Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) got called out on social media after he posted a tweet that made it appear as though he doesn’t know the difference between revenue and profit.
Sanders — who is one of 23 Democrats participating in the presidential primary — appeared unaware that revenue and profit are not the same thing. In a tweet announcing his support for the unionization of the video game industry, Sanders highlighted the revenue of the industry and claimed that video game manufacturers should be able to meet their workers’ demands.
The video game industry made $43 billion in revenue last year. The workers responsible for that profit deserve to collectively bargain as part of a union. I’m glad to see unions like @IATSE and the broader @GameWorkers movement organizing such workers. https://t.co/Ia5gMG2v0w
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 18, 2019
The problem with Sanders’ tweet is that he used “profit” and “revenue” interchangeably when they aren’t the same terms. Revenue is the total money brought into a company and profit is the money left over after the expenses are subtracted from the total revenue.
Video game manufacturers brought in $43 billion, according to Sanders, but those companies still need to pay workers, rent facilities, and cover other operational expenses.
Several people took to Twitter to call out Sanders’ mistake.
Anyone who bases decisions, opinions, or ideas off Revenue instead of Net Profit doesn’t deserve to be Class President let alone President of a country. https://t.co/ZgyCXe3bMQ
— Suga no Moto ? (@sugabelly) June 19, 2019
Bernie thinks profit is the same as revenue and everything makes sense now. https://t.co/0qXIeZmHuF
— Zack Kanter (@zackkanter) June 19, 2019
Honestly. It’s not hard. My 8-year-old picked up this distinction with no trouble when she set up a stand selling Rice Krispie treats last month (Thanks @acton_dc ) https://t.co/IYsjlGPa0B
— Katherine Mangu-Ward (@kmanguward) June 18, 2019
The senator’s confusion didn’t end with basic economics, though. He was also mocked for speaking on behalf of an industry he may not fully understand. Several gamers blew him up in the replies to his tweet by asking him technical gaming questions.
Bernie are you for or against Rainbow 6 drop shotting? Ubisofts most recent update reverted the drop shotting quick fix and careers are currently being created because of it. I think it destroys the fluidity of the game since the hit boxes are broken. Thoughts?
— Taylor (@RedeemerSSG) June 19, 2019
An?swer?the?quest?ion?Bern?ie?
— Colin Moriarty (@notaxation) June 19, 2019
Bernie do you think Sekiro needs an easy mode
— Gav (@miracleofsound) June 18, 2019
Beyond Sanders being mocked for his lack of video game and economic knowledge, some people expressed concern that the senator was supporting unionization of the video game industry. Some feared that a unionized video game production workforce could easily be replaced.
Unions sound good on paper. Raised salaries, free healthcare for independent contractors, etc. Guess what happens though? You get replaced by non-union scabs because your job’s just not that important and there’s literally millions of people in India and China willing to do it.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 19, 2019
Bernie wants your votes. That’s about it. He hasn’t made any serious considerations as to the unionization of the game industry.
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 19, 2019
As IJR previously reported, unions throughout the United States have become a political battlefield as candidates try to lock down their votes ahead of the 2020 election. Former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump have been feuding over who will actually get the votes of the International Association of Fire Fighters after the group endorsed Biden against the will of some of their members.
