To be fair, there is good economics out there - not as solid as the sciences of course, because the subject matter is more complex, but it does exist.
The main problem with the role of economics in society is that economics, and often pseudo-economics, are used to influence politics in a biased way.
Economists need to start strict self-policing and disavowing all the dishonest actors in political think tanks. It's difficult to do in practice because some of the dishonest actors get a lot of funding from political interests, but if economists want their discipline to earn respect as a science, they do need to clean up their act in this regard.
The main problem with the role of economics in society is that economics, and often pseudo-economics, are used to influence politics in a biased way.
Economists need to start strict self-policing and disavowing all the dishonest actors in political think tanks. It's difficult to do in practice because some of the dishonest actors get a lot of funding from political interests, but if economists want their discipline to earn respect as a science, they do need to clean up their act in this regard.