[devnull3]

> is behind forever.

This completely depends on the policies of the future govt. There are many examples (like South Korea, China, India) where the current generation is much better off than previous.

Another example is cliched "American Dream". There is/was some element of truth that if you are sincere and ready to work hard you can still make it in the life. However, I will agree that this can become much harder now.

[impossiblefork]

Ah. I don't see competition as being between generations to any major degree, but between people with generations, so I find the framing very strange, and I think, if you see competition as between people, you will see that allowing yourself to end up behind others will not end with you getting somehow repaid.

Instead, getting a high salary now is used as negotiation for getting a high salary tomorrow, so it is critical to ensure it. You do not gain by accepting a lower salary.

If consumption must be reduced, that may be so, but if it is done by reducing salaries, and your salary is part of it, then you will lose and you will never be repaid for it.