Tough Love: It's your fault the government doesn't care about you

Student loans are a hot topic this week. Unfortunately, this conversation will go no where. Your representatives, Democrats and Republicans alike, don't care about your student loans, about the air you will breathe in 40 years, or the Social Security that won't be there for you. And it's your fault. Here are some reasons the government doesn't care about you:

Millennials don't have party allegiances; they don't trust or like the party system. Party direction is determined by the coalitions it builds. Interest groups find their power in being co-opted by parties. Since we aren't partisan, Millennial interest groups are left with no allies. Why would the Democratic Party build a coalition that fights for a demographic that is not loyal to the Democrats? 

Here's the thing, I don't like parties either. There is really nothing about our current system that I like, but I understand that in order to have any influence on our system, I have to be civically engaged.

Second, politics is not future-based. No one wants to hurt a little now to help a lot later. This is especially true for the deepest pockets in politics. Corporations and their shareholders won't make sustainable sacrifices if it means hurting the profit margin. Older Americans freak out when we talk about reforming Medicare and Social Security, even if it won't affect them. Politicians are in the game of getting elected next term, not making the world a better place. The sooner we recognize this, the better off we will be.

When we make this realization, we understand that we have to make our interests relevant now in order to be heard. But we are a terrible political investment. Campaigns and candidates are concerned primarily with pushing their base to vote, meaning in order to get attention, you first have to be a voter! The base for both parties is thirty to fifty years older than you!

We don't stand up for ourselves, even when it's in our best interest. We take out higher and higher loans every year without pushing our schools to keep them down, or our government to invest in higher ed so we don't have to pay exponentially more. We don't vote, parties can't reach us, and we don't have the money to donate to campaigns or interest groups yet.

Finally, Congress is over 50% millionaires (NYTimes). Barely any of them had to worry about taking out loans to pay for college, and none have had to contend with tuition at its current rates. They won't develop any sympathy for you on their own, you have to make them understand by getting in front of them and demonstrating that you are important for their job security.

Want the government to give a crap about your interests? The first step is toregister to vote. Next, educate yourself and get involved with groups that share your interests. OurTime.org is a great place to get started.

*This piece is full of generalizations, and I am thrilled to find exceptions to these rules every day. Some young people do vote and organize, some corporations are concerned with sustainability, and some grandmas support reforming Social Security. Creating a world where these people are the norm, that's our job.