Poll: Are You Worried About Swine Flu?

By Tom Dunlap

Are you ready for the pandemic?

Many people a lot smarter than I -- including experts among my colleagues like Naomi Graychase, managing editor of Wi-FiPlanet.com -- are sounding some pretty serious warnings. Last time I did a column about this, "Pearls Before Swine (Flu)," I got an earful from these experts.

They make some convincing arguments. From talking to them, it's clear I know pretty much nothing of flu strains or pathologies or pandemics. (I was sick that day when they covered that in school -- with the flu.)

Nevertheless, I still can't seem to get too worked up over the swine flu. Call me either optimistic or incredibly naive. Or both. I've never had a flu vaccine shot, for instance. I refuse to get one. Heck, I recklessly don't even wash my hands enough. Flu shots are a big deal here in Santa Cruz, California, a place that used to be known for "newlyweds and nearly deads." There's even a drive-thru option, where both driver and passenger can get shots without leaving the friendly confines of their car.

I feel like if we take all the steps they tell us to take (wash your stinkin' hands!), and if we just let the flu fighters take care of the problem, like they do with many flu strains, then we'll be all right. As a cynical journalist, I also wonder if all the purported cases of swine flu are really, in fact, swine. But maybe that's the head-in-the sand approach?

Which leads to this week's question:

Are You Worried About Swine Flu?

To Vote in the Poll (it takes a couple steps, so I beg your indulgence):

1. Click Watch Now below.
2. Look for the small Vote Now link. Click it
3. A box pops up. Vote, and you'll see your vote tally in real time
4. You can also post a comment