.. and that's why we turn pensioners out into the snow once they cease contributing.
Oh, wait, no we don't, because we recognise that they're human beings and members of society.
The OP is talking about cases where you are not in retirement, and not disabled, the society expects you to pull your own weight. It is only fair, no?
2. Even minimum wage earners have retirement contributions deducted through payroll. Not a lot of money, true, but poor people's pensions are slightly subsidized by higher earners (which is fair, IMO).
"There is no good or bad, it's only what you can or you cannot do".
Everyone will act in it's best interest, according to the possibilites that is has available.
Those possibilites are refined by the feedback from the other members of society.