6 members of Kansas Bramlage family killed in Florida plane crash

[proud2BlibKansan]

LAKE WALES, FLA. -- Six members of the prominent Bramlage family of Kansas died Thursday when their small plane crashed in a swampy area of central Florida.

The Polk County Sheriff’s office said 45-year-old Ronald Bramlage was piloting the aircraft headed from the Bahamas to Junction City, Kan.

Also killed were Bramlage’s wife, Rebecca, and their four children.

Ron Bramlage is the grandson of the late Fred Bramlage, the namesake of Bramlage Coliseum at Kansas State University in Manhattan. The elder Bramlage made the principal donation for the construction of the arena, which is home to the K-State basketball teams. It was built for $17.2 million and opened in 1988.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/07/3647543/members-of-kansas-bramlage-family.html#storylink=cpy

[virgogal]

1. Sorry to hear this,especially for the people of Kansas.RIP to the family.

[kestrel91316]

2. I'm sadder when people die who cannot in their wildest dreams afford to fly

in their own private airplane or even take a vacation.

Yeah. And I betcha he was a huge supporter of RW politicians.

Poor kids. I feel sorry for THEM.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. I have no idea what their politics were

I find that comment offensive. Even if they were right wingers it's still a tragedy.

[Mairead]

23. Offensive? Why?

Millions of non-rich people die horribly every day. What makes these particular deaths "a tragedy" - the fact that you were told about them?

[proud2BlibKansan]

30. Wow. A plane crash kills an entire family.

And we ask WHY this is a tragedy???

[Mairead]

39. Yes, I ask why. You're not reacting to the deaths,

you're reacting to the fact that you were told about the deaths. And the reason you were told is that they were "important" people, unlike the tens of thousands of "unimportant" people whose deaths you're not told about.

Do you scour the newspapers and similar for other "tragedies"? If not, why not -- aren't they just as tragic?

[proud2BlibKansan]

41. An entire family died.

This is news. I didn't post this because they are rich or because they owned a private plane or because they are republicans (actually I have no idea what party they belonged to).

I posted it because I found it sad and yes, a tragedy, that an entire family died at the same time.

And the criticism of this family in this thread is revolting. They are DEAD. How about a little compassion?

[SGMRTDARMY]

45. I agree with you

why should it matter what party they belonged to?
The revolting, offensive, and lack of compassion espressed by a few posters here just astounds me to no end.
The loss of an entire family in one fell swoop is newsworthy whether they are rich or not and thats all that your OP was about.

[Mairead]

54. "They are DEAD. How about a little compassion?"

Compassion for whom?

[SGMRTDARMY]

56. Wow just wow

You truly are souless. I really feel sorry for you, may you never have to go through what the relatives of this family are going through right now. I am so done with you.

[Sherman A1]

74. Agreed

Well Said....

[Safetykitten]

68. Is this news too? Entire family of 5 found dead in desert.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/cops-burned-bodies-found-arizona-suv-murder-suicide-drug-violence-article-1.1091956

I completely understand the tragedy of a family dying in a plane crash, or being the victims of a murder suicide. That being said, it seems that rich familes that have issues or in this case die is a tragedy with a capital "T". Others, not so much.

Sad really.

[SGMRTDARMY]

71. Of course its news

and just as tragic as the Bramlage family perishing in that horrible plane crash. If you have issues with the reporting, take it up with the newspapers. This country has always had a fascination with celebrities and rich people and when tragedies happen, it gets reported. Not saying this is right, its just the way it is, but that doesn't take away the shock of how this family died. Unfortunately, one poster here wants to turn this into a rich v. poor thing which I find extremely offensive.
Sad all around.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

75. I agree

An entire family being wiped out is tragic, rich, poor or in between.

[MicaelS]

73. Sure it is, and it made national news

The deaths of the Bramlage did not do that. I had not heard about them until proud2BlibKansan made the OP.

[SGMRTDARMY]

31. If you can't see why that post is offensive

then I truly feel sorry for you.

[spanone]

4. so, people who own their own plane don't deserve your sympathy? really? how kind

[cbdo2007]

8. The hatred of people with money here is astounding and

is one of the things I hate most about DU.

Regardless of what people see on MSNBC or wherever, there are millions of great people (Democrats even!) who have a lot of money and have done amazing things with it.

[RKP5637]

9. Yep, agree!!! n/t

[Mairead]

22. "there are great people who have a lot of money and have done amazing things"

But how did they get the money?

Do you think it was all due to their personal creativity and labor? I bet it wasn't.

