The 'throwaway comment' has probably even deeper implications. I think it is part of a larger problem and that problem is closer to what can be phrased as - 'Not giving a Shit'.

It would be understandable if it were an issue of merely being selfish but in the end it is an issue of giving up and admitting that - 'since we can't do anything about it then why bother?'

The traditional ideas of jobs and employment are gradually outliving their usefulness. The generation before ours have survived using the tools that are basically worn out now. It would be great if we were all actively looking into the problem and then it would make sense to even blame the older generation in some ways. Now we cannot really do that because to call out our predecessors, the successors should at least be willing to change the present.