At least that's how I felt whilst I strolled back to the newsroom from the Capitol, puffing my chest and bearing the shiny new press credential that affords me the same Congressional access as the big boys.

But even as I swaggered, my step was slightly troubled by a disturbing thought...

Here I am in the nation's Capitol, oohing and aahing over the grandeur that surrounds me--senators and congressmen, rightfully busy an important, whizzing by; security forces jumping out of nowhere to tell you to use another staircase; people coming from all directions with a hard purpose.

It was all a familiar sight to me--it looked just like the government campus in Albany, New York where I spent many a day as both child and professional (ok, semi-professional). Politics oozed from every crack in the structures there, just as they do here. I have a vague sense of how things work here.

And then I saw the throngs of tourists passing over the marble floors, wide-eyed and open mouthed. They had looks on their faces that communicated a sense of wonder that lacked any hint of recognition or familiarity with what was around them. I thought, do these awestruck, teva-wearing individuals have a clue as to what is at work here? Do they know how their government functions?

I cannot speak for the particular folks I saw today, but I can front the observation that a startling number of Americans likely have no clue...bi-camera what? And the sadder part--do they even care?

I'm not talking about an ignorance of current events. Lord knows you can't avoid that these days, whether you read the papers or not. I'm talking about the civic mechanics of the whole operation. How a bill becomes a law. How the judiciary works. What the term cloture means--(I learned that today!)

How can you trust the institution that governs you and your loved ones if you don't even know how it works?

That is a disturbing thought, because it means a substantial portion of our country relies on blind faith of some sort...and we all know what scary things that can conjure...

But then I resumed my swagger unfalteringly when I remembered why I am here. It is my job to translate and inform. I am blind faith's biggest fear!