“Pay for itself” is a nonsense throwback to the idea that government expenditure needs to be paid by tax revenue. It doesn’t. As long as the government can instruct the central bank to purchase Treasury Bills, which it has the unlimited power to do, the bills will always be paid. If it’s paid with tax revenue (existing money) then there is no monetary inflation. If it’s paid via the printing press, then existing money is devalued by dilution. With that simple concept, it becomes obvious why the wealthy want balanced budgets, or unbalanced budgets that fund tax benefits for themselves. Everything else is vehemently opposed with a smokescreen of BS about fiscal responsibility or fear mongering about turning into Venezuela.