Yesterday I spent the day in Olympia getting acquainted with our state government. The trip was arranged by Leadership Clark County, and our tour guides were former state legislator Dean Sutherland and Gov. Gregoire's local aide, Jim Jacks.

We met with many of our local elected officials, three lobbyists for our community, our Governor, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the State Auditor, the Secretary of State, and the Attorney General. Each described his or her job and their top priorities for this year. All of us were impressed by the obvious commitment these folks have to doing their best for the citizens of Washington. By all accounts they work 80+ hour weeks when the legislature is in session, often crossing party lines to get things done. And the work doesn't stop when they finally come home.

Those who think "government" is a faceless greedy machine should make the trip to Olympia themselves - it's impossible to come away without understanding that "government" is people like you and me, trying to do the best they can, with limited resources.