Is the economy really the most important issue for the US Presidential election?

Social issues (I would add in the Social Safety Net) are greater concern then economic policy such as tweaking tax policy.

It is easier for the next guy to fix tax policies than it is to overturn a constitutional amendment outlawing same-sex marriages.

For this question I am putting social safety net in with fiscal issues, I think social safety nets bridge both in actuality.

I only bold it because I hope everyone sees it, not because I am angry in anyway with the first answer.

It really depends on a few factors. If a candidate had an economic plan I really liked, but was generally much more interested in social issues, and planned to spend at least three times the amount of resources on dealing with social issues than on dealing with the economy, than I have no problem not voting for them because the economic plan I like so much has become somewhat irrelevant. Similarly, if they have a great economic plan, but also don’t really have much support in congress for getting that plan actually passed, but do have lots of support for going against my social issues, then the economic plan becomes irrelevant. But if they technically disagree with one of my social issues, but don’t care to pursue it as an issue, and have a history to back that up, then the economic plan wins out. There are certain social issue stances that become a dealbreaker for me, when combined with both an extremist stance and a taste for pursuing that extremist stance rabidly, but often those candidates alienate enough voters beyond myself to not make it past the primary.

Fiscal issues and as you said @JLeslie I also would include the social safety net in that.

The economy is not the most important issue to me. However every issue is important.

The economy and Homeland Security ARE the two most important issues facing America now.

The economy is a symptom of a larger problem – the real problem is that of a creeping fascist society enabled by large income disparity.

Our economic woes are a direct result of that.

Yes, absolutely. It is the engine that runs our democracy.

I’m not American. I do not feel that economy is the most important issue, though it is certainly high on my list. In the last state election here, I felt that one party were offering a more sound economic strategy, but they were going to screw the environment into the ground, discriminate against gays, continue forcing religion on children in schools, and continue with their racist anti-asylum seeker policies. The other party I was considering were promoting environmental protection, fair treatment of refugees, gay rights, women’s rights, and no special treatment for people of one religion over others.

I chose the second party for obvious reasons.

I’m not very concerned about specific social issues. A constitutional government, the economy, and foriegn affairs will direct my vote. The federal government should not be involved with social engineering to begin with.

Yes, especially in terms of job creation and unemployment.

I imagine the economy will be the major issue of the 2012 election, and the question will be fo you want more of what drove it into the ditch, or more of whats been inching it back onto the road forward. But I think if we could see the future we’d care a lot more about whether we decide to unilaterally bomb Iran and invade Syria.

14 months ago, the Republicans swept into the House after campaigning against Obama on the economy and health care. Since they have been in office, they haven’t passed any bills regarding jobs, the economy, or health care, but they have passed a lot regarding abortion.
Politicians get in office any way they can, then do what they want.

Well, uniting the country is even more important, because with lingering deep divisions no good decisions with real mid and long-term impact are possible.

So the most important issue is sane Republicans joining forces with the Democrats about the most fundamental issues and compete with each other about the rest.

According to this Freakonomics Radio episode, it is, but mistakenly so, since, as it turns out, Presidents don’t really get a say on what the economy may look like while they’re in office.

@anam Great point. The fact is that most of what they campaign on and promise lies outside their power to deliver. The best they can do is use the bully pulpit to push Congress to give them the needed legislation.

No. The most important issue is the US Supreme Court. The economy can be second on the list.