We have become paranoid about every little thing in this country. The news media pumps panic into every one over things that are not even epidemic. First it was Mad Cow disease, then the Bird Flu. Now it is this Swine Flu. A small number of people have died from these over kill news stories.

We are brainwashed into thinking that these isolated cases will turn into a pandemic outbreak, that could equal the Black Plague. The Black Plague wiped out one third of the worlds population. This influenza scare is so blown out of proportion that it has become an on going habit of “Crying Wolf.”

When the real thing does happen, no one will believe the warnings. Thousands of people die every year from influenza. It is not turned into some world doom story. Why are some new forms of outbreaks treated as if it is the end of the world.? Ever sense 911 our citizens have been bombarded constantly about possible dangers from terrorists. We have been told to be careful about our water supply, taking buses, trains, or airplanes. We are told about toxins in the food we eat, and anything to cause public panic.

Our leaders should hold off releasing false information to frighten the population, until they are sure that the situation at hand will require a warning. All this premeditated and premature guessing on these issues, will only build distrust of the news media and our leaders. Citizens already have negative views of these bearers of news.

If there ever comes a real pandemic, there will be out of control panic, because our leaders wasted so much time creating unnecessary panic.  They won’t be able to handle the fear of people who have been mis-guided so many times before. It is ironic how our government has so many secret documents about everything, keeping citizens in the dark, yet they are always quick to inform the public about possible health hazards. Could this all be a smoke screen to cover up something our leaders don’t want the population to find out?

When the risk of a possible epidemic is a certainty, then and only then, should it be revealed. The world does not need anymore unnecessary panic scares. It is not justified to stress people out before any real epidemic is confirmed.