Synaptic strength changes according to the number of stimuli received during a learning process: synapses have the ability to weaken or strengthen over time. This phenomenon is called synaptic or functional plasticity and is a natural process that enables organisms to respond appropriately to changes in the environment.
Governments have long used the power to tax and spend to favor certain constituencies with special benefits over and above what a system based on a formula or need would provide. In a democracy, elected officials generally have well-defined, geographic-specific electoral bases, so such benefits tend to be location-specific and highly visible, usually taking the form of infrastructure spending on such projects as courthouses, highways, airports, and government office buildings.
