This Little Piggy Went to Market

It was once said that if a family could see the bottom of the pork barrel, then they were in deep trouble financially. Once a common sight in household pantries, they contained salted pork that was used for flavoring dishes and as travel rations. To run out of this inexpensive item meant that a person or family was on the verge of starving.

Later this term was coined for government, namely pork barrel politics. The idea behind pork barrel politics is to take money from the government’s “barrel”, filled with “pork” garnered from taxpayers, and give it to benefit various constituents. Smacking almost of bribery, these moneys go to pet projects that are generally only useful to the constituents’ local districts. In return, the elected official who earmarked the funds gets “credit” in the form of votes or support.

Once vetoed by President James Madison as unconstitutional, pork barrel projects have become commonplace, even expected. While these pet projects are often low budget, especially when compared to overall government spending, taken in total the amount becomes a bit ridiculous. Last year there was 17.2 billion spent, and the year before that 29 billion.

Now, 17.2 billion is nothing compared to the 2.8 trillion that the government spent that same year, but it’s no chump change either. I’m sure there’s a few projects out there that could greatly benefit from that pork, and at the same time help all taxpayers. Projects like cancer research, and in particular, the dichloroacetate treatment, which shows promising results but because it can’t be patented, holds no monetary interest for pharmaceutical companies.

Either way you spin it, pork barrel spending is a ridiculous practice. The idea that our representatives use our own money to garner our votes--while a humorous joke on us--seems unethical, and gives a bad name to our representatives. Besides, with the current financial trouble our country is in, we’ve past the point of seeing the bottom of the barrel, and are now licking salt off the sides. It’s time we close the lid on pork barrel spending, and find a new way to feed ourselves.