I think you correctly identified the symbiotic relationship. If seniors expect their benefits to be fulfilled, they need to invest (jobs, education, etc.) in very people who are paying their entitlement.
Stan Druckenmiller gave a talk about this very subject called "Generational Theft":
We hear a variation of this in FL all the time from retirees. Their children are grown and they've already paid for schools in their previous state!
Ok, thanks for moving here, then.