If "nothing for decades" isn't true, then parent can use different words.
"Least productive" != "nothing"
If language collapses into describing a different reality just because of the way someone feels, then communicating is going to be difficult.
"Least productive" != "nothing"
If language collapses into describing a different reality just because of the way someone feels, then communicating is going to be difficult.
But!
That isn't to say that after the gears grind, Congress doesn't complete important and essential work, even in toxic times.
The nihilism of a blatently false claim that Congress is doing nothing just feeds into 'so let someone else do it' fervor. Untrue memes can be dangerous.