Hi Galen, as you say not in all countries the situation is the same. Also the situation changes between generations, around here I think that young people are going to find a society but the one I found myself in, and they will have to do something, it is their life and their responsibility.
I share several of the ideas that you have exposed: that it is madness not to prepare for retirement and that another madness is to think that there will be a pension system when we decide to retire.
For my part, I am preparing for my old age with the thought that there will be no state pensions (which is likely to happen when I retire). That means striving to make more progress in my profession and not to depend on a single source of income.
Best regards