There are ways to get returns reliably. The total US market increased through the great depression, the world wars, etc. In my mind, if your total market index fund loses significantly, you’re in a brave new world where your USD isn’t going to help you much either. The only reason the government does stuff today is to make that money line go up and make sure those companies get to burn through all the resources of the world with nothing to show for it without suffering financial consequences.

Individual stocks are gambling unless you have foresight like a member of congress knowing that the next round of patch notes is going to nerf a company really big.