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Bernie Sanders Just Told Disney How It Could Spend Its Record 'Avengers' Profits and We Couldn't Agree More
30 April 2019
Mark Makela/Getty Images, Disney
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) on Monday called on Disney to share its Avengers: Endgame profits among the workers who labored to make the film an instant success.
The final saga of the Marvel superhero franchise raked in $1.2 billion since opening on Friday, shattering all previous opening weekend records. Sanders also took aim at Disney CEO Bob Iger's astronomical salary.
<p>"What would be truly heroic is if Disney used its profits from Avengers to pay all of its workers a middle class wage," Sanders wrote on Twitter, "instead of paying its CEO Bob Iger $65.6 million – over 1,400 times as much as the average worker at Disney makes."</p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1122950001657827328" id="twitter-embed-1122950001657827328" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1122950001657827328&created_ts=1556567118.0&screen_name=SenSanders&text=What+would+be+truly+heroic+is+if+Disney+used+its+profits+from+Avengers+to+pay+all+of+its+workers+a+middle+class+wag%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FW39OoRbNjv&id=1122950001657827328&name=Bernie+Sanders" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="FVCP6G1574873718"></iframe></p><p>Sanders' philosophy that all workers deserve a decent living wage amplifies the importance of tackling income inequality is a hallmark issue of the 2020 presidential race.</p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1122257344228884482" id="twitter-embed-1122257344228884482" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1122257344228884482&created_ts=1556401976.0&screen_name=PepperOceanna&text=Bernie+has+done+the+exact+opposite%2C+supporting+Union+Strikes%2C+advocating+for+SS+expansion+including+more+money%2C+Adv%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2Fleat1HX5Z2&id=1122257344228884482&name=Pepper+Oceanna+Lewis+%23JusticeWarrior" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="V53FHZ1574873718"></iframe></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1123196596911529984" id="twitter-embed-1123196596911529984" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1123196596911529984&created_ts=1556625911.0&screen_name=Gab1022&text=%40SenSanders+It+a+disgrace+that+we+the+people+have+become+complacent+with+our+surroundings.+The+establishment+knew+e%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FFW5FcAbbw0&id=1123196596911529984&name=Gabriel" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="U6Y70C1574873718"></iframe></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1123051019145961473" id="twitter-embed-1123051019145961473" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1123051019145961473&created_ts=1556591202.0&screen_name=pam_elizondo&text=%40SenSanders+%40johncusack+Yes%21+Thank+you%21+%F0%9F%92%AF&id=1123051019145961473&name=Pam" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="9HX99X1574873718"></iframe></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1122968501898096641" id="twitter-embed-1122968501898096641" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1122968501898096641&created_ts=1556571529.0&screen_name=sirbizlow&text=%40SenSanders+True+avenging.&id=1122968501898096641&name=beard+in+progress" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="EQHQ3V1574873718"></iframe></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1122951146186788869" id="twitter-embed-1122951146186788869" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1122951146186788869&created_ts=1556567391.0&screen_name=BrentLeeFilms&text=%40SenSanders+Yes%21&id=1122951146186788869&name=Brent+Says+Biji+Rojava+%E2%9C%8A%F0%9F%8F%BD%F0%9F%8C%B9" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="ZBRGSN1574873718"></iframe></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1122950417594355713" id="twitter-embed-1122950417594355713" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1122950417594355713&created_ts=1556567217.0&screen_name=_Kingfish_&text=%40SenSanders+This+tweet+is+going+to+make+some+centrists+mad&id=1122950417594355713&name=Bennie+Kingfish" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="XNOJG41574873718"></iframe></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1122962577355628545" id="twitter-embed-1122962577355628545" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1122962577355628545&created_ts=1556570116.0&screen_name=brandresults&text=%40SenSanders+%40BobIgerCEO+HOARDERS+are+sick.+They+need+to+WAKE+UP+and+realize+they+can%E2%80%99t+spend+all+that+money+in+many%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FZneRaElju8&id=1122962577355628545&name=brandresults" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="LDGIFC1574873718"></iframe></p><p>But not everyone agreed, and an intense debate bloomed on social media over how to balance fair pay with the economic realities of the free market.