It would be foolish not to invest even if inflation were always 0. Present-day consumption is worth more than future consumption, but hoarding (as opposed to investing) in the absence of inflation trades present-day consumption for future consumption 1 to 1.
You can make very low-risk investments (effectively no more risky than just holding dollars) and still beat inflation (not by much) to end up with more real purchasing power than you had before. No one is being forced to spend money now or lose its value.
It would be foolish not to invest even if inflation were always 0. Present-day consumption is worth more than future consumption, but hoarding (as opposed to investing) in the absence of inflation trades present-day consumption for future consumption 1 to 1.
You can make very low-risk investments (effectively no more risky than just holding dollars) and still beat inflation (not by much) to end up with more real purchasing power than you had before. No one is being forced to spend money now or lose its value.