earmark

What does the word mean exactly here? Does it mean rigidity here?

But something’s bothering you, and if we had to guess, it’s the …… well, the politics of politics. The bureaucracy. The compromising. The deals, favors, and earmarks. The lack of differentiation and candor. The “I’ll scratch your back, you scratch me” mentality of the whole scene. it’s all so uncompetitive, right?

In this context, "earmarks" means rights, interests, benefits, priviledges, etc. specifically reserved for somebody.

Hi,

Earmark has a special meaning as applied to politics.

earmark Public funds set aside for a specific purpose, use, or recipient. The term is commonly used to describe money set aside at the request of one or more legislators out of general appropriations for specific purposes. Earmarks are usually intended to benefit just one or a few states, congressional or legislative districts, cities, local jurisdictions, or certain public institutions or other organizations. http://texaspolitics.laits.utexas.edu/glossary/index.php?term=earmark

Sometimes to pass a law, congressmen add earmarks to gain the support of other specific influencial congressmen.