</p><p><div data-conversation-spotlight=""></div></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1122955638177452032" id="twitter-embed-1122955638177452032" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1122955638177452032&created_ts=1556568462.0&screen_name=UARKECONNERD&text=%40SenSanders+You+seem+to+not+understand+how+the+markets+work%2C+more+specifically+how+supply+and+demand+in+regard+to+a%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FID0FxbYoeA&id=1122955638177452032&name=U%E2%80%99Ark+Econ+Nerd" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="Q574M91574873719"></iframe></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1122970737558609920" id="twitter-embed-1122970737558609920" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1122970737558609920&created_ts=1556572062.0&screen_name=ZamulaDavid&text=%40SenSanders+Iger+truly+is+underpaid%2C+hopefully+his+stock+options+make+up+for+it.&id=1122970737558609920&name=David+Zamula" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="DCMHHH1574873719"></iframe></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1123049098016432128" id="twitter-embed-1123049098016432128" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1123049098016432128&created_ts=1556590744.0&screen_name=Garner63&text=%40SenSanders+Yeah%2C+that%E2%80%99s+how+the+market+works&id=1123049098016432128&name=Garner+Remling+%F0%9F%87%BA%F0%9F%87%B8" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="K6YHZZ1574873719"></iframe></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1123025269399404545" id="twitter-embed-1123025269399404545" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1123025269399404545&created_ts=1556585063.0&screen_name=pjk01141969&text=%40SenSanders+Hey%2C+everybody.+Profits+are+GOOD.+Profits+can+be+recycled+into+research+and+development+and+innovation%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FkEYeGfB5n1&id=1123025269399404545&name=PK" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="IM8L871574873719"></iframe></p><p>Sanders is not the first to call out Disney's pay disparity.</p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1123010862959271936" id="twitter-embed-1123010862959271936" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1123010862959271936&created_ts=1556581628.0&screen_name=gailen_decker&text=%40SenSanders+Didn%27t+the+Disney+heir+tear+the+company+a+new+one+regarding+the+CEOs+salary+recently%3F&id=1123010862959271936&name=Galen+Decker" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="1JUJRH1574873719"></iframe></p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1122950921225371650" id="twitter-embed-1122950921225371650" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1122950921225371650&created_ts=1556567337.0&screen_name=lovedamitten&text=%40SenSanders+Yes%2C+yes%2C+yes.+A+thought+that+has+probably+never+occurred+to+them.+Abigail+Disney+is+appalled+by+the+gr%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FGrUeTodAuy&id=1122950921225371650&name=Kit+Votes+Progressive" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="MACPCO1574873719"></iframe></p><p>Iger recently came under fire from <a href="https://thesocialedgen.wpengine.com/news/abigail-disney-wage-disparity-twitter-thread/">Abigail Disney</a>, heiress to the company's namesake, who tweeted last week that Iger's "pay ratio" of "over a thousand is insane."</p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1119985336308912128" id="twitter-embed-1119985336308912128" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1119985336308912128&created_ts=1555860287.0&screen_name=abigaildisney&text=Let+me+very+clear.+I+like+Bob+Iger.+I+do+NOT+speak+for+my+family+but+only+for+myself.+Other+than+owning+shares+%28not%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FJmSbyQu8My&id=1119985336308912128&name=Abigail+Disney" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="GW7G4Q1574873719"></iframe></p><p>Workers "deserve the dignity of a living wage," Disney said, "Should there really be a permanent underclass of desperately poor people who clean up the messes we make?"</p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1119985364440158208" id="twitter-embed-1119985364440158208" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1119985364440158208&created_ts=1555860293.0&screen_name=abigaildisney&text=They+deserve+the+dignity+of+a+living+wage.+Should+there+really+be+a+permanent+underclass+of+desperately+poor+people%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F9Q755Z6zsb&id=1119985364440158208&name=Abigail+Disney" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="JIZ1951574873720"></iframe></p><p>"A full time worker—at any job— should be able to afford medicine food housing transportation child care and education," Disney insisted. "At a minimum! Do not insult them by implying they are not trying hard enough. If you need beds changed and towels washed, and you are unwilling to do so yourself."</p><p><iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" class="rm-shortcode twitter-embed-1119985366692442121" id="twitter-embed-1119985366692442121" type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1119985366692442121&created_ts=1555860294.0&screen_name=abigaildisney&text=A+full+time+worker%E2%80%94at+any+job%E2%80%94+should+be+able+to+afford+medicine+food+housing+transportation+child+care+and+educati%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FOQcgM44Ak7&id=1119985366692442121&name=Abigail+Disney" frameborder="0" data-rm-shortcode-id="37MSZC1574873720"></iframe></p><p>Well said.</p>
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