Oakland, CA – Love Gov—the Independent Institute’s satirical online video series dramatizing huge problems that bad government policies have created for young people—is a Finalist for the 2015 Reason Video Prize, the Reason Foundation has announced.

Love Gov is Independent’s first effort at making an online video series, so its nomination for the Prize came as a pleasant surprise to David J. Theroux, the president and founder of Independent.

“It’s very encouraging to be a finalist for the 2015 Reason Video Prize,” Theroux said. “Receiving recognition from an organization we highly respect—and especially from the public—makes it easier for us to move forward with crafting additional online episodes—or even making an entirely new series. We are extremely grateful to the Reason Foundation, as well as to our partner organization, Emergent Order, for their invaluable help and encouragement.”

Released on July 6th, Love Gov has now garnered more than 1.8 million total views on YouTube.

Love Gov: From First Date to Mandate is a five-part series of 5-minute videos that personifies the folly of meddlesome government—by telling the story of Alexis Smith, a young woman whose life is turned upside down after she falls for and trusts Scott “Gov” Govinsky. As their relationship develops, Alexis finds herself drowning in student debt, distressed by an absurd health plan she can’t afford, scrambling to find an affordable home, overwhelmed by government regulations that ruin her fledgling start-up, having her privacy upended, and more. Alexis struggles to understand the source of her problems—while turning a deaf ear to her more perceptive friend, Libby.

Independent Institute is a non-profit, research and educational organization that promotes the power of independent thinking to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. For more information visit independent.org and subscribe to Independent’s YouTube channel.