WHAT, US WORRY?

ET CETERA

AMERICA WEIGHS IN: FAREWELL TO SWINE-FLU ANXIETY, CALIFORNIA, AND THE PHRASE "GET 'ER DONE." AND WILL WE FIND ALIENS BEFORE WE CURE CANCER?<TEND/>

THE 60 MINUTES/VANITY FAIR POLL

What is an American? The question has long captivated historians and thumb suckers. Judging from this month’s 60 Minutes I Vanity Fair Poll, we are a hygiene-conscious nation-made up of anything but tobacco farmers and journalists—that plays it close to the vest and enjoys, in its free time, not reading the memoirs of Republican political figures. Yes, it’s catchy. It won’t quite fit on a bumper sticker (except maybe one for a Hummer, if any still roam the roads), but it does sum us up. A question: Regarding the 3 percent of Democrats who claim they will read Dick Cheney’s memoir—who are these people? Probably a cabal consisting of columnists, bloggers, and writers for The Daily Show.

We said “plays it close to the vest.” By and large, Americans are a conservative bunch, in the philosophical if not the political sense. We found no panic about swine flu. (Despite all the hand washers, even more Americans—44 percent—say they’re not changing their routines.)

We balk, to the tune of 60 percent, at using that newfangled Facebook thing. A solid 65 percent of us would still like to see our kids grow up to be “doctors, bankers, lawyers, or

Which of the following changes have you made as a result of

CONCERNS ABOUT THE H1N1 VIRUS?

None—I'll take my chances .44%

Wash hands and use so much sanitizer I should own stock in company ..

No more shaking hands..

No more kissing, hugging friends..

Do you think the H1N1 flu VACCINE WILL BE EFFECTIVE at stopping a major flu epidemic?

Yes 48%

No, epidemic coming anyway

Don't know

It used to be that many parents wanted their children to become doctors, bankers, lawyers, or the president. If they had a choice, WHICH OF THESE PROFESSIONS do you think most parents would want their children to pursue now?

ALL PARENTS

Doctor, banker, lawyer, president.. ..63%. .65%

Internet mogul 10 13

Humanitarian-aid worker 9 6

Athlete.. 6 9

Movie star, rock star.. 3 2

Should any of the following BE MADE LEGAL, as as long as it is officially regulated by the government?

% "YES" ALL REP. DEM. IND.

Marijuana.40%.25%.46%.44% Marijuanc

Assisted suicide........ 38 .29 .40 41

Prostitution._23 .10 .27 .27

Steroids in pro sports..„.... 10 . 7 12 9

the president” (only 2 percent said movie star or rock star—perhaps the rest fear a tell-all book). We’d just as soon keep all our 50 states, although, it should be pointed out, 10 percent would gladly cast Caland ifornia adrift 8 (On percent three, of everybody us push!), are, frankly, ready to help ( @vf.com Texas pack. Fewer than half of Americans SEE THE FULL would legalize marijuana or assisted suicide, RESULTS OF THE and even fewer would decriminalize prosti60 MINUTES/ VANITY FAIR POLL. tution or steroid use in sports. (One note: 12 percent of Democrats say they’re fine with athletes using steroids, but we believe—although we cannot prove, and the evidence is anonymous and circumstantial—that this figure is suspiciously pumped up.)

@vf.com

SEE THE FULL RESULTS OF THE 60 MINUTES/ VANITY FAIR POLL.

So Americans proceed—but proceed, in some ways, with caution. We take our time. Sam Cooke told us that "a change is gonna come," but he didn’t say when.

NOTE: This survey is based on a random sample of829 respondents nationwide. It was conducted by telephone October 5 to 8 by CBS News. Some low-percentage answer choices have been omitted.

Which one of the following occupations is MOST LIKELY TO BECOME OBSOLETE in the United States in the next 50 years?

Tobacco farmer

Newspaper reporter

Airline pilot

Fact-checker

U.N. peacekeeper

None of these

Some protesters against the administration's health-care proposals have been seen carrying signs calling for their states to secede. If you could PICK ONE STATE TO REMOVE from the United States, which one would it be?

California.. 10%

Alaska u

Hawaii u

None/Not sure 60

Which one of the following do you think

WILL HAPPEN FIRST?

Cure for cancer found

End of dependence on oil

Signs of life in outer space

Peace in Middle East

None will ever happen

A lot of people use CATCHPHR ASES AND BUZZWORDS these days, while others would like to see people stop using them. Which of the following common words or phrases would you most like to see abandoned next?

"Get 'er done". .25%

.17

"Too big to fail".. .16

"Staycation".. 15

"A perfect storm".. 12

Memoirs by several major Republican political figures will be published within the next year. Which of these authors' books would you be MOST LIKELY TO READ?

ALL REP.

Condoleezza Rice 22% .25%.

George W. Bush. .. 11 17

Sarah Palin. .. 9 17

Laura Bush. 7 9

Dick Cheney .. 4 4

None of these.. 46 27

How do you feel about becoming friends with business acquaintances on FACEBOOK?

Don't use Facebook at all.

Don't mix business and Facebook..

Great way to network 11

Only to avoid hurting feelings 4

Never heard of Facebook 7