I am against abortions, but don't you think there are much more important things to worry about this election?

Question

I mean I think abortions are bad yadda yadda yadda. However, I simply am dumbfounded with all the other horrifying problems facing the United States that it is even a subject to be discussed. I mean it is like if you were in a fire and you forced yourself to stay and wash the dishes before you left the house. Terror, the economy, world competition, education more than trump such a topic this time around. It is not 1846. We have a few more pressing issues this time.

Answer 1

Wedge issues are a staple of modern politics.  Were the issue to be resolved, there would be many repercussions.  Groups that make money off the lobbying and related activities would be out of business.  Politicians would have to deal with issues that their fat cat backers have no interest in.  The core problems remains an electorate that is easy to con into ignoring other issues in order to concentrate on "The Issue."  

Answer 2

the reason that abortion becomes such a big issue every election season is because conservatives have nothing else to run on, other than g*y marriage.  the only way they can appeal to their base is on "moral" issues, because their policies in every other area suck.

Answer 3

Here's the basics

*You win elections by getting more people to vote for you than the other guy

*In order for that to happen you have to give them an an issue that is important enough to THEM in order motivate them to get off of their collective fat butts and go out and vote.

*Whether or not the issue that you used as a motivating tool is actually important  in the big scheme of things is of no importance at all .

*The disproportionate political power of the religious crazies would quickly disappear if the average American would get off their collective fat butts and vote for the candidates that want to make that happen

* However since the Average American  doesn't  vote and the religious crazies do ,the religious crazies get to determine the dialogue  for American elections

Answer 4

Abortion, gun control, g*y marriage, etc. are wedge issues and talking points.  They have little relevancy in most elections, however this one might be a little different with some possible Supreme Court openings in the near future.

Answer 5

For fundies, this is their sole voting issue.  They must hate America.

Answer 6

All issues have a heirarchy of importance to the public, and they are constantly changing. 2 years ago, the economy was far behind issues such as illegal immigration, the war, terrorism, even health care. Today, all those issues are behind the economy.

Abortion is a topic that is never going to go away, and I doubt however, the current status will ever change either.