At the left side of the bumper was the sticker
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.
On the right side
TAX IT ALL
presumably as a protest.
I doubt the driver made the connection – and these two are closely related – that the overwhelming preponderance of federal debt and tax money goes to the military for current and past expenditures. I just wish those who support the first connect it to the second. That awareness would cut through a lot of political rhetoric and posturing and maybe lead to some real reductions.
Think it will ever happen?
Jnana's Red Barn 
No, not really.
Taxes never go down, they are simply shifted from here to there now and then as a kind of universal shell game. That is in the unwritten laws of the universe. 😉 I think about 20% or so of our annual budget goes to military which, when we consider the state of our world, might not be such a bad thing.
Out of what we pay an Army soldier for their service, which isn’t much to begin with, $310 a month comes back out of their paychecks to cover their meals. $50 a month comes back out of their paychecks to cover their access to the internet in their barracks. They must also pay for their “kitting out” that means uniforms, all clothing, eye protection, moleskin for blistered feet, camel packs, boots, bedding, and personal care items.
If they wish to visit their family they must cover their own travel expenses as well…. I think the least we can do is provide them with weapons. So yeah, if folks make the connection in a realistic way, they might understand our budget a bit better.
The actual cost of the military is much, much higher — the national debt, retirement and health care, college education credits, and so on. When these are added in, as much as two-thirds to three-quarters of the federal budget may be involved. (Remember, Homeland Security, National Security Council, the CIA, the defense contractors all could fall under this umbrella.) Very little actually gets down to the troops, as you detail. Compare that to the thousands of retired generals and admirals.