When Sam Walton opened the first Arkansas-based Walmart store in July, 1962, it sold products made in the U.S.A. at prices competitive with foreign manufacturers and it wasn’t a bad idea. But that all changed in the late ’80s when Walmart began featuring items of foreign origin and Sam Walton died in 1992, leaving a vast inheritance to his wacky children. Today, most of Walmart’s shelves are stocked with products from overseas, especially China; they are the world’s largest private employer and have had a raft of lawsuits filed against them for everything from racial and sexual discrimination to unlawful detainment. Sam Walton’s spoiled heirs invest heavily in right-wing Republican politicians and causes that serve the global interest of Walmart Inc. at the expense of America — a long way from the original Walmart concept that tried to foster American jobs and productivity.
See also: Hel-Mart Links here and Reclaim Democracy.org here, and the Walmart 1 Percent site here. For fun, also check the photos at People of Walmart here.