Unpaid Washington Interns?

So I presumed that our federal government paid their interns with not just sex, but money too. Stephen Lurie from Washington Post has written an opinion piece about how the Federal government does not pay their interns a dime, yet plans on paying employees overtime.  The criticism is that because the government doesn’t pay the interns it makes it harder for students that come from high-middle and down classes thus making today’s interns and tomorrow’s politicians more likely to be richer and put more distance between the public and politicians in the aspect of relatability.

I couldn't resist...

In class we talked about how one of the main issues with Congress is that the demographics there do not accurately represent the demographics in the nation thus causing a lot of misunderstanding and misrepresenting in our country. I feel like unpaid government interns is one of the main sources of this issue because it really makes sense. I mean I know that Ivy League schools will let lower income students attend school practically for free as long as they meet grade requirements and show that they need financial aid like everybody else. But I guess when it comes to political internships the government gives them a rough time to get in as an intern and stay in. This furthers the whole “inner circle” of the government.

Think about it.  A lot of people who get pretty good jobs is because they know someone already there, and if the person that is already there is in good standing with the boss then they can easily get their friend into that company. Another scenario would be a circle of friends meet and come together in college, they all graduate going their separate ways, they get married, have kids…one kid wants to be a congressman and his dad remembers that his best friend from college is a congressman. Dad calls the college best friend, the best friend pulls some strings, and then the kid miraculously get an internship with minimal to no expenses. Then the whole cycle repeats when the son is put in the same situation twenty years down the road. Third and final example: Because a lot of the people went to similar or same Ivy League schools and they’re family has been at the school for years because of school pride everyone knows everyone else with the exceptions of foreign exchange students and the few students who advance in the social and economic classes.

I see Laurie’s point and I actually agree with him. Instead of paying your current employees overtime, they’re already well off I mean c’mon, give paid internships so we can improve the quality of our government and reduce the misrepresentation. It’s getting ridiculous. The government’s employees are pretty well off, and I’m not saying that they don’t work hard or don’t get stressed out about their job. But students have the hardest times getting themselves out there in the real world. The government’s employees already made it. Give the kids a chance.