My contention (and history supports me since no economy has always gone up) is that there is no way to manage an economy correctly. It is too complex of a system and therefore cannot be directed without alternate, often unpleasant side effects.

Well I think it's hypothetically possible for an economy to always improve, but nobody understands what policies to enforce to allow that. Even if you have good policies, nobody knows how to completely mitigate stock bubbles, housing bubbles, bond market bubbles, etc. So I mostly agree with you.