Future generations will curse us for cutting in a slump

Don't think so.  Let's assume that a generation is 20 years, so the least for "generations" is 40 years. That takes us back to 1970.  At that time, fast food was just being invented, jobs were still plentiful, US manufacturing still existed, etc.  So, do you really hear the 18-20 year olds of today complaining about the loss of home-made food, etc.  No, because they weren't around to experience the "good old days" and the bad guys know this lack of memory/knowledge will repeat itself time after time after ...  Oh yeah, welcome to Iraq/Afghanistan you Viet Namers like myself.  I thought after the "Viet Nam Experience" that it would never happen again and look where we are.

In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.