Cuts not kids! Cuts not kids!

Teancum and I went to Olympia for President's Day weekend.  I went for one of my classes to participate in a rally and learn about lobbying and advocacy in social work.  It was really fun!  We went to see my Aunt and Uncle in Tacoma on our way and they were very nice to us.  They fed us and gave us a great tour of the city and Point Defiance.  I've been to Tacoma lots of times, but it was even prettier than I remember!  Then on Monday we went to a lobbying workshop kind of thing hosted by the Children's Alliance.  They were lobbying to not include various children's programs in the budget cuts Washington has to make this year. 

This was the view from our hotel.

 

 The rally was held at the Capitol Building and there were tons of other people there rallying to stop cuts to all kinds of programs. 

 

There were probably a few thousand people at the rally.  Groups were protesting everything from education to protecting salmon.  I've never been to a rally before and it was not what I expected.

 

 The mob mentality seemed overwhelming at times.  They were playing music from loud speakers and every once in a while someone would get up and shout non-specific demands about the budget and everyone would cheer.  

Someone was handing out signs that said "Protect our Future" and I didn't know what it meant so I didn't take one.  That is not effective lobbying.

The Capitol Building and area was really pretty.

 

The Children's Alliance had the motto "Kids not Cuts".  We were expecting Tea Partiers, but they never showed and Teancum made the joke that their counter chant would be "Cuts not Kids".

Maybe you had to be there, but it seemed funny at the time...

  

  

We had pretty good weather the whole time and it was fun to learn more about how the lobbying process works and how to get involved with current policies and programs on the state level.

  

 

Nice little park in front of the Capitol Campus.

 

  

  

And then the drive home.