No generation learns to deal with hardship until they actually have to. We'll come through ok. Don't let "greatest generation" PR fool you. They didn't go through depression and war by choice.
They had a different kind of society ---for one they didn't have the massive welfare system we now have, people were more self-reliant. We've got huge numbers of people now who have never or almost never worked ----what happens when they don't get their welfare check?
Believe me, I've got my own issues with the Greatest Generation. But I'll give them this: When the test of fire came, they were not found wanting.