Repression is criminalisation of Solidarity Strikes, entrenching corporate power.

Everything else is a waste of time, plastic straw ban of lawmaking.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solidarity_action

It is pretty much designed to dump money into the stock market in a magnitude that wouldn't occur naturally. As with ETFs, people are indiscriminately tossing money at investments they have no idea of (under the premise that roboinvestors will take care of everything). I am skeptical that this will work out in the long run, or that the government won't someday find ways to confiscate fractions of 401ks because reasons.

People don't want to hear this because 401ks are silver bullets, and we are all inclined to desire silver bullets over applying rigor. Most people have no idea what part of their paycheck is invested in. Why do we let them lecture us on where to hold and grow our wealth?

That's not to say that 401ks in and of themselves are bad. Their existence doesn't mean that people shouldn't take their own risks and hold assets that keep their wealth liquid rather than locking it up. Personally, I prefer paying more in order to have liquidity. Many would disagree with that. But truth be told, no one knows any one answer that applies to all.