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9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p m published every Wednesday by Fairway Press, a division of Kitchenerâ€"Waterioo Record Ltd., owner ' 225 Fairway Rd. S., Kitchener, Ont. address correspondence to Waterioo office : #2 King St. South, Waterioo, Ont. , telephone 886â€"2830 Waterioo Chronicle office is located on 2nd floor of the OW. Sports building opposite Waterioo Square. Parkung on King Street or in Watertoo Square. Open Monday to Frday Page 4 â€" Waterioo Chronidle, Wednpsday, 21, 1977 Our newspapers, radio and television broadcasts keep us well informed on the suffering, poverty and injustice at home and in all parts of the world. In recent years we have had so much of this that many of us now suffer from what has been called ‘compassion fatigue"". Our hearts are touchâ€" ed and our minds prodded so frequently that they become wearied preventing continued attention to the suffering of others. Some of us go in for the detached academic of studyâ€"group kind of interest in the plight of others. This sometimes leads to constructive action â€" but generally it is a subtle exerâ€" cise in evasion. We use pious chatter and the drafting of imâ€" pressive resolutions as an excuse for not rolling up our sleeves and trying to do helpful things â€" even such a helpâ€" ful thing as reaching for a chequeâ€"book. _ Compassion fatigue can encourage us to cultivate conâ€" venient ignorance: if we do not let ourselves know too much about the suffering of others we will not feel called upon to do anything about it. Many comfortable Canadians do cultivate a convenient ignorance â€" ignorance of the malnutrition from which the majority of the world‘s people suffer, ignorance of the inâ€" justices inflicted on so many people everywhere. and of the deprivation in our own nation. Even in our own neighborâ€" hoods. ’ The complexity and confusion of life today, with the compassion fatigue it engenders and the convenient ignorâ€" ance it encourages, causes indifference to settle rather easily on our hearts. Perhaps indifference is the great sin of our time. > Indifference â€" the greatest sin Letter to the editor We still have our mayors and councilâ€" lors which must be paid, plus our planâ€" ning boards, municipal and regional, pius a super police chief (who incidentally is doing a great job) plus several assisâ€" tant chiefs â€" one could go on and on ... _ > Why can‘t the citizens of each city, town, township, select by individual pleâ€" biscites on this matter? Then the results of the vote would be the method that taxâ€" payers would less critically accept. Then there is the little matter of floor space rental in the Marsland building which must cost a pretty penny in addition to the spaces occupied by municipal govâ€" ernments. When introduced, regional government was presented to taxpayers as a saving. Unfortunately, all it has ever been is a new method of tax escalation. Mayor Carroll must remember that it was never the taxpayer‘s vote which inâ€" stituted regional government. It was solely a provincial decision made withâ€" out consultation of the taxpaying maâ€" jorities. Naturally, Mr. McKeough had to rule out tax cuts for all of us in the Region because of his "brain child" called "reâ€" gional government"‘. . Is it the vanity of pomp, ceremony and creation of traditions for which regional government was created or is it just a method of rewarding friends for faithful service? To the editor, subscriptions : $10 a year in Canada. $12 a year in United States and Foreign Countries. Publisher: James M. Boland Editor: Mary Stupart Advertising Manager: Wolfgang Urschel Norma Sangoi, Waterloo. established 1854 A View from the Grass Roofs 1. Should Waterloo continue to seek the 1981 Summer Yes 89% No ll% Games? 6 Do you favour Yes 33% No 59% No Opinion 8‘, control agricultural 2. Are you in favour of the Convention Arts Centre in Yes 40% â€" No 60% Kitchener? repfenrenturnrernte Yes 42¢% No 46% No Opinion 11% TL _ 1. Should Ontario establish French language schools in areas where French population is concentrated? Yes 51% No 43% No Opinion 5¢% 2. Do you favour the continuation of rent controls? Yes 64% No 27% No Opinion 8% Because of space constraints I cannot make detailed comments in this column today. However I would accept the admonition of many of you that the example I used in the question on government services to close small hospitals was not the best. A less controversial example would have increased the positive replies. The question on strikes in the public service was a little confusing alâ€" though I do not think it affected the result. In any event here is the collective opinion of about 1.200 people in Waâ€" terloo. MUNICIPAL CONCERNS PROVINCIAL CONCERNS These are some broad general observations that can be made as a result of a political survey I have carried out over the past two weeks. Over 8,000 questionnaires were distributed throughout the City of Waterloo. As of September 20 over 1,200 had been returned. Needliess to say I am delighted with the response and I thank all those who have replied. Those of you who signed your names will receive a copy of the final result with some more detailed observations in the mail Thank you for your comments. Very perceptive and interesting opinions have been expressed and I will try to use them. I intend to send a copy of the result to Mr. Trudeau. Mr. Clark and Mr. Saltsman. Also the provincial party leaders and Mr. Epp. Waterloo residents are deeply concerned about the major issues of the day. They are worried about the econâ€" omy. They are unsympathetic to strikes in the public serâ€" vice. They are antagonistic towards the Quebec Governâ€" ment, but conciliatory towards the French language. They are prepared to make sacrifices to get the country movâ€" ing again. â€" C«A CJ»SWA\ 3. Are you prepared to accept reduced Government serâ€" vices in order to lower taxes? (for example, the closing of small local hospitals). NATIONAL CONCERNS 1. Should the Federal Government maintain tariffs to protect Canadian industry? Yes 74% No 19% No Opinion 6% 2. Would you end the right to strike in: | t@) public service? â€" Yes71% â€"No2% (b) essential services only? YesT71% No 23% 3 (a) Has the Antiâ€"inflation Board accomplished its purpose? Yes 40% No51% No Opinion8% (b) Should it be continued with restricted powers? Yes62% No 30% No Opinion7% 4 ‘a) Are you in favour of the Federal Government proâ€" gram on bilingualism? Yes 27% .No64% â€" No Opinion 8% (b) Should bilingualism apply only to civil servants workâ€" ing in areas where the job requires two languages? Yes78% No 16% No Opinion5% 5 (a) The Quebec Government is engaged in a dispute with the Innuit Eskimos. Should the Federal Government assist these native people? Yes 88% No 12% (b) And should the Federal Government test Quebee‘s Bill 101 (requiring the use of the French language) to determine its constitutionality? Yes 89% No ll% 6 Do you favour the extension of marketing boards to control agricultural prices and supply distribution? Yes 49% No 46% No Opinion 4‘% The Chronicle welcomes letters to the Editor by Rich Hobson