people have no idea about how big the military and defense budgets worldwide are next to any other example of a public budget.

throw as many pie charts out as you want; people just can't see the astronomical difference in budgets.

I think it's based on how the thing works; a good defense works until it doesn't -- the other systems/budgets in place have a bit more of a graceful failure. This concept produces an irrationality in people that produces windfalls of cash availability.