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The purpose of government spending is twofold. First, the government must either spend or reduce taxes when demand for goods and services falls short of what the economy is capable of producing or an output gap and unemployment will result.

Secondly, according to the preamble of the Constitution, one of the purposes of the government it constitutes is to "promote the general Welfare." .... There is never a reason to just spend in order to spend.

Except, of course, for the first purpose.

As Keyens once said, paying people to dig holes & then fill them up again would do for ending the Depression.  Not the best way.  But it would do.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3