Which is more important to you: Economics or social issues

[TomC]

Social issues are much more important to me in terms of choosing a candidate.  I believe government, first and foremost, has to provide a balance between keeping order and protecting freedoms. I am more more concerned that a government who goes too far to keep order and a "civilized culture" will overreach and begin to deny personal choices.

Certain business regulation, especially for protecting citizen's health, is also an important issue, but I'm not sure that's the economic the question is asking about. I am much more concerned with social issues than creating or maintaining either a welfare state or protecting entrnched bureaucracies.

[TomC]

I am against most gun control, but might favor denying the production or sale of certain weapons, especially relating to explosives. I am against seat belt laws, I am against laws banning cell phone use. (Though insurance companies may well have a right to deny paying a claim for policy holders who refuse seat belts or use cell phones while driving, but that's a private matter, not public.) As for cigarette taxation, I am totally against it as a means to curb the behavior. However, since we do have government health care, and smoking is a big cause of disease, I am not opposed to collecting revenues that way to offset the cost, especially since in our health care system, we customers will pay one way or another. (Note: I am a smoker.)

But yes, these days I am more concerned about the Christian right.