Obama's message is bothersome

To the editor: Obama has promised and delivered on “Change in America” by defeating the evil and corrupt “Clinton Machine.”

He said that business as usual in Washington will end and he has delivered on this major victory, but his other ideas of change bother me, especially when I read on his Web site he wants every American to have free healthcare, bail out those who made bad home purchases, spend more on education and provide college for all.

Where has the individual responsibility gone? Where has freedom to choose gone? Does choice mean only to succeed, and does it ignore the freedom to fail?

Why should I provide healthcare to someone who abuses his or her body with smoking or drugs, places more importance on buying a flat-screen TV, cell phone with latest ringtone or fancy car rather than taking care of themselves and prioritizing their spending to places other than their own health insurance?

Why can I only buy health insurance from a business in my state? Why is it illegal to buy this product over state lines? Why do I have to bail out someone who buys property they cannot afford?

Why should we continue to spend more on elementary and secondary education and receive lower results?

Superintendents of schools make more than $150,000 a year, yet the test scores are falling and students are graduating who cannot read and write. China has more gifted and talented students than America has students in school.

We should demand excellence at every level in education, reward those who produce and quickly fire those who do not.

College is affordable for those who plan, work hard, achieve good grades and spend wisely. If you are strapped for funds, consider a community college before going to a four-year school.

The savings are huge, and you learn the same basics in the first two years at most schools. Most four-year colleges will accept grades from community college.

So while I applaud the defeat of the Clintons, the rest of the message bothers me a great deal.