Would feel comfortable prescribing klonopin (clonazepam) to a patient for more than a year for social anxiety if it was the only med that worked for them?

Depends: Klonopin (clonazepam) is a very good drug medicaiton but not all physicians are trained to use it or feel comfortable prescribing it. Some psychiatrist believe that only they should prescribe this medication. Many physicians including internist and family physicians have great experience usig this medication. Prescribing should be very carefully done, for proper reasons and 1 year is not a problem.

Yes, but...: ... This is rarely the case. Ssri antidepressants are usually better treatments for social anxiety. And even in the tranquilizer category, less sedating alternatives (ativan, xanax) might be preferable. But sure, if nothing else worked. The best answer, though, is to look for non-medication treatments. Psychotherapy, especially cbt, decreases social anxiety itself, it doesn't just numb you.