Yesterday, President Trump signed into law the latest Appropriations Bill. And although Congress is still working out just how much of a Sugar-High this legislation will work out to be. Will it be a $600 dollar check for every tax payer, or a $2000 check?

The point is that this “Stimulus” in fact does not cure our economic wounds. The fact remains that on Thursday another 3/4er's million workers will likely apply for unemployment insurance, as they will have joined the 20 plus million who have lost their jobs. Small businesses across the country will continue to shutter their shops, for the last time. And up to half of all independent restaurants across the nation, will serve their last meal.

The United States Senate calls themselves the world's “Greatest Deliberative Body.”

Unfortunately, that's no longer the case. And I'm afraid it hasn't been for some time.

The Legislative part of our government is suppose to be the great engine of our Republic. That part which proposes the new laws and regulations that will rule our people.

In theory this occurs through a process of open debate, where the two sides of any issue are brought to the forefront, and after a thorough discussion, the members vote on what they determine to be the best solutions.

But no matter your belief, this is a special time, when you reach into your pocket and give. And the wonderful thing about this country, is that those gifts can be as varied, as one's underlying religion or belief.

And this seasonality of giving, goes back for generations. With each new generation also choosing to make this year end holiday season, a season of giving.

So things really got underway in the last couple of days, when a joint committee finally put down in writing just what the governmet can spend in the remaining fiscal year.

And what a piece of writing it is. 5,593 pages devoted to just spending, and entitled the “Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.” In fact this document was so long, that those in charge of putting it online, nearly didn't. I'm told that it took several hours to publish the Act. And this is a requirement for the Senator and Representatives to vote on the measure.

Stocks opened sharply lower this morning, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down about 200 points on it's open, and the Standard and Poors %00 Index down nearly 1%.

For investors this was a strange way to begin the Christmas Week. It seemed more like Scrooge, than Santa Claus.

But by taking a look behind the scenes we can get some real insight into some of what really drives the market.

What an interesting week to compare the relative progress of the world's two largest economies.

It's not often that the two economic calendars line up so that we can see side by side how the two economic superpowers compare.

We began the year with the US overall economy, as measured by its Gross Domestic Product, 7.4 Trillion US Dollars larger than China's.

But the Chinese have been steadily narrowing that gap over the past decade or more. And this year will be their fastest growing year, by comparison, ever.

The Investment Selection Committee for the Standard and Poors 500 has decided to add Tesla, Incorporated to their Index.

Next to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the Standard and Poors 500 Index is perhaps the most widely followed measure of the Stock Market.

Created in 1957, the Index measures the 500 most influential publicly traded companies in the nation.

And this addition of Tesla is bound to have a significant affect on the investing community, and perhaps on your retirement account.

This morning we got yet another indication of just how difficult things are for the working person. At 8:30 this morning, East Coast Time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that another 885, 000 filed a new claim for unempoyment insurance. These are people who had not filed before, and adds to the already 22 million who are currently out of work.

This number was so bad that it was fully 10% above the most bearish estimate on Wall Street. And represents the very worst Initial Claims number in the past 90 days.

Now most of these new claimants are in the Service Sector of the Economy. Just that part of the economy, which had been demonstrating the most amount of growth over the past decade.

Reach into your wallet, and pull out a Dollar. Since 1914, it has been the official currency of the United States. And since 1971, when the US Note was discontinued, it has been the only currency in the US.

Considered by most to be the most stable currency on the planet, it is also the World's reserve currency. Meaning that most international transactions are priced in US Dollars. Giving the US a tremendous advantage in all international trade.

Stable, safe and secure: that's the US Dollar.

Or is it?