There's plenty wrong with the UK but the pursuit of materialism and short-term I'm-alright-Jack priorities is responsible for a lot of it.
So I'm not sure empty salary-chasing is as empty as you make it seem. Sometimes salary chasing is just trying to keep up with inflation in order to make sure your family maintains a decent standard of living.
Unless I completely misunderstood your post, in which case disregard everything I said.