I have made a trip to the State Capitol in Olympia every week for the past three weeks. On my first trip, I familiarized myself with the lay out and the lingo. Now its kinda creey how everything become a normal part of my day when I am at the capitol.
It was a little intimidating the first time I went to Olympia. I was walking amonst the policy makers of our state. The second time I went, I was not so intimidated- more like in a continuous state of awe. By my third trip, I was fed up with the high and mighty political figures and frustrated with the tiresome and never-ending process that a bill must undergo before attaining "law-hood". As a third-timer to the State Capitol, I am a self proclaimed expert on everything there is to know about the Washington State political system (ok, at least the parking lot). This is my guide to those who I leave behind and those yet to follow in my footsteps:
Getting AroundThe wonderful thing about the State Capitol, is that you must always be on the look out for renegade high school field trippers. They serve as a reminder as to how little we actually cared about important things when we were young. They remind us that at their age we preferred to giggle and flirt and talk about the OC than to soak up the awe-inspiring history and the surrounding enactment of our policital and legal processes (hmm, this must be why, before three weeks ago, I had little understanding of state government).
How to get man-handled: If you are looking for the office of a particular Representative, the Legislative Building is equipped with big strong security men in uniform whose jobs are solely to stand in hallway entrances, point to rooms, and molest little girls. This is amusing at first but not for very long.
Oh, you happen to require the services of a grocery store during your stay? Thus begins your sightseeing trip of Olympia. You navigate endlessly around corners, up and down the main streets taking in the wonderful selection of bars until your thirty minute adventure ends at a grocery store with inflated prices and weird food selections tucked away by the water's edge. Sorry, this sightseeing trip does not come with a safari hat, binoculars, or even a souvenier fold-away map.
Service and AmenitiesWhen I think of goverment in this country, a sence of technological advancement usually strikes me (I have a fairly positive image of government). A country that possesses the tools to clone sheep, that has advanced military capabilities, wide spread internet access, and sonicare toothbrushes just kinda screams "techonology". Be prepared, however, during your trip at the State Capitol to be disconnected from modern day convenience and the rest of the living population.
1) there is no copy center with a fax or copy machine anywhere nearby.
2) the legislative dining facilities do not accomodate people who want to pay with anything other than cold, hard cash.
3) the beautiful, majestic marble floors, walls and ceilings (can you say marble tomb?) do not allow for the penetration of cell phone signals.
4)the parking meter at the visitor parking lot has a slot where a credit card receptor can be installed, however, the genius who installed the meter thought that it would not be necessary. Oh yeah, if you want to pay in anything other than one dollar bills and coins (who carries $6 worth of coins around?) you are pretty much screwed.
Colloquial PhrasesDuring your stay at the Washington State Capitol you may run across a number of interesting words. You may find yourself wondering where "the gultch" is and what is means when a bill is "dropped". You might be befuddled by phrases such as "Code Revisor", "Exec'ed out", and "Second Substitute Bill".
Things To See and DoIf you happen to be visiting the State Caitol during some kind of political rally, it may serve your amusement to join or observe the event. Consider yourself especialy lucky if you get the opportunity to join a rally that hands out free green and white umbrellas. It truly is inspiring to be part of a cause you care about and to be surrounded by people who are just as committed and enthusiastic about that cause (the free umbrellas are cool too!)
Become part of the political system. Amazingly enough, most Representatives actually do care about what you think. They want to know what you want from them. Most will tell you right away where they stand on certain issues and whether or not they can support your cause. The beauty of democracy is that our leaders' careers depend upon how well we feel that they serve us. They are looking for way to seem positively productive towards our causes.
The pretty rooms that have some kind of obscure political and historical importance are fun to see too, but don't ask me what that importance is.
The LocalsFrom first glance, all State Representatives seem strange and sometimes even godlike. They wear conservative suits (even the liberals- ha ha ha... ok, not funny) and maintain and air of importance. They all wear a friendly demeanor of sincerity at first- after a while you may be able to sift the genuine from the fake, the ego-builders from the public servants. Some will treat you like you are the most important thing in their life for the brief five minutes you spend with them. Others will show you clearly how they are far more important than anything you could possibly want to talk about.
Final ThoughtsAfter the initial shock of being in a place where important policies are being discussed and where State laws are being negotiated, you come to the scary realization as to how much power these Representatives really have. You come to realize how easily friendships, circumstance, connections, and chance can sway the political system.
After being in this atmosphere, I no longer have much tolerance for people who like to complain about the failures of our laws and the short comings of our government. From what I have experienced I have realized that the people
really are the government.
If the government is bad it is only because we tolerate it as a collective.
When you are in need of decent resources, its amazing how far a little creativity will go.
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The annoying, commercial use of the Superbowl to increase a business’ bottom line while we increase our waist line was definitely evident the week leading up to the event.
