I wrote the “Huuuummmmm……….” article yesterday, I wasn’t sure if I would get any replies or feedback…but I did. The interesting things that came from them were a bit contrasting in nature. I responded to both under their comments but I thought it would be good to respond in more detail and make a couple of points. I will respond to Brent today, “speedilyfriedaf0476a712” tomorrow. Here we go…

Brent wrote:

“It looks to me like a full acknowledgment into a 3 power world. US, China and Russia are carving out and will likely quickly carve out their hemispheres / areas of influence and concentrate on strengthening that influence and start getting the wealth extraction going to build their empires. Venezuela makes sense in that way – kick out Russian and China influence, keep resources in this hemisphere for us or NA/SA continents. Start building SA so it can produce goods rather than sitting on them.

I expect China to go after Taiwan soon, with only token resistance by US. Same with Russia/Ukraine. I think the deals have already been made. I won’t be surprised to see if US ends up with Greenland this year.

I think the republic is truly dead now, but the empire is truly getting a huge life injection, not over the whole world this time, but over the western hemisphere. And the domestic US is only a few small steps from going conservative vs progressive in a way that won’t allow us to live together safely.

I sure hope I’m wrong…Your site is critical in all this as we all need to be prepared as well as we can be for whatever craziness is about to be reaped…”

Brent makes some good points, let me take them in order.

“It looks to me like a full acknowledgment into a 3 power world. US, China and Russia are carving out and will likely quickly carve out their hemispheres / areas of influence and concentrate on strengthening that influence and start getting the wealth extraction going to build their empires. Venezuela makes sense in that way – kick out Russian and China influence, keep resources in this hemisphere for us or NA/SA continents. Start building SA so it can produce goods rather than sitting on them.”

Looks as if there are two issues going on here, but in actuality there is only one…the Monroe Doctrine. Essentially, in the early days of the US the leaders wanted the US to stay out of Europe’s business and for Europe to stay out of the western hemisphere.

George Washington in his farewell address talked about avoiding permanent alliances between the United States and foreign nations; NATO would be a perfect example of what he was referring to…to avoid. Rather than “foreign entanglements”, he advocated for a “respectably defensive posture”. Washington made it clear that we -the USA- was not to use force to influence countries. He advocated for “gentle means the streams of commerce” when attempting to influence the ties with America.

Seems as if we have completely abandoned Washington’s warnings and now depend on brute lethal force to influence our relations with foreign countries. And we further screw it all up with NATO, a permanent alliance/entanglement.

When you view the world in terms of “empires” the Monroe Doctrine makes perfect sense. Well, not “perfect” in a good way…in a very power obsessive way. But Brent is 100% correct! The three major empires in the world today are China, Russia, and the United States. (I’m being kind and generous to Russia.) Each are carving out their own chunk of the world where they reign supreme and unchallenged. Problem is…the whole “brute and lethal force” part. The US is not using what Washington advocated for…and we are paying a high price for it. And just for a bit reality check let’s look at every nation/empire that went on the offensive with military might…yeah, they have all fallen. Or in the case of the US Empire, we are falling.

We seemed to have ignored Washington’s warnings and history’s lessons…to our extreme detriment.

Brent continues…

“I expect China to go after Taiwan soon, with only token resistance by US. Same with Russia/Ukraine. I think the deals have already been made. I won’t be surprised to see if US ends up with Greenland this year.”

The whole China / Taiwan thing is screwed up. Looking at the perspective of China, they see Taiwan as a breakaway (i.e. rebel) state full of Chinese people. And there is some truth to that. Looking at it as an American, I can see where Taiwan is coming from…they are a group of former rebels that broke away from Communist China and they don’t want to live under that type of government again.

But here is the question…Is this our fight? Not in a true sense of the word…it is an internal/domestic issue that should be settled by China & Taiwan. But there are two influences dragging us into the fight; 1) competing empires…China vs USA, 2) dependence on Taiwan’s chips. Yeah, kinda like the whole money and power thing. If we were not dependent on Taiwan’s chips, then what?

