We know how important the "August Recess" is to Congress and there's

[sad sally]

been no talk or change noted on their in-session calendar (they get their recess from August 8 thru September 5).

Sure, we want them to rest up and meet with all their big donors, and informally schmooze with the lobbyists who write their legislation, but even if they somehow pull off a "grand compromise" and get the debt ceiling raised, shouldn't they be forced to stay at work and figure out how to put America back to work?

Haven't we heard how revenues would rise, and no tax increases on the wealthy would be needed - in fact their tax rates should go down - if all of the somewhat unmotivated, maybe even a bit lazy unemployed and underemployed were paying more into the broken system that everything would be honky dorey?

Why shouldn't THEY stay at work until they've figured out how to solve this problem? It's becoming more and more obvious that corporate America sure ain't gonna' solve the unemployment problem in America.

On July 1, 2010, Bob Shrum wrote this article: Keep Congress in session this August

A special session will allow Democrats to highlight their differences with the GOP on jobless benefits, financial reform, and energy policy. That's a better campaign plan than sending members back to their districts — and it's right on the merits.

You can’t go home again. Well, actually you can — but why should you if you’re a member of Congress? Why should Congress take its annual August vacation while 15 million Americans are unemployed and millions more are underemployed, underpaid, or under the radar of official statistics because they are so discouraged they’ve stopped looking for work?

-snip

This is no usual time, making conventional politics perhaps the most impolitic course of all. The president and Congress have already recorded historic progress, but it’s not yet registering in enough people’s lives. Democrats must broadcast a simple message: We’ve done a lot, but there’s a lot more to do. Nothing could more starkly underscore this theme than putting aside the ritual August recess in favor of more legislative work. And nothing could more convincingly unmask the true purpose of Republicans than a series of choices in which they must show their special interest colors, while Democrats show that they’re fighting for the people, not the powerful.

-snip

In 1948, Harry Truman won an improbable victory pledging to “attack … the citadel of special privilege and greed.” But Truman used more than “mere words,” as he said, turning to a special session of Congress so voters could “decide on the record.” Now Barack Obama, who was elected to change Washington, could shatter one of the fixed customs of the old politics by telling Congress that you don’t get a holiday until you’ve finished your job.

http://theweek.com/bullpen/column/204628/keep-congress-in-session-this-august?du

[truedelphi]

1. Also, before Harry Truman's time, FDR pledged Congress to have a

Special 100 day session that dealt with the problems of the Great Depression.

But hey, the Big Money Party is currently ubiquitously installed in the offices of the elected officials, and they all have the same goal in mind.

So why would we need a special session? About the only people who would care for that notion would be the Progressive Causcus of the House and a few outsiders in the Senate. (Such as Bernie Sanders of Vt.)