As political socialization occurs and I get older and my generation gets older, we grow apart because of our differences in critical values such as politics. A long time ago, politics were about whether to use the gold standard or the silver standard. Congressmen argued over trust-busting policies and how to regulate monopolies. Economic issues are still important and alive in politics today but more pressing are the government's responses to social issues dealing with individuals' personal lives and identities.

Nowadays, our representatives legislate on whether two individuals may marry based on social constructs, which bathrooms are suitable for whom, whether women deserve a voice, and whether or not to ban an entire religion from entering the country. In general, our two major parties' positions on these issue are clear and separate and, as a young Democrat, I vote with the party in favor of equality and respect.

When political discussions do come up, I find young Republicans who vote for representatives that pass legislation that actively disrespects the identities of myself and many others who live in this country, once faced with the implications of their affiliation, backtracking and explaining that they are fiscally conservative but socially progressive. They don't disrespect my identity but they hate what the government is doing with our taxes.

First of all, even being fiscally conservative means you want to screw over poor people but that's an argument over the role of government. Moreover, if you really cared so much about minorities, LGBT individuals, and other marginalized groups, you would place precedent on their well-being that politicians from your party are threatening instead of tax dollars and vote that way on issues. It's not okay to be a young Republican because that means your money matters more to you than the injustices suffered by marginalized groups everyday.