Let’s get realistic…could we win a war against China? Maybe. There is no absolute conclusion that we could win a conventional war with China; there are plenty of “expert” opinions either way. One thing for certain…win or lose…a conventional war with China would devastate the US economy and make life extremely uncomfortable for us. Yup, meaning “trade embargo”.

If the war went nuclear…no one wins…the whole world loses.

But here is the question to ponder…Why in the hell do we (would we) want a war with China? How does that benefit the US? The real answer is we build up our chip manufacturing here in the US at breakneck speed and start reducing our commerce relationship with China. China is one of the USA’s largest trading partners…and it appears to be the largest in terms of day-to-day retail items found in most stores.

As for Greenland…(I really want to swear here). Greenland is a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark. Denmark is a sovereign nation and a NATO member. Only 6% of Greenland citizens want to be part of the US. So we need to keep our hands the hell off Greenland!!!

Leave them alone, they don’t want us…we should honor that if we are decent law-abiding people here in the US. And Orange-T needs to shut the hell up about Greenland and leave them alone. We have no business talking trash about Greenland.

Now, if we somehow “take” Greenland it proves beyond any shadow of a doubt that the USA is perverted and so far away from our founding principles that comparison between the US and Nazi Germany would be 100% accurate.

Don’t forget there are a number of ways that it could appear that the US taking Greenland is a “negotiated deal”. Unless the population of Greenland votes (free & fair), by an overwhelming margin, to join the US and Denmark’s citizenry and government overwhelmingly voluntarily agrees to it…then taking over Greenland by any other means fully qualifies as evil. Not only that…it flies in the face of our Founding Fathers.

Interesting side-note…in 2017 Trump stated [USA] “…not nation-building again…”. Then in 2025 Trump called “interventionists” failures. He has also called interventionists and nation-builders neocons. What is a necon? They believe that the military might of the United States should be employed around the world to promote American interests. Ah, what did he just do in Venezuela? What is he threatening Columbia and now Mexico with? Just saying…

“I think the republic is truly dead now, but the empire is truly getting a huge life injection, not over the whole world this time, but over the western hemisphere.”

What is truly strange to me is the sheer number of people that don’t see the US as an empire. Most of them are on the right. The USA qualifies as, meets the definition in every way, as an Empire. The USA quit being a Republic about 135 years ago when we abandoned the Constitution and Bill of Rights. We are kind of a democracy, but in reality more of an oligarchy. And that oligarchy are the ultra-wealthy, the ruling elites. Just look at who is in Washington and you can see it…if a person is not blind.

And yes! The whole Venezuela bombing, invasion, and overthrowing their government is all about their resources…period. If a person can’t see that…again, acute blindness. Resources that benefit our hemisphere and sticks a finger in China’s eye. Yup, called provocation.

And then the outrageous threat against Columbia is nothing more than trying to force them in-line and to force them to be a nice little state of the US Empire. And yes, it is also all about their resources for our hemisphere.

And when I use the term “hemisphere” I am referring to the USA.

“And the domestic US is only a few small steps from going conservative vs progressive in a way that won’t allow us to live together safely. I sure hope I’m wrong.”

That is an incredible observation! Notice how both the far-left and the far-right want us to live according to their standards. Once again let’s turn to the Father of our Country…Washington explicitly warned us of the dangers of political parties. He didn’t like them, saw the evil and danger in them, and told us to avoid them. Once again, we ignored him…to our detriment.

Today’s conservatives are not to be honored, revered, sought after, or even trusted. Conservatives try to paint themselves as if they are 100% in-line with our Founders…they are NOT! Today’s conservatives are far more similar to authoritarians…including Orange-T. Just look at his use of Executive Orders…edicts…total so far is 445 Executive Orders. More than any other President in 60 years. But not to worry…Trump still has 3 more years to break the “most” record.

Our Founders, for the most part, were what is called a “classical liberal”…NO, not the “liberals” of today. The closest thing we have today to a classical liberal is what we now call “libertarians”…but they are a little whack compared to old school classical liberal.

