US tax redistribution is greatest by absolute volume from the middle class to the middle class, although the per person benefits the wealthier get through subsidies and deductions are higher.

The issue is, a lot of them are not explicitly specified and are not large programmes but form various subsidies already built into prices such as the Home Mortgage Interest Deduction.

Comparing to Australia, the actual tax take is 25% of GDP for both, yet the expenditure is roughly 40% for the US and 35% for AU, despite the fact we both have a generous welfare which doesn't expire and a public health care system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_spending#As_a_percentage_of_GDP

The Submerged State is a good book on this from what I've heard, here's a summary:

http://www.minnpost.com/eric-black-ink/2012/04/our-%E2%80%98submerged-state%E2%80%99-invisible-government-policies-may-surprise-you

Subterranean Submerged Hot Box.

He tried the US national anthem once but had to replace his phone afterwards, and no, the warranty does not cover submerged in cat piss.

The car's condition depends mainly on whether or not the engine was running at the time the air intake was submerged (water does not compress well inside a cylinder) and if the water is fresh or salt. This is lake Baikal so it's fresh. The blurb a the end says its during the Baikal Cup ice yachting event and you can see some ice boats in the background so the ice is probably safe in most areas, just not in this one.

I was going to write nearly the same thing. It needs to be submerged.

Ok, so here is a very good point.
Because of strength and density, squeezing the air out of the sponge, while submerged under the mercury..., where is that air supposed to go?

Displacement. for the mercury to fill the sponge, the air must be pushed out and displace mercury while submerged, Can air, displace the Mercury in this instance? that's another interesting factor here.

Surface tension sounds plausible, but with the pressure of squeezing the sponge, I would think that tension would break even a little.

I suggest that it's most importantly to do with the surface tension of mercury. When the mercury covers any of the sponge's holes it forms a new little surface where the strong surface tension matters. You can tell this by looking at any transparent container of mercury such as old barometers and such. The meniscus bends down at the edge rather than the equivalent container of water where it bends up a little. If you pour out a bunch of mercury on a flat surface it will spread out so it's about half a centimeter deep iirc, i used to play a bit with some as a kid. (sometimes in a vac chamber, but not always!)

Here's a thought though. Unfortunately he had parts of the sponge poking out (possibly because of the limits of his container/supply of mercury) and so air could refill the holes in the sponge and allow it to retake its preferred shape. But if it was entirely submerged in the mercury and squeezed, which would be stronger? The springiness of the sponge to want to return to its shape sucking mercury in, or the surface tension of the mercury and the sponge just stays squashed. And i know that packing material is more springy than a bath sponge (or a natural sponge).

Mmmmm... Thong-covered ass, served half-submerged in viscous bluing solution....*promote

You'd have to have your arms submerged for that to not get uncomfortable fairly quickly.

But yeah, periscope.....knees...hell what about long hair. Or uh....bubbles from below.

so maybe its easier to make a holodeck experience with a submerged user? using fluid dynamics and sensory feedback using water jets and other things

Her conclusion would seem to support a case of "life imitating art". (Direct quote from the SeaQuest DSV wikipedia) :

"The series follows the adventures of the high-tech submarine seaQuest DSV (Deep Submergence Vehicle) operated by the United Earth Oceans Organization (UEO), a global coalition of up-world countries and undersea confederations, similar to the United Nations, which was created following a major showdown of nations that occurred c. 2017. "

It's already 2013 and people are finally trying to get the ocean version of NASA off and running. Now if we could just have flying cars and lightsabers.....

That would mean that while i live in the highest part of my town, the entire first floor would be submerged

You see that here. Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVqji1vIFYI

They seem to flood the ballasts on the Blue Marlin which submerges the platforms that the hulls are stored on, which are then shifted away by tug boats.

"Hey, baby. Wanna submerge my jumbo polymer balls and watch them expand over the course of 2 days?"

What a bunch of drunk morons. Submerge your hand in a tub of water; he'll let go when he can't breathe.