Answer:
The detail from the first paragraph that supports the idea that "we have had to pay few penalties" is D. We haven't had to fight for our existence. This implies that the United States has not faced significant military threats on its own soil in recent history, therefore it has not been forced to endure the type of devastation that wars and conflicts can bring. This statement suggests that Americans may take their safety and security for granted, as they have not had to pay a high price for it.