Hard numbers are difficult to come by for political ideology. However, it breaks down something along the lines of thirds…each third being; liberal/progressive, conservative/MAGA, moderate. Noting that given any particular election or poll those percentages can vary. So, if the country goes “conservative” and forces the other 2/3 of the country to live by their standards…well, we are in huge trouble…there would be revolution.

I wrote more about political ideology just a little over a week ago <Feedback : I get it !>. You might find it interesting.

Now, let me be clear…I would NOT want to live in a country run by conservatives!! Look at the last 7 Republican Presidencies…all of which claimed to be conservatives. Take away Reagan and you have six Republican Presidencies who are supposedly conservatives…and you want to puke. Yup, puke in terms of what they did to freedoms, rights, and liberties. Not a single one of them truly acted as a Founder or in-line with the Constitution. Actually, a couple of them were 100% authoritarians and blatantly reduced rights, freedoms, and liberties. And all of them blew-up the budget deficits and/or national debt.

So no, a conservative run USA would be horrific in the ways that matter.

Brent’s final comment…

“Your site is critical in all this as we all need to be prepared as well as we can be for whatever craziness is about to be reaped…”

Wow, first off…thank you! Second…there are plenty of folks who would disagree with you!

I can’t tell you the number of times that I have wanted to discontinue this website. Every single time I was drastically prompted not to. I will follow those promptings wherever they lead.

Here’s the thing…I have bias in abundance…I have an agenda I am trying to advance…and that should be crystal clear to everyone. What is my bottom line…I want to advance the concepts contained in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the founding principles of this country. Call me a “literalist” I guess. The Founders believed in certain principles, they finally had to revolt and win to embed those principles in what we now call the Constitution and Bill of Rights. They saw what any other structural or organizational principles will lead to…and they were right…we are it.

The USA today is a monstrosity compared to what our Founders originally set-up. Just look at Washington’s address…he clearly warned us against certain pitfalls…and we ignore them all. The US federal government (US Empire) has become the British Empire of 300 years ago. I am trying my best to use facts, stats, and history to show just that. And you bet your life that my bias and prejudice is here in quantity!

Look, I truly appreciate your comment/compliment, I really do. But, I am not under any illusion…my little website won’t change the trajectory of the US in any way whatsoever. It is like hitting an aircraft carrier with a BB gun. All I pray for is reaching some folks who will listen…and then prepare themselves and their families for what is happening and the tragedy that is coming. Then maybe, just maybe, prepare their congregations and communities in some small way. That’s the best I can hope for and the best I can do…and that is good enough for me. But again, thank you for your kind words.

You know…I am not 100% truthful in that…there is another thing/goal/objective…

He’s looking for you. He wants you. Find Him, learn.

Related Articles –

• Huuuummmmm……….
• Feedback : I get it !
• Economy, Income, Home Prices: Q&A #1
• Some serious food for thought…the U.S. Empire
• The Fall of the U.S. Empire

 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
No reproduction or other use of this content
without expressed written permission from AHTrimble.com
No legal, economic, or financial advice is given, no expertise to be assumed.
I may receive compensation from advertised/mentioned products on this website.
See Content Use Policy for more information.

• I have been binging on all your economy articles over the holidays. You’ve never once mentioned the “K Economy”. Why? That is what we have and it just keeps getting worse. Please talk about it. You need to, it’s important.

Okay, here goes…

The term “K Shaped Economy” as such (the term) really didn’t exist till recently…maybe 10 years ago. The term became popular about the same time COVID hit. And yes, we have a “K” shaped economy.

What is a “K Shaped Economy”? I will give the short version…

Really simplified!

• The rising part of the “K” represents the value of wealth in the upper-class due to increasing income and asset value. Just imagine lots of money in the bank and large amount of disposable income.
• The lower(ing) part of the “K” represents the decreasing purchasing power of the middle and lower-classes. Think real wages not keeping up with inflation, spending savings to pay bills, using debt (mostly credit cards) to pay bills, and more and more inability to afford things such as cars, food, and housing.

