The candidates in the 2012 presidential political campaign should target economic issues that affect our economy, rather than social issues. We must set our doable priorities, and concentrate on what really needs to be done, to keep our nation strong and healthy.

Social issues are important. The recent government demand that medical insurers and employers supply contraception coverage for health reasons, by giving birth control pills free of charge, affects the religious liberty of many individuals and organizations, and may be in violation of our Constitution. This should not be a forced government decree.

At the same time, we should expect our president, and those who are seeking his job, to spend most of their time concentrating on the very real issues of improving the economy, reducing our huge deficit and solving high unemployment.

If we look in a crystal ball to predict our economic future, it is not as positive as we would like. The federal government is going to have to make deep cuts in its budget, in order to bring the federal debt under control.

Believe it or not, the annual federal budget has yet to be determined; it is well over 1,000 days past when it should have been approved. It is growing out of control, leading to increases in both spending and deficits. Local, state and federal government need to operate on a budget. It is terrible for our federal government to not do what every other level of government, and every business, needs to do.

There are automatic $1.5 trillion cuts that are scheduled to become effective on Jan. 1, 2013, but these could be decreased, increased or delayed, depending on the outcome of the presidential elections.

Businesses and individuals will see higher taxes in the future. Military budgets, earmarks and entitlement programs will be cut up to 50 percent, with some entitlement programs being entirely eliminated. Many tax deductions and tax credits for businesses and individuals will be eliminated or reduced.

Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid will see large changes, although individuals 55 years or older will remain grandfathered in the present system. Revisions in the Social Security retirement age will extend up to 70 years of age, simply because people are living longer than they did when Medicare began and a smaller percentage of the population will be in the work force, paying into the system.

Look for payments by everyone into Social Security to be increased, while the benefits paid out will be less, based on a recipient’s level of income.

Too many people in our country are out of work. If nationwide joblessness remains at 8 percent or above, long-term stagnation could have a terrible effect on young people, who can’t get jobs. All over the globe, we are seeing restive young people confronting their governments when they have no job opportunities. We need to encourage our youths to remain in school, and to advance their technical learning, in preparation to get the jobs that will be available in the future.

All of our candidates need to tell us more about what they are going to do to help lower gasoline prices. Gas prices affect all of us, every day, and make it harder for ordinary folks to manage, when the costs of getting to work or school are rising so rapidly. Perhaps by releasing some gas and oil reserves from our government stockpiles, this could alleviate this situation.

Our government also must start issuing licenses, instead of holding back, for more oil and gas drilling opportunities. Some people question if the current administration is hostile to fossil fuels, by refusing to issue permits for oil and gas drilling. Also, we should reconsider installing the Keystone Pipeline that will jump-start jobs and a new oil source that will help us on our energy requirements.

Government must keep the placing of its business in our own country, instead of placing loans or grants to foreign countries. Our administration has spoken about keeping our businesses in America, not placing it overseas. We need businesses to be supported and remain here in America. Actions will speak louder than words, for both political parties to maintain these important decisions.

Building the economy and its issues should be our first and foremost priority.

— Bernard Featherman is a business columnist for the Journal Tribune and former president of the Biddeford-Saco Chamber of Commerce.