In a recent message on Twitter, the 2020 presidential hopeful criticized the film and television conglomerate for paying its CEO Bob Iger a salary of $65.6 million, roughly “1,400 times as much as the average worker at Disney makes.”
What would be truly heroic is if Disney used its profits from Avengers to pay all of its workers a middle class wage, instead of paying its CEO Bob Iger $65.6 million – over 1,400 times as much as the average worker at Disney makes. https://t.co/NrcFSk4LZc
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 29, 2019
He suggested the company use its profits from the latest ‘Avengers’ installment to potentially hike Disney employees up to a “middle-class wage.” Iger has also faced similar criticism from Abigail Disney, the granddaughter of Roy Disney. She concluded that his $65 million compensation package is “insane” and commented on how hard life could be for workers living on just $15 an hour.
Let me very clear. I like Bob Iger. I do NOT speak for my family but only for myself. Other than owning shares (not that many) I have no more say in what happens there than anyone else. But by any objective measure a pay ratio over a thousand is insane. https://t.co/O34OjXd6rr
— Abigail Disney (@abigaildisney) April 21, 2019
Bernie, unfortunately, is in a very similar position. He pretends to be a man of the people and has repeatedly criticized millionaires yet happens to be one himself. In both 2016 and 2017, the Vermont Senator earned more than $1 million largely due to book deals and royalty payments, according to his recently released tax returns. In 1974, Sanders was quoted as saying that “nobody should earn more than $1 million.” Sanders also owns three lavish homes, suggesting he has no problem breaking his own rules.
This wouldn’t be so bad except the presidential hopeful seemingly pays his interns a measly $12 an hour. He proposes middle-class salaries for everyone at Disney yet doesn’t even place his interns at the same level.
Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is
While it’s true that interns are not covered by the same laws as standard workers (i.e. the Fair Labor Standards Act), the truth is that internships are largely dominated by college students and recent graduates – both of which are likely swamped with student debt and could use a few extra dollars in their weekly pay.
You make this too easy! How many houses do you need? #GreedyBernie pic.twitter.com/ZJGo93GCx5
— Bernie (@Greedy_Bernie) April 21, 2017
During his 2016 presidential run, Sanders pushed for a college loan forgiveness program that would have seen millions in student debt fully erased. He claims to care about college students, so why not see to it that they earn the money they’ll need to at least survive?
The real problem with people like Sanders is that they tout one thing for general Americans but seem to think they’re above the grade themselves. They want others to share their wealth yet have no intention of parting with their own money.
This isn’t so much a socialist agenda as it is a hypocritical one.