If we could afford everything that we need....
We
can afford everything we need. Unfortunately it not a matter of whether we can afford it but where the government would rather spend money in order to secure votes. The sinkhole that is the NHS for instance or buying votes throughout the North East.
£42 billion to prop up a reckless bank then later nationalise it or spend that money equiping the armed forces to do what you expect of it? Which would buy the most votes in a part of the country that cares more for the colour of the rosette than what the person wearing the rosette is saying?