In 2013 we will spend 58%, (yes, almost 2/3rds), of our GDP on Welfare, (15%), Health Care, (17%), Pensions, (19%),
...but the Govt has been trying recently to reduce spending in these areas, and has run into a modicum of opposition! Rightly or wrongly, more of the UK population care about welfare/NHS/pensions than about how many types of support helicopter the military has, and the Govt is elected by the whole electorate not just by the tiny proprtion left in the Forces!
Maybe we should change to the Athenian style of democracy where 5000 citizens are selected to make the decisions...there should be room for everyone in the Forces plus a few token civvies...