Uncritically believing the self-serving claims of the ruling class makes a person a peasant. That's what peasants do. They support the ruling classes and their system because it never occurs to them to question what they're told. Many are so committed to remaining peasants that they'll even turn people in for trying to raise their consciousness.

If someone owns a business and has employees who produce the goods the business sells, it doesn't matter how many hours per week he personally works -- his income comes in part from skimming from those employees. They get less than they're worth, he gets more. And he has all kinds of phoney "logic" to hoodwink them into believing his exploitation of them is natural and fair.

Don't be a peasant.

[SGMRTDARMY]

25. WTF does this have to do with how they earned their money?

The OP is about the tragic death of an entire family, including 4 beautiful children. Why do you and others have to make it a something its not?

[Mairead]

58. Everything. The fact that we're even hearing about it is because

they were a wealthy, "prominent" family. There are many thousands of beautiful children who also died that day, and will die tomorrow, and the day after, endlessly. And you won't spend even 10 seconds exhorting other people to make conventional expressions of sorrow. That's because we'll never hear about them because they're not rich and White.

You might as well give up -- I'm not going to fall into line and ignore reality even though you believe I should.

[Blue_Tires]

6. RWer or not, that's no way for anybody to die...

[Mairead]

24. You mean it was worse than if they'd died in a road accident?

Tens of thousands of non-rich people die in road accidents in the US every year. What makes these deaths special?

[SGMRTDARMY]

28. Nobody said it was special

but when a prominent family dies like they did, it makes the news. If you have a complaint about it being reported, take it up with the newspaper, why make it into something its not.

[Blue_Tires]

76. where did you get that from?

i'll spell it out:

1. anytime a family dies from anything other than natural causes, it is sad
2. dying in a plane accident is almost always more horrific and terrifying than anything that can happen on the road, imo (studying famous and obscure air disaster investigations is an amateur hobby of mine)

[Joe the Revelator]

7. It must get lonely up there in your castle....

[dems_rightnow]

10. Here ya go

http://www.kwch.com/news/kwch-photos-bramlage-family-20120607,0,1223376.photogallery

Just so you can actually see the people you just dissed. What is wrong with you? They are dead. Does it make ANY difference how they vote?

[Mairead]

26. "Does it make ANY difference how they vote?"

You must be joking.

[SGMRTDARMY]

34. Are you really that obtuse?

Who the fuck cares, except you and a couple of others here, how they voted? The OP was about the tragic deaths of an entire family in a horrible plane crash. WTF is wrong with you? Try showing a little compassion.

[Mairead]

52. No, but one of us seems to be.

There've been a number of stories told about Ronald Reagan by people who knew and worked with him. Most of them seem to be examples of how poor at reasoning he was.

As one commentator (Any Rooney? I don't remember) put it, Reagan would literally give you the shirt off his back and the money from his wallet if you were out of work and needed a shirt and some money. And in the next moment (as President) he would sit down and sign a bill that would put tens of thousands out of work without ever having the slightest idea that there might be a connection between the two events.

[SGMRTDARMY]

55. And what the fuck does this have to do

with the OP? You want to turn this into a rich vs. poor and are attempting to hijack the thread. Who gives a damn what RR did? This OP is about the tragic death of an entire family which is a tragedy whether they are rich or poor.
Your lack of compassion is very telling. Maybe you should be someplace else.

[SGMRTDARMY]

11. Who gives a fuck if they were supporters of RW politicians?

They and their children died a horrible death.
You really ought to delete this offensive post.

[TBF]

13. Actually it does matter in a way -

not that they are rw'ers but that they are rich. Very rich. And because they are very rich they get all this media attention. Do you and the others in this thread feel so badly for all the other folks who are killed daily? Do you start threads about the abused women and children who die daily? Likely not, as they are not a fancy family with their own plane to fly around. Do you care about the homeless that die daily? Where is their thread?

That's the point that needs to be discussed.

[SGMRTDARMY]

14. No it doesn't matter what their politics were

The subject is that a family of 6 died in a horrible way. Do you agree with that posters offensive remarks?

[TBF]

17. Did you read my post or do I have to repeat it?

nt

[SGMRTDARMY]

19. So what difference does it make if they were rich or not.?

the OP was about a family of 6 who died in a tragic plane crash. Kestrels comment was highly offensive.

[Mairead]

27. Why was it offensive? Because she mentioned that the were wealthy?

The wealthy have made it a social rule that we not talk about the many privileges they enjoy. We're supposed to see everyone as equal, even though the differences in privilege are vast.

And you're buying into it. Why?

