Bold Reforms or Bureaucratic Drift in South Carolina? with Sam Aaron | Let People Prosper Show Ep. 159🎙️

Sam Aaron joins to talk spending, school choice, tax reform—and why Gen Z needs Econ 101

Hello Friends!

What’s going on in South Carolina? A lot more than people realize—and not all of it’s good.

In this week’s Let People Prosper Show, I sit down with Sam Aaron, Research Director at the South Carolina Policy Council and one of the most promising young voices in state-level policy today. Sam and I have worked together for years on the Responsible South Carolina Budget. In this episode, we dig into the real issues driving South Carolina’s future: from runaway spending to the need for bold tax reform, smarter judicial selection, and a stronger education marketplace.

Sam is clear-eyed and sharp-tongued. He’s not afraid to say it: "Government kind of sucks at everything." But that’s not defeatism—it’s a call to action. People in government need limits, people in markets need breathing room, and taxpayers need better advocates. This episode is all about what it’ll take to keep South Carolina competitive, accountable, and free.

👉 Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube, and visit VanceGinn.com for more pro-growth policy content that doesn’t pull punches.

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🎯 Key Takeaways

• South Carolina is growing rapidly—but without fiscal guardrails, that growth could lead to government bloat.

• School choice is gaining ground, and competition is proving what we already know: markets are more effective at educating than monopolies.

• Spending discipline is essential. You can’t cut taxes and increase spending without creating long-term problems.

• Younger generations are missing the basics. Too many are graduating with no economic literacy—and it's showing.

• The state’s judicial selection process is broken—and ripe for reform. Judges should serve justice, not political insiders.

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🧠 My Take:
South Carolina is a microcosm of where America’s headed. A growing population, a low cost of living, a business-friendly climate—but a political class still addicted to spending and half-measure reforms. Sam Aaron gets it. He’s working from the inside out to promote real change—school choice, tax reform, and judicial accountability that lasts.

This is what we need more of in every state: people with a backbone, a clear grasp of basic economics, and a belief that policy should serve the people—not protect the ruling class.

To let people prosper, we must:

• Cap spending growth to population + inflation

• Broaden the tax base and flatten rates

• End the corporate welfare shell games

• Expand true universal school choice

• Bring sunlight and integrity to judicial selection

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🕰️ Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to South Carolina Policy and Guest Background
03:04 – Sam Aaron’s Passion for Public Policy
06:05 – The Role of Government and Economic Philosophy
09:00 – Generational Perspectives on Economics
11:52 – South Carolina’s Appeal and Challenges
14:53 – Responsible Budgeting in South Carolina
18:06 – The Debate on Spending and Tax Cuts
20:45 – The Importance of Fiscal Responsibility
23:57 – School Choice Initiatives in South Carolina
26:50 – Judicial Selection and Reform
29:42 – Future Directions for South Carolina Policy

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🔚 Final Thoughts

South Carolina doesn’t need more commissions, consultants, or carveouts. It requires bold reformers with the courage to say, 'enough.' Sam Aaron is one of them—and I’m glad to have him in the fight.

📢 Subscribe and share Let People Prosper to help spread the message of economic liberty, dignity, and opportunity for all. Visit VanceGinn.com and follow me on X for more.