Perception and its effect on decision making

We typically make decisions based on either our own experiences or the advice of others. Of course, these are almost always subjective. When this is done on a global scale, it becomes really apparent how subjective it is. The recent swine flu outbreak is one of these. Currently, there are about 1200 cases worldwide with about 27 deaths. A normal flu season kills anywhere from 20000 to 40000 people. Why the big panic? The WHO keeps jacking up the threat level and by the time the media gets through with it, schools are closed and everyone is scrambling around looking for Tamiflu and wearing masks which, according to some news sources, don't stop the germ. There was not a world panic in 1984 and 1985 when the AIDS epidemic started. It has however snowballed into a huge problem with many deaths and no real end in sight. Was this because the group of people first affected were gay men or drug users? Are they not as important as everyone else? Deaths from AIDS is declining in the more settled areas of the world but it is wide open in Africa. Perhaps if the world's leading nations focused on this issue instead of some of the stupid shit they talk about now, the epidemic in Africa would lessen.
The war in Iraq is another example of subjective decision making. The US jumps in there with guns blazing using the excuse of WMD, religious extremists, and human rights violations and starts an expensive war. No WMDs but I guess the populace is happier now even though half their stuff is blown up. Somalia, however, is another story. With the multiple coups and civil wars, tens of thousands have been killed. There is virtually no government so it is like the Hatfields and McCoys all over the country. Pirates are openly operating in international waters. But hey, guess what? There's no oil production in Somalia!
I ran across a cool link while fact-checking for those who get off on statistics. Check it out if you get a chance. http://www.indexmundi.com/