Another way to look at it…

• The rising part of the “K” represents the increase in prices of art, homes, cars, land, Rolex watches, luxury hotels, yachts, etc. Here’s the key…their prices keep going up, sometimes absurdly so, but the upper-class has plenty of money to keep buying that stuff…and that keeps driving the prices up. These folks usually have stable jobs/professions or own companies, and a pool of assets that grow in value such as large stock portfolios.
• The lower(ing) part of the “K” represents the incredible rise in prices on life’s basics such as food, clothing, housing, fast food, entertainment venues, etc. These folks tend to have less stable jobs, just as part-time, “gig” work, tourism, manual labor jobs, seasonal jobs, unemployed, or disabled. And more importantly they don’t have growth oriented assets such as stock portfolios and collectibles. And they also tend to be renters or own lower-value homes…or have large debt against assets. Daily expense just keep getting more and more unaffordable.

 And don’t think about the rise in prices short-term. Such as inflation is only running 2.3% this quarter. Look at it in terms of decades: Price of a home in 2011 was $170,000…but in 2025 it was $427,000. And in 1982 is was $62,000. And in 1970 is was $24,000. You can see that the price of homes are up almost 1700% between 1970 – 2025. That is horrific!!!

But it WAY worse…average household income in 1970 was $9,460. Yeah, in 2025 it was $62,000. Now, do the math…in 1970 the average house was 2.53 times the average household income. In 2025 the average house was 6.89 times the average household income. What does that mean? The middle and lower income population is getting economically slaughtered! It clearly shows that housing is becoming a luxury not a basic necessity. And it means that the middle and lower income folks are more and more and more in debt…to the banks.

A “K Shaped Economy” is a perfect example of what has been happening to the USA since the early 1970’s. And I’ve written about that ad nauseam. Seems as if you’ve read a bunch of it. However, people have actually been talking about it for a very long time; they just used a different slogan…The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Which is especially true in the US now…and has been true for 60 years. That is actual fact based on solid and reliable evidence.

Here’s the problem with the “K”…it leads to a nation’s/empire’s collapse every time in the history of the world. The total collapse starts with the middle & lower-income people getting pissed off. Then comes an economic collapse, then comes complete collapse, usually via a revolution. Look at history…a good example of it not that long ago is the French Revolution that lasted 20 years in the late 18^th century and was horribly violent and bloody. The rich and ruling classes suffered the most violence…often brutal deaths.

Here’s the savage part of the aftermath of a K-shaped economic-based collapse…as in France and other nations, a brutal authoritative ruler almost always takes power. In France they got Napoleon, an Emperor. And he waged war all over Europe for better part of a couple of decades…costing millions of deaths and huge financial losses to all of Europe.

I’m not sure what else specific you want me to write about regarding a “K-shaped economy”. We are in one, been in one for 60 years, most people are blind to it, almost everyone doesn’t understand what the outcome is, and no one seems to really care that…The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Here is something I want you to think about…what job market(s) are getting hit the worse from AI? You kinda saw it sneaking into the lower-income labor market first…think McDonald’s kiosks. But AI is hitting the middle-class job market now with a vengeance…think software programmers, hardware designers, tech support, manufacturing jobs that used to be good-paying, etc. AI is specifically designed to hurt the middle and lower-income people. Doubt me? Whose is getting wealthy off of AI? Yup, the companies that have designed it…and the wealthy owners of those companies. Imagine that.

Brooke DiPalma recently described it well…

“This year [2025], the division between the economic haves and have-nots widened, with sentiment souring as those in the middle of the income distribution were pressured by a softening labor market and feared inflation resulting from tariffs.”

A well known economist, Joanne Hsu, said it pretty clearly…

“Despite some signs of improvement to close out the year, [consumer] sentiment remains nearly 30% below December 2024, as pocketbook issues continue to dominate consumer views of the economy.”

