NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 17 (UPI)—Certain sections of New Orleans are not adequately protected from possible future flooding due to a miscalculation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

As Iran proudly announces its increased nuclear enrichment - enrichment that has traditionally signaled the development of nuclear weaponry - the US government continues to refuse to build our southern border fence; even though it was required by its own Congressional legislation to do so.  The funding for the Secure Border Fence Act of 2006, passed by Congress, instructed that 854 miles of double-layer fencing is to be built to protect the US’ southern border.  Since the border fence’s funding in 2006, only 5 miles of fence have been erected.

With good leadership and when Congress wants to, it can get things done. A classic example is the Internet tax moratorium which was extended by seven years before it expired at the end of October. As the Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell wisely noted, “We don’t need meters on our modems.” Internet access bills should not look like our telephone bill with all sorts of taxes from local, state and federal governments which average 18 percent.

When the USDA announced its new National Animal Identification System in 2005, it was scheduled to become mandatory in three phases: property registration by 2007; animal identification and registration by 2008; and reporting - within 24 hours - of animal movement off the registered property by 2009.

Federal officials who earlier banned “holiday” ornaments bearing a representation of the Nativity, Jesus, an angel or other religious symbols have relented, allowing a grandma in a Florida senior living center to enjoy an angel atop the facility’s Christmas tree.

A California man with two young children who walk to their local school and must cross a busy street has petitioned his local government for a lower speed limit and some stop signs, and for his trouble has been sued not once, but twice, by his city.

The Social Security payments Americans receive in the mail are roughly half of what they would be if the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Consumer Price Index honestly, a veteran econometrician told WND.

The largest, most luxurious ship of state, steaming through unchartered waters toward an unknown future - is listing hard to port, and has been for more than a generation. The 1994 Republican sweep provided some ballast, but the 2006 tsunami sent a stampede of leftists to the helm. Once again, the ship of state is listing hard to port.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been given a rebuke by Congress for its aggressive attacks on firearms dealers who may have paperwork errors in their record-keeping.

You want scary? Try the fact that the moratorium on government taxation of the Internet comes to an end on October 31st. And, in true fright movie fashion, it happens at midnight. One expects a crack and flash of lightning to occur over the Capitol just as the witching hour tolls. But, will there be a wave of villagers with pitchforks to stop it? That’s up to all of us.

In January the FCC will auction off the prized 700 MHz spectrum of wireless bandwidth. But instead of offering the spectrum to the highest bidder to employ it however he judges best (for example, a mobile video-on-demand service), the FCC will force the winner to employ a specific business model--an “open access” Internet network that forbids the spectrum-holder from controlling which devices and applications use its network, regardless of how much bandwidth they eat up. Why? Because the FCC and sundry lobbyists claim, “open access” is necessary for the “public interest.”

We all know and expect liberals to promote an energetic government sticking its nose into every facet of American life.  But liberals alone can’t bring down this republic.  The true danger to this greatest experiment of individual liberty in human history comes from the Right.  And the entire risk comes down to one central question: What is the proper role of government? 

Impressive federal agencies listed on Consumer Sentinel’s website are leading a battle to protect Americans against fraud:  U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Postal Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Better Business Bureau...and more.  They brag about their successes.

A Missouri mom who was facing an investigation after school officials complained she was homeschooling two of her children has been cleared for now, but lawyers say they will be watching the situation there closely.

America has lost it!