Until we are, politicians will continue to buy votes with social and domestic spending and casually dismiss concerns about the capabilities of the military. Of course, we the voters are just as guilty. We elected them. And reelected them. The whole scenario mirrors the apparent spending habits and attitudes of our society in general.
Savings are generally a thing of the past.
As a culture we spend now to obtain the luxuries we want with no thought of the long term price. Unfortunately, as the bankruptcy rate indicates, there is no free ride. High interest rates take their toll. Eventually, somebody has to pay. Paltry defense spending has a similar but more devastating effect.