@critter1982 Yes, they realize that this is money that will be borrowed. But as you said yourself, this spending is going to create jobs. More jobs means more economic activity. More economic activity means growth. Growth means higher tax revenues (even without raising taxes) which we can use to pay down that debt over time.
Think of it this way. You’re 18 years old, and you are a pretty good student, but you have no money for college. You have essentially two options. One, you can skip college because you don’t want to borrow the $100,000 it would take to pay tuition, room and board, expenses, etc, and start working now. Two, you can borrow the money, and go to college. Sure, option two puts you into debt, but your lifetime earnings will rise, leaving you better of in the long run.
Not all debt is bad debt. Using your credit card to buy a $5,000 TV when you only make $1,000 a month? Bad debt. Taking out a $5,000 loan to buy a car so you can get to your new, higher-paying job full of advancement opportunities? Good debt.
Spending $100 billion on tax cuts for people who are already well-off and won’t increase their economic output with a few more bucks in their pocket? Bad debt. Spending $100 billion to improve highways and schools which will both put people to work immediately and improve economic efficiency and productivity in the long-term? Good debt.