[SGMRTDARMY]

38. The OP was about a family that died in a plane crash,

Who, besides you and a couple of others here, gives a fuck about the priviledges they enjoyed? An entire family died, including 4 children and all you can do is bring up how rich they were or the priviledges they enjoyed? I can't post what I really feel about your comments as I would get alerted on, but I truly feel sorry for you.

[Mairead]

48. And I feel sorry for you...and for a good reason. (nt)

[MicaelS]

21. You are a mean sprited individual

Why don't you read a little more before posting such crap. Does this sound a like a "huge supporter of RW politicians"?

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/06/08/3649150/becky-bramlage-killed-with-family.html

But they both placed a strong emphasis on public schools. Becky Bramlage was elected seven years ago and told Walker she expected the small district to be every bit as good as the Shawnee Mission School District where she was educated.

“You can imagine. Shawnee Mission and Junction City are worlds apart, basically. But when she came here she was like, ‘Our schools are going to be as good as anybody’s because I can’t allow the quality of education to be dictated by zip codes,’?” Walker said. “They placed investments in this school district to make sure it was always successful.”

It was well-known around town that the couple provided scholarships to children who couldn’t otherwise afford to attend a university.

“I’ve been here 10 years and I could say easily they gave out hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships,” Walker said.

[Mairead]

32. You should look a little deeper.

You're uncritically accepting that as being good.

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a Communist"

Ask why the schools are poor.

[proud2BlibKansan]

37. This family did nothing that helped schools become poor

Quite the opposite in fact.

[SGMRTDARMY]

40. You are correct.

I'm done arguing with this person, it seems that all he/she wants to do is demonize this family because they were rich.

[proud2BlibKansan]

43. Thanks for your comments

DU is a wonderful community but we do have some here who come off as insensitive jerks.

I posted this because I found it sad. An entire family, gone. It also caused me to stop and be thankful that my own family is still intact and hasn't experienced such an awful tragedy.

[SGMRTDARMY]

50. Thank You for posting this tragedy

It really did make me stop and give thanks that all my children and grandchildren are alive and healthy. I just can't fathom what the relatives of this family are going through with the loss of the parents and 4 beautiful children who will never grow up and get to enjoy life and to read some of the vile comments here just sickens me.
Peace be with you.

[Mairead]

46. Really? Why are schools poor?

I'll quote Dom Helder again: "When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a Communist".

What was he talking about, do you suppose?

Can you see the ways in which giving food to the poor and providing to the schools are not at all the same as seeing that the poor always have food and that the schools always are provided?

Spot gifts are charity. Seeing that people (or schools) are provided is basic decency. Can you see that?

[proud2BlibKansan]

49. And how can ONE family take care of this?

Please. Do tell.

[Mairead]

62. Were they even trying?

Dom Helder was just one old man. Yet the ruling class were outraged by him and got him fired by Wojtyła. He exposed their hypocrisy. He refused to make nice and pretend that poverty was "God's Will" or the fault of the poor.

One wealthy family could do what he did: expose hypocrisy. They could probably do other things too, but never having been wealthy I don't know what they are.

Every read Twain's "Letter from the Recording Angel"? It's a hoot, and o so true.

[SGMRTDARMY]

64. Check out post #62.

Total hijack of your thread. No compassion for the tragedy, just completely off topic.

[Dreamer Tatum]

72. just like that asshole JFK Jr, right?

Rich people and their private planes...death to them.

[JNelson6563]

5. What a terrible tragedy!

My heart goes out to the friends and family of this unfortunate family. Can you imagine how it must be to be say a grandparent to these kids? This is the sort of thing that can hit you so hard you NEVER get over it.

Julie

[RagAss]

12. I was reading a bit about the family yesterday.

They seemed like very charitable, community minded people.
Rest in Peace.

[SGMRTDARMY]

15. A couple of posters here think

that because they had money and could afford a private plane, they don't deserve our condolences.
Afuckingmazing.

[SGMRTDARMY]

20. NOW I WORSHIP THE RICH?

Where do you come up with this? Take your little innuendo, fold it into a small square and put it, well use your imagination.
It makes no difference if they were rich or not, a prominent family of 6 died a horrible death in a plane crash and thats what the OP was about.

[Mairead]

35. "It makes no difference if they were rich or not,"

It makes an enormous difference. Hadn't they been rich, they wouldn't have owned an aeroplane and wouldn't have been flying back from the Bahamas. They'd probably still be alive. So, in a sense, being wealthy killed them.

Don't be a peasant. Look beneath the surface.

[proud2BlibKansan]

33. OMG

Talk about misrepresenting.

