Simple: US Defense protects the US economy!
Any employed American owes it to the DoD.
After WWII, Europe and Asia were destroyed. This left the USA as the only economic powerhouse left. That caused a period of great prosperity.
It still happens today.
Some country threatens US oil supply? Lower oil supply would increase transportation costs, which would increase the price of almost all physical goods, which would hurt the economy. US Carriers away! Oil supplies saved, and the economy carries on.
The US is the #1 economy in the world (see
https://www.investopedia.com/article...-economies.asp ).
Jobs are a vital part of life and, if jobs go away, the populace would demand politicians to do something. The American way to do it is with the military.
Don't believe me? Check out
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama...es_acquisition . The US wanted shorter logistic routes and created Panama, the country and the canal.
So, yeah, the average American can pay $X,XXX/year to help keep him/her earning $XX,XXX/year. Last thing he/she would want is to get paid less (or not have a job anymore) because some resource is now controlled by another country and being used to benefit that other country's economy.