pork barrel politics

Definition

The practice of government spending for localized projects primarily to bring money to a representative's district and secure votes, named after the literal distribution of salt pork to slaves. Modern democracy's 'you scratch my back, I'll appropriate funds for your district's convention center' system.

Example Usage

Critics accused the senator of pork barrel politics after she secured $50 million for a museum in her hometown while voting against national infrastructure.

Origin

Pre-Civil War practice of distributing salt pork from barrels to enslaved people. Political usage emerged in post-Civil War America.

Fun Fact

Alaska's 'Bridge to Nowhere,' a $398 million bridge to an island with 50 residents, became the poster child for pork barrel excess in the 2000s.

Source: American political terminology

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plurality

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impound

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