Obituary: John Walton, 58; billionaire and Wal-Mart family heir (IHT/AP)

[Up2Late]

(I wish I could say that I'm sad about this, but I can't)

Obituary: John Walton, 58; billionaire and Wal-Mart family heir

The Associated Press, Reuters

BENTONVILLE, Arkansas John Walton, a billionaire who was the son of the founder of Wal-Mart Stores, died Monday when a small experimental plane he was piloting crashed shortly after takeoff near his home in Wyoming. He was 58.

Walton, an experienced pilot who was a resident of Jackson Hole, was flying a homemade ultralight aircraft with an aluminum body, heavy-duty cloth-covered wings and a small gasoline-powered engine, a spokeswoman for Grand Teton National Park said. The cause of the crash was not known, and park rangers planned an investigation, officials said.

Walton, the second of three sons of Sam Walton, the Wal-Mart founder, was a major advocate of school vouchers, supporting efforts to create taxpayer-funded ways for students to attend private schools.

Walton founded the Children's Scholarship Fund in 1998 to provide low-income families with money to send their children to private schools. The foundation started with $67 million from the Walton Family Foundation and benefited more than 67,000 children.

<http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/28/news/obits.php>
(more at link above)

[punpirate]

1. Makes him sound like an altruistic fellow...

... instead of the right-wing anti-tax, anti-public education extremist he was, giving $250,250 to Prop 174 and $360,000 to Prop 226 in California. He also gave $137,000 to the Claremont Institute, which paid for pro-Prop 226 ads. Working with Ted Forstmann, Walton launched a $200 million national voucher effort.

Just to remind, vouchers are intended to kill the public education system, and to restrict primary education to religious institutions.

He was a financial and moral supporter of the State Policy Network, devoted to the privatization of all public services and to virulent opposition to labor movements. His own corporation fought, legally and illegally, against unions in its stores, employed illegal aliens for profit and is the defendant in numerous suits for illegal hiring and workplace practices, including discrimination against women.

[saigon68]

4. He was working for a 2 Class System

THE WORTHY and the "GREAT UNWASHED"

Under this system the WORTHY provide the guidance ---

-and the "GREAT UNWASHED" enlist, fight the Wars, work for $6.00 per hour and keep their mouths shut out of fear they will lose their job.


The "GREAT UNWASHED" also learn to goose step, click their heels together and extend their right arms straight out-- when encountering a WORTHY person.

[DemoTex]

8. Ironically, he one of our best brothers-in-arms: a combat medic.

Walton was an U.S. Army veteran who served with the Green Berets as a medic during the Vietnam War. He was awarded the Silver Star for saving the lives of several members of his unit while under enemy fire.

[saigon68]

9. I know that Mac

That's why it is so ironic

He of all people should have been more egalitarian

There are no black, white, poor or rich men in a foxhole, they are all scared kids,


although I am impressed by his service I am totally unimpressed at his RIGHT WING NUT JOB FUNDAMENTALIST life he led after the Nam.

[Up2Late]

13. What just amazing to me are things like this...

"...was a major advocate of school vouchers, supporting efforts to create taxpayer-funded ways for students to attend private schools...."

You think these people understand how wrong and unfair goals like that are?

[losdiablosgato]

11. I hear China has declared a week of mourning.

[tomreedtoon]

2. And he might not have died...

...if he hadn't built his ultralight aircraft with parts from Wal-Mart.

[fujiyama]

3. That certainly

would be ironic if he built it using parts from Wal Mart.

[ima_sinnic]

5. but surely with all THAT money, he is guaranteed a wonderful afterlife

:sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm::sarcasm:

[anarchy1999]

6. Oh no, not another Walton and this time it's "John Boy"! I'm sorry,

I just couldn't help myself. To bed I must go now soon, waiting to hear from someone about pics I'd like to put up for freeway blogging in Dallas yesterday! We did it, big time!

[Pryderi]

7. I loved that show. :P

<img src="">

[truthisfreedom]

10. at least he died having fun.

[iconoclastic cat]

12. It looks like he shouldn't have used that monkey's paw...