Top 2%

According to that beacon of information accuracy, Slashdot, two percent of the world's population accounts for half the world's wealth. At the same time, the UK is planning to spend £20 billion on new nuclear missiles and associated subs. That's a lot of greenbacks in anyone's book. Now, I've never quite managed to get my head around the UK's need for a nuclear deterrent, especially since it's not even independent. For a launch, the UK has to ask, cap in hand, the US for the codes. The French, on the other hand, can nuke anyone they want, no questions asked. But back to the confusion - in a post cold war world, Empire days well and truly over - is this really the best way to spend £20bn of taxpayers' money?