Bachmann attacked President Obama's speech yesterday and in part she proposed to massively cut government and to repeal job killing regulations.
If the cost of government is largely the cost of salary and benefits, then cutting government means cutting jobs.
Cutting jobs increases unemployment, so, I conclude, cutting government is a "job killing" proposition.
In my thought process, these government employees have bills to pay, children to raise and whether they are productive in the eyes of some or not, they still pay taxes. In addition they buy things: pizzas and pies, shoes and socks, books and bagels.
How will increasing the unemployment numbers stimulate our economy?
There's no thinking. All of the money that pays the wages of the police and firemen and soldiers pays for real work that benefits our economy and our country. And that money doesn't disappear - as you noted - it's recycled into the private sector, where it creates jobs - and profits - at malls and restaurants and book stores.
The "eliminate government" crowd isn't motivated by a thought process - it's motivated by a desire not to pay their share.