Rep. John Boehner, the leader of the House Republicans, said the government should raise the retirement age to 70 and cut Social Security in order to finance the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Several other prominent Republicans are gathering behind this.

Republican leaders have no problem spending your supplemental (in some cases only) retirement money that you worked hard for all these years so long as all their fabulous retirement benefits aren't touched. It's time this double-dipping stops.

I have an even better idea: let's end those wars and bring the troops home. Those conflicts, regardless of whatever justifications were made for them in the beginning, have long outlived their usefulness and productivity.

Going after Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda post 9/11 was fine with me, but Bush totally dropped the ball on that effort in order to focus on starting a needless, illegitimate war in Iraq.

Now, both wars are just a languishing morass of impotence, wasted resources and lost lives that's not really accomplishing much of anything significant these days. In fact, the whole thing is past the point of diminishing returns. And, we're “helping” countries filled with people who don't want us there, who actually hate the U.S. and Western culture. Am I missing something here?

Don't get me wrong — I totally support our troops. I come from a family of sailors and Marines going back to World War II. I appreciate our troops' sacrifices and thank them for all that they do for us. However, enough is enough.

It's time to bring them back home to their families. Our nation is floundering financially and pushing on with these wars is only weakening America, not strengthening it. That's exactly what our enemies are keeping an eye on. A financially confused and struggling nation at home does no good for troops overseas.

At a time when we're hurting economically, does it really make sense to continue waging wars that don't produce any real, tangible benefit to folks here at home in Nevada County, Sacramento or even Main Street, USA? Funding such a lousy venture with Social Security is even more asinine.

Social Security belongs to US, the American people, who pay for it every day of our adult lives. Raising the retirement age to 70 is equal to an approximately 20 percent cut in benefits (about $13,000 to $14,000 per year).

I know a lot of you who have worked all your lives will depend on Social Security in one way or another when you retire.

Are you willing to take such a hit just so the Republicans can maintain their war machine, which typically only helps them prosper in their offices and profits their rich corporate friends who have huge, lucrative no-bid military contracts? Not me.

One thing I've been hearing lately from the Republicans and their supporters: “How did we get out of the Great Depression? War. We need war to create jobs and keep people employed.” Huh? Really?

Let's kill people so we can make money? That's their bottom line justification to keep these wars going in Iraq and Afghanistan? God, I'm glad I'm not that dumb.

I have a better idea ... how about not waging wars (defending the U.S. on our own soil is entirely different) and instead of mobilizing the masses to create goods and support for wars, mobilize them to create different types of alternative new sustainable energy sources and free America from not only Middle Eastern oil but the oil addiction altogether? Why not war on oil instead of war for oil?

The Republican warmongering, filibustering and fighting everything, spreading fear and divisiveness, sucking up to the large corporations and banks needs to stop. And that starts with them taking their hands off of our Social Security.

I urge you to write and/or call your congresspersons and representatives today to protect your hard-earned Social Security.