While I've often rolled my eyes at the PTI parallel air force of carefree expeds and unlimited AT budgets, I've also come to the conclusion that cutting our noses off to spite our face is a fruitless exercise in self-flagellation that will go un-noticed by those to whom our austerity is intended to impress.
The foot-shooting started about 8 or 9 years ago when we voluntarily and uncomplainingly 'made do', while our savvier competitors for funding bleated as every cut was muted. Our obedient leaders have sleepwalked towards future spending cuts, taking us to a skeletal state which all along banked on the situation getting better. But the gamble has been lost - the situation has got worse - but unlike other departments we start from a position of threadbare which is, unfortunately, perceived as level pegging for cuts.