A report from the Bank of America Institute published on Dec. 22 showed spending from consumers in the top third of the income distribution rose 4% over the prior year in November, the fastest level of growth in four years. Spending from households in the lowest third of the income distribution is up less than 1% over the same period.

And why spending is up less that 1%…while inflation is running at 2.7%. Meaning…the lower third of US consumers are buying less…nearly 3% less than they did in 2024. Yes, I said “buying less” not “spending less”…they simply can’t afford to buy what they did last year.

Remember the Walmart CEO came out earlier this year with an analysis of the economy…middle & lower-income customers were buying fewer consumer items, concentrating mostly on basic living necessities. And, they were spending only slightly less per purchase. What does that mean? Average American families have less money to spend on the basics of life, and have less and less money. The poor get poorer.

Here’s one for you…at the end of 2024 37% of American families couldn’t cover a $400 emergency expense. That’s not being able to cover that $400 emergency with cash, savings, or even a credit card.

Here’s another one for you…as of Q2 2025:

• Bottom-half of US citizens held $4trillion in wealth.
• Upper-half of US citizens held $164trillion in wealth.

Yup, upper-half of US citizens held 41 times more wealth that the lower-half. Look, I’m not proposing wealth distribution…no, not at all. What I am pointing out is the HUGE disparity of wealth in the US…and that spread is getting worse…big time worse. And I am laying it out for you…what happens when the poor half decide they don’t like that any more?

Now think about these points for a minute:

• There is no federal law enforcement agency authorized in the US Constitution.
• As of April 2025 there are 137,000 armed federal law enforcement officers in 65 federal agencies.

The average world’s military force has only about 26% of their force as armed combat troops. That being the case…armed US federal law enforcement offices are the 9^th largest army in the world.

Now, let’s throw in the 463,000 non-federal armed law enforcement officers in the US. Yeah, that makes armed law enforcement officers in the US the LARGEST military force in the world…by a margin of 20%. Yes, larger than the world’s largest army…China’s army!

Now this gets interesting…throw in the 550,000 combat troops of the US military…we now have a combined force of over 1,000,000 combat troops in the US who are authorized and can be, or are, used as law enforcement. That is far larger than the combat troops of most of the world’s armies combined. Why do you think that is?

150,000,000 (150million) US citizens 41 times more poor than the other 150,000,000 (150million) US citizens). And…it is getting worse. Just a question…do think there might be a correlation or relationship here between poor vs rich and the number of armed military and law enforcement?

Look at what history tells us, look at what facts tells us, look at what the fact-based economic numbers tells us…look!!! Don’t be blind, drop your bias, think about what reality is telling us. Realize what is…and what will be.

This is our fate…unless we do something about it. And folks…the answer ain’t politics or politicians…it’s becoming a disciple of Christ.

Send me some feedback…

 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
No reproduction or other use of this content
without expressed written permission from AHTrimble.com
No legal, economic, or financial advice is given, no expertise to be assumed.
I may receive compensation from advertised/mentioned products on this website.
See Content Use Policy for more information.

• I’ve been following you for years, some good and some bad. I found that I agree with you most of the time and was pissed off at you some times. I think I am more conservative than you are but at times Im’ not positive. After this last year I think I finally get you. I didn’t like you bashing President Trump, it ticked me off and I doubted that you ever voted for him. Now I don’t think it is about The Donald personally, it’s about the government. 

First off…thank you for following me for years, I noticed you were one of the first people to “re-follow” me when I did the purge a ways back. I appreciate that.

Next…lets talk about what conservatism is vs what it was. So basically, as I understand it, in the old days conservatives believed in:

• individualism (pro-individual rights)
• pro-capitalism/business
• the US as a Republic (states rights)
• established traditions
• strong moral right/wrong beliefs (anti-situational ethics)
• opposed abortion/euthanasia
• patriotism
• limited federal power & spending
• national defense
• pro-Bill of Rights (especially pro-gun rights)
• and rejection of aristocrats, monarchs, and oligarchs…kinda

Nothing essentially wrong there IMO. Sounds similar to ‘classical liberalism’ with some exceptions but definitely not ‘libertarianism’. Today’s conservatives, based on actions, looks more like:

• semi-individualism (limited to their own group’s compliance, tribal)
• pro-crony capitalism/business
• refers to the US as a Democracy (states rights very subservient to federal government)
• established ‘perceived’ traditions
• profess moral right/wrong beliefs (supports situational ethics in some cases)
• opposes abortion/euthanasia to a limited degree
• patriotism nationalism
• strong federal governmental power & unlimited spending (including large budget deficits)
• national defense military adventurism – global police – global supremacy – democracy/nation building
• pro-Bill of Rights (especially pro-gun rights) selective pro-Bill of Rights (limited gun rights and limited privacy rights)
• rejection of aristocrats, monarchs, but oligarchs embrace of oligarch families
• 2-tier justice system
• and a large sub-group of fanatical law & order extremism bordering on authoritarianism

Now, understand that is only my opinion based on what I see happening on a macro-level in the USA. And that also includes observations based on timing as well. But, it is an overall observation, analysis, and accurate statement of my opinion.

And your right…I am not an anti-Trumper. I am a staunch anti-government actioner. When the government does stupid crap, takes anti-Constitutional actions, works against the American people, or violates the founding principles of our country…then yeah, I speak up. And a lot of the time when I speak up I piss-off modern day conservatives. Why? Because I am more of a classical liberal and/or civil-society libertarian person. I believe in:

• absolute individualism –
  • let people live their lives as long as they don’t violate the rights of others
  • strict equity before the law (judicial equity)
  • strong civil rights
• pro-capitalism/business/free-markets, limited government interference, compassionate charity
• the US as a Republic
  • states rights limit the federal government
  • individual rights limit all government authorities
• oppose abortion/euthanasia
• patriotism NOT nationalism
• VERY limited government spending
• strongly anti-tax, especially property and income taxes
• national defense (Constitution based military organization)
  • NOT a lust for warfare
  • NOT a global police force
  • pro-militia (Constitution based military organization)
  • no nation/democracy building
• Police that solve crimes not enforce laws
• Bill of Rights absolutist
• Extremely limited federal government organization based strictly on the Constitution
• and strong rejection of aristocrats, monarchs, and oligarchs in any form

I think that is “civil society libertarianism” or an example of the Founders’ “classical liberalism”. Again, IMO. It could be something else, not sure. However, it is radically different than today’s version of conservatism. I think today’s version of conservatism has twisted itself up into something different than what conservatism originally was. The Republican Party was once thought of as conservative…but one only has to look at the actions of the Republican Party over the last 60 years. Yeah, not conservative…and getting further and further away from the old version of conservatism every day.

The Republican Party has spent wildly for over 30 years, destroyed individuals rights and privacy, not rejected abortion, grown federal government power, waged war after war, supported global interference in foreign governments, etc. As commonly referred to…the Republican Party and the Democrat Party are two sides of the same coin. It is not just a shame…it is a horrific national tragedy.

No, I’m not going to comment on the Democrat Party, liberals, etc., they speak for themselves…absolutely disgusting and IMO…their party’s platform and actions are evil.

Back to the Trump thing…look at my articles/posts, when Trump does good I praise him, when Trump does stupid or wrong I criticize him. It’s called the First Amendment…and only my opinion.

One further thing…I don’t think you would, but if anyone else out there tries the old “You hate America!” bullshit…don’t. I love my country, I love our citizens. I love our Constitution, our Bill of Rights, and our Declaration of Independence. I love our Founders and their unbelievable sacrifice for us. What I don’t appreciate or care for? Yeah, the monstrosity of government that now infests our country for the last century…and those promoting it.

Send me some feedback…

 2009 - 2026 Copyright © AHTrimble.com ~ All rights reserved
No reproduction or other use of this content
without expressed written permission from AHTrimble.com
No legal, economic, or financial advice is given, no expertise to be assumed.
I may receive compensation from advertised/mentioned products on this website.
See Content Use Policy for more information.