To win political support
In today's dollars (2010) it was about $50.00 per barrel. In 1978 it was about $14.95 per barrel.
1 barrel of oil = 158.987295 liters 1 barrel of oil = 42 US gallons
Extremely expensive at that time: $37.42 per barrel. (equivalent to about $99.00 per barrel in 2010dollars)
About $65.27 a barrel.
That was the month and year that a barrel of crude oil reached its highest level: $128.08 per barrel.
So they can get money for something in their district.
Politicians only approved the pork barrel spending to gain political support. They didn't approve it because they are for it, they did it so they can win.
It helps politicians win support from their constituents.
Politicians might use pork barrel spending to win support from their constituents.
Politicians might use pork barrel spending to win support from their constituents.
It helps politicians win support from their constituents
Politicians might use pork barrel spending to win support from their constituents.
It helps politicians win support from their constituents
Politicians might use pork barrel spending to win support from their constituents.
Pork barrel spending is spending money on projects in the constituency of a Congressman by the Government in the hope of gaining or keeping his support. Pork barrel spending is very often not about the question whether this spending (or keeping on spending) is really necessary or efficient; or if the Congressman's State or District is really the best place for it. It of course does directly benefit the constituency of the Congressman involved. Is it 'fair'? It has been part of American politics from almost the start of the USA, and countless regions over the decades have profited from it. But from a totally unbiased point of view it isn't, since a pork-barrel decision is only partly based - and sometimes hardly at all - on what is best or most cost-efficient for the country at large.
The funding of politicians in the United States is nicknamed the "pork barrel" because politicians are paid way too much for doing so little. Once elected many politicians are "set for life".
Pork barrel projects