[magical thyme]

16. 5 people were severely injured in a car accident just a couple miles from my house yesterday

I have no idea who any of them were. I was on my way to work when I turned right onto the main road and saw it was closed to my left. A short way up I could see the emergency vehicles.

When I arrived at work at the hospital lab, I learned that 3 of them were brought to our hospital and 2 of them to the hospital to our north. I ran some labs on one of them, who I heard was about to be life-flighted out.

I'm sorry for all of them, but I think the OP is really more local news, not national. "Prominent" families are everywhere and yes, they die too. It's not like they were national figures. It's not like it's some sort of political or other kind of trend (gee, this is happening here and spreading across the country).

[proud2BlibKansan]

36. Well thanks for kicking the thread

[Logical]

63. Disagree. This family was known through the whole midwest. n-t

[treestar]

29. It's nice to be rich and to be able to afford flying lessons, but

It can end up like this. If they were not so rich it wouldn't have happened to them.

[SGMRTDARMY]

42. True

but you can also be just a regular person on board a commercial flight that goes down and still be just as dead, so it really doesn't matter if your rich or not, you are just as dead. A few posters here are demonizing a family that died when their private plane went down because they were rich and could afford a private plane which, IMHO, is offensive.

[proud2BlibKansan]

47. You could be in a house on the ground

that is hit by a plane crashing. That plane won't really care if the people who live in the house are rich or poor.

[SGMRTDARMY]

53. So true

Its not whether you are rich or poor, death doesn't give a damn how much money you have. I've always believed that when your time is up, it doesn't matter who you are, rich or poor, what your doing, where you are, it's time to go.
I see that poster is still at it, I truly hope nothing like this happens to any of his/her family members and if it does, I hope no one says some of the outrageous things he/she has said.

[treestar]

57. I'm not demonizing them but pointing out

there are downsides to being rich. Commercial airlines don't go down as much - they hardly seems to do so at all nowadays. Whereas general aviation is more dangerous. And this guy would not have been a professional pilot. Like JFK Jr., who would be alive today if he hadn't decided on flying himself.

Sort of dark humor, but I recall some pilots calling small planes, "doctor-killers." Dr. makes enough for his or her own plane. But they are not professional pilots and more likely to have an accident.

[SGMRTDARMY]

61. I didn't mean you were demonizing them

You didn't, and if I came across that way, I truly apologize, there are a few posters here who are doing that. I actually agree with you but as I have said over and over again, the OP was about the tragic deaths of an entire prominent family, not whether they were rich or poor.

[MicaelS]

44. They could have been on an interstate in a minivan...

And gotten clobbered by a semi. What kind of excuse would you offer then?

[treestar]

59. That's even more likely to happen

To anyone. But how many people can afford their own private plane? That's more dangerous than driving, possibly.

Why do you say "excuse" and go out of your way to be offended at the idea that there's a downside to being rich? This guy had his entire family in a plane just like it was a mini-van. It's not a commercial airliner and he's not a professional pilot. The convenience of having your own private jet has a downside. That's just a fact.

If he were richer yet or had no interest in piloting himself, he could have hired a professional. That's what I'd do if I were going to have my spouse and entire family of minor children on board.

[dems_rightnow]

60. It's not a jet

Just to correct- it's a small single-engine turboprop.

Oddly enough, the thing broke apart. I daresay a professional pilot could do little about that.

[Mairead]

65. Minor point of pedantry: turboprop engines are jet engines

They drive a propellor, but afaiaa are otherwise the same as any turbojet engine. They're even called "propjets".

[dems_rightnow]

70. I learned somethging today.

Now I can take the rest of the day off.

[treestar]

67. Yep. Just bad luck all round.

And having the convenience of your own plane of whatever type has its downside. Commercial airliners have a lot more security against such things. At least that would be my impression. So if wealthy I would just go first class. I can appreciate wanting to fly as a hobby. Just don't think I'd put a young family on a plane like that - but then I'm a nervous flyer as is. This guy probably felt safe enough to do that. Just tragic all round.

[SGMRTDARMY]

69. I have to agree with you

even if I were rich I would fly 1st class commercial, and your right, just a tragic accident, 2 parents and 4 children who will never grow up and go on to become, who knows.

R.I.P. Bramlage Family and condolences to the relatives.

[SGMRTDARMY]

66. It doesn't matter if your rich or poor

a professional or not, when death says its time to go, its time to go. This OP was about the tragic deaths of an entire family, including 4 beautiful children and one poster in particular, not you, has tried to hijack the thread and turn it into a rich vs. poor subject and has expressed no compassion towards the families relatives which I think is disgraceful and offensive.

[Swede]

51. Wow,a whole family wiped out.

Terrible tragedy.