But I now try to listen carefully to the plans, policies and arguments being made by political candidates more than I ever did in the past.
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REMEMBER....this is great....but NEVER has a candidate done what he/she says they will do thus it is more important to look at the incumbents !!!!!!

Also, curious what economic policy was passed during the last few years, or NOT passed that you feel so strongly about ?

I cant even try to explain how I feel about the situation you describe. It is just a bunch of jumbled thoughts....our nation is now totally lazy....our nation is now filled with folks who are "entitled" in their mind.....so much of this affects the economy in my opinion.
Lobbyists are not new...nor or they any worse than before. POLITICS has just become a "game" and yes the labels have become blurred. I am still conservative in the sense that I believe in our economy totally...it works if left to work. The economy has moved from national to global and we have yet to come to terms with that !