err...sorry to break this to some...THIS COUNTRY IS NOT BROKE!!
sure, different depts., councils, cities blah blah have different budgets and priorities but lets take my ahem "beautiful" city of NOTTINGHAM as an example.
A tram system consisting of two lines, with a third in planning at a projected cost of close to 800 MILLION QUID!!!!
Ask anyone from around these parts if this represents a good use of capital...disregarding the cost to business in lost revenue and overall disruption over tht last 10+ years.
every summer our glorious leaders turn the market square into "NOTTINGHAM BY THE SEA"....by shipping in a few tons of sand to form a "beach" and erecting a oversized paddling pool....this rubbish costs thousands.
every city in this land has examples of this sort of folly....all paid for in taxes which could be better utilised.
the sad fact is after many years of relative peace....discounting our middle east "adventures"....people at the top AND bottom no longer even care about defence, BUT, this country is not broke
FISH.