Mailbag:

I’m appalled at Wendy Leece’s attempt to spend money on adding “In God We Trust” to the chambers’ walls at a time when our city is facing an economic crisis (“Leece: ‘In God’ is about unity,” Wednesday).

Let’s review: The city staff will be taking furloughs, early retirements are in the works, police have taken pay reductions, and even City Council reduced its meager pay.

First, church and government should never mix.

Second, Leece should not be forcing her religious beliefs upon others. There is a reason religion is called “religious beliefs” and not religious facts. There are numerous gods in this world, and her particular god should not be singled out as the one whom a council chamber should reflect upon.

This slogan adds no value to anything, but does cost money to create it and maintain it. I would assume our city will scrutinize every dime spent and even determine the return on investment for all expenses. But again, the issue is not the money; it’s simply that church and government do not mix and should never mix.

Additionally, the slogan is very offensive to many people whom the city serves, simply because many people do not believe in fictitious characters. Council chambers, at all cost, need to remain non-biased.

By the way, my favorite god is Bacchus, but I’m not demanding that wine be served at City Hall.

DENNIS CRANE

Costa Mesa

Medicare is still a benefit to seniors

I have just returned from a visit to England, France and Belgium, which all have national health programs. I went over to the wedding of my great nephew.

He waited to get married until he became a doctor. It is very hard work and there is a lot of competition, so you have to be bright to make it. Two of his grandparents and an uncle were doctors in the national health program. He probably will be a general practitioner.

He likes the work and they are well paid. A great-niece has recently become a psychologist with a PhD from Oxford University. She is employed by a group of general practitioners, who refer their patients who they think might benefit from short-term therapy or can be referred on her recommendation.

In other national health programs, as in Medicare, you can choose your doctor. The doctor decides on your treatment, not an insurer or bureaucrat. In England, suing for malpractice is controlled by review of cases by other doctors. You can still pay for nicer and sometimes faster services and for optional operations.

Medicare is a national health program that most seniors would not want to give up. Just the same, a few are unhappy or are not well-treated, and the press runs these articles.

The same kind of news has been reported constantly over the years of national health plans of other countries. Sure, every program could be improved, but no one in these countries would give them up! Health care is a right like education and voting! They are amazed that our infant mortality is so high, that we die young and still as a wealthy country do nothing about it!

HARRIET BEMUS

Newport Beach