Charlie James and callers discuss local taxes, Trey Gowdy, and Greenlink

What this episode covers

Charlie James: All right, here's the thing that's—that's getting me about the whole, um, 16.67% increase in sales tax, uh, in Greenville County, and that's exactly what it is. Um, what I—I just don't feel like I'm getting the story. Because yesterday, all we heard was, "We don't have the crews to get out there and do all the work. There's more work than there are the crews." Then we had this wonderful lady call up who works in the industry, and she said, "Wait a minute, hold on, that's not the whole story. The story is that these companies can't get the rock from the quarries to do the work!" And another person text me and say, "Listen, we don't do much work with the county because we're busy building subdivisions." So, I have no idea. Let's go to, uh, Mike in Hickory about it. Mike, what—what do you think? Caller disconnects Nope, there you go. All right, well, there you go. All right, let me go to Bob in Greer. He wants to talk about Trey Gowdy. What's going on, Bob? Bob: Yeah, hey Charlie. I'm just, um, referencing a caller a couple of, uh, times ago who said, uh, Trey Gowdy had said those people don't need to go to prison. Um, what I looked it up 'cause, you know, you—you didn't know, I couldn't—I vaguely remembered it, didn't know the context. And, uh, what—what they're saying is, um, on the Anne Fraser show, he was discussing accountability and trust, and he said that losing public trust, respect, and one's reputation can serve as a severe form of punishment, even when a legal conviction does not occur. Um, