In Washington, a half dozen or so people stand clustered around what appears to be a window embedded into the side of a flamboyantly decorated truck. The hollering of orders is accompanied by the simplistic question, “Do you want fries with that?”

Food trucks are the talk of the town nowadays in DC, since their arrival back in 2009. As I approach, I realize that I’m the last of the lunch rush, offering me some time to inquire the owner about the nature of this business. It seems simple enough for any young entrepreneur out there who has a little creative edge and a good business model to flourish in this industry.

Little did I know there are many more obstacles to entering this market than meets the eye. As I stood there waiting for my foot long, the young man told me of all the obstacles that have begun to damper his one man show.

Brick-and- mortar restaurants have grown increasingly threatened by the new found competition that provides a fast and affordable type of lunch to every kind of employee in Washington. They have worked hard pouring wheelbarrows full of money into K-Street, lobbying firms for stricter regulation on the industry. But it doesn’t stop at the food truck industry or in the Washington area for the matter.

For many young Americans looking to enter the private and public realm with an innovative idea, they often find hindrance from current government policies that are supposedly there to protect them. Government in this age seems to think the most important constituent is the one with the most capital, creating a paradoxical bewilderment as to why youth are so disengaged in the political process.

As illustrated in the case of the food truck industry, big business has a hand in almost every aspect of policy making, and it becomes even more alarming when we take a look at the significance it plays on a federal level. The 2014 midterm elections are fast approaching, and they’re projected to be the most exorbitant election in U.S. history, with the vast majority of funding coming from the wealthiest organizations.

Since October 2013, highly contested congressional elections have seen a disturbing rise in the prominence of early attack ads, most of which are funded by super PACs like the Americans for Prosperity. The Koch Brothers have spent $28 million in the past four months on political ads. In what democratic universe is it tolerable for two individuals to spend $28 million to influence an election when 46.5 million Americans live below the poverty line?

Presidential election years are far from the exception. The amount of campaign contributions rose 599 percent from 2008 to 2012. If that trend continues for 2016, contributions would reach more than $11 billion. For any young person trying to maneuver their way through the financial hardships of their early professional life and battling off the $29,000 average student debt, trying to involve themselves in the process and having any kind of real influence seems nearly impossible. Perhaps it’s time to look into some campaign finance reform! You shouldn’t have to spend millions of dollars to have your voice heard in the political arena.

There is a major disconnect between those in power and those just barely above the voting age. My generation would rather scroll through our twitter feeds than travel to the polls in early November, and it’s because our vote goes largely unheard. Is it so radical that many of us feel the paradox of voting? No. Furthermore, I believe this is a sentiment held by all generations. Just over half of eligible voters went to cast their vote in 2012, a poor comparison to turnout rates in other places such as the European Union.

The E.U. sees consistent voter turnout, around 60-70 percent every election; the E.U. also has stricter campaign finance regulations. I remember hearing in history class the ideas of Manifest Destiny, American exceptionalism and “We the People…,” the words that overwhelm you with a since of national unity.

I believe in the political philosophy of democracy, and I also believe that “We the People…” should include not just those who can afford to be the “people,” but all Americans; whether you sit below the poverty level or you’re the CEO of a Forbes’s 500 company, whether you’re young or old.

It’s time we let everyone have the opportunity to get involved. It’s time we stop promoting a system that picks a few winners and a grotesque number of losers.