FRANK P. BELCASTRO Dubuque, IA

The Walton family and Wal-Mart spend millions of dollars every year to fund an extreme right-wing corporate agenda – one that is often in direct conflict with the interests of Wal-Mart’s most needy workers and shoppers.

Wal-Mart has lobbied against increasing port security, providing Country of Origin Labeling on food products, raising the minimum wage, and implementing a Patients Bill of Rights.

Meanwhile, the Walton family spends tens of millions of dollars supporting legislation that would privatize Social Security, repeal the estate tax and create private school vouchers. In August and October 2004 alone, Alice Walton gave $2.6 million to Progress for America, the Karl Rove-aligned 527 group largely credited for helping re-elect President Bush with vicious attack ads against John Kerry.

Wal-Mart wants us to believe that it’s a family company – but the only family Wal-Mart cares about is the Waltons.