The people who are lauding the virtues of being idle probably have money, and are of the age where they’re past measuring success by body count.

If they’d wanted to they could have launched an empty Orion crew module into LEO on another, cheaper, rocket and tested re-entry. The crew module by itself is less than ten tonnes.

There’s plenty of economic solutions if companies are really that desperate. They can pay a premium to encourage more investment. They can invest themselves, or enter into partnerships, acquire their suppliers or even open their own facilities.

Companies often complain about shortages, but it usually comes with the caveat ‘at the price we’re willing to pay’

The idea of advanced testing of new versions of software (that they’ll be forced to use eventually) never seems to occur, or they spend so much time fighting fires they never get around to it.

These days an ID system that doesn’t work online is next to useless.

3.7 million served in the Army, which is a fairly high proportion when compared to the age range suitable for military service. Add in the Navy and RAF and you get to nearly six million. Those that didn’t serve were generally needed at home - roles like doctors, miners, police, or were too young or too old to fight.

The British, unlike many European countries, had time to mobilise those forces. Had they lost the Battle of Britain and had Germany commenced a land invasion of Britain then it’s likely the numbers would have been a lot lower.

Ukraine isn’t under anyone’s nuclear umbrella, but Russia hasn’t done more than threaten to use nuclear weapons in that war. Probably because it’s not at all clear that it would actually force a surrender.

That’s chicken feed compared to the amounts that have been wiped off the stock markets.