Money is a claim on energy, materials, and/or labor. Given that none of these are growing more abundant (except perhaps labor, depending how hard you squint), it may not make sense to plan for the same retirement prospects as the currently retired generation. This is neither fair nor easy to accept but internalizing it now may save some pain later.

This is not to say one should accept injustice handed down from on high. There are some who will try to exploit contraction for their own short-term benefit at everyone else's expense. Be wary, and be prepared.