Ben Shapiro Wants You to Work Forever—But Would He Last a Day in Blue Collar Boots?

I think retirement itself is a stupid idea unless you have some sort of health problem.

Retirement is more than just a cultural milestone—it’s a hard-earned right for millions of Americans who’ve spent their lives toiling in physically and mentally demanding jobs. Yet, Ben Shapiro, a pundit with a well-documented Hollywood upbringing, insists that “no one should be retiring at 65.”

Is his argument built on real-world experience, or is it another example of privilege clouding public debate? Let’s set the story straight.

Shapiro’s Position: Work Forever?

Ben Shapiro’s messaging on retirement has been blunt and unwavering: Retirement is outdated, and people are better off working well past the traditional age of 65. He claims ongoing work is vital for purpose and independence, and that America’s entitlement system is broken.

But there’s a glaring problem: Shapiro has never worked a blue-collar job in his life, and neither have his parents. His perspectives come from a career built in air-conditioned studios, Ivy League lecture halls, and a home that benefited from the comfort and security of Hollywood’s elite.

When he says, “My parents are not retired, and they shouldn’t retire. It would be very bad for them to retire,” he’s referring to a composer father and a television executive mother—hardly representative of most American families.

The Reality for Working Americans

For millions of Americans, especially those in blue-collar fields, the idea of working past 65 isn’t just undesirable—it’s often physically impossible.

Physical Toll: A lifetime spent in construction, manufacturing, or service industries wears down the body. Continuing that grind into the late 60s or 70s isn’t a testament to toughness; it’s a medical risk.

Workforce Instability: Older workers face rampant age discrimination and shrinking job opportunities, especially as industries evolve or automate.

Quality of Life: For many, retirement isn’t an escape from purpose—it’s the only time they can focus on health, family, or long-delayed passions after decades of sacrifice.

Unlike Hollywood families with creative careers and flexible schedules, most Americans can’t dial back responsibility, pursue part-time projects, or collaborate on musicals with their celebrity children.

Privilege vs. Perspective

Let’s be clear: Shapiro’s parents are still working by choice, not necessity, and they belong to a rarefied class that can afford to rearrange their work-life balance. Comparing that kind of privilege to the day-to-day reality of America’s working majority is tone-deaf at best.

His stance not only ignores the massive divide between white-collar and blue-collar labor—it dismisses the fact that the concept of “work” carries a profoundly different weight for those outside the circles of media, law, and show business.

Why Shapiro Gets It Wrong

No lived experience in manual labor: Shapiro’s career comes from commentary, writing, and media, not from jobs that break the body or exhaust the spirit.

Elite upbringing: He grew up surrounded by influence and opportunity, a world away from paycheck-to-paycheck realities.

Misrepresentation: Using his parents’ ongoing careers as evidence sets an unrealistic expectation for the vast majority of aging Americans.

Conclusion: Respect Real Lives, Not Just Rhetoric

Retirement should be an option, not a luxury. Shapiro’s view underestimates the struggles, exhaustion, and sacrifices of blue-collar workers, while holding up rarefied examples as a universal ideal.

If we want to talk honestly about retirement, we need voices that reflect the reality most Americans face—not just the opinions of those who’ve never known a day outside the privileged, white-collar world.

Let’s fight for a definition of retirement that values everyone’s right to rest, health, and dignity at the end of a long day’s work.