound business practices. In the long run, bailouts do not "rescue" anyone because they stall the adoption of necessary reforms that would prevent future repeats of bad choices.

Enough is enough. No more bailouts. Not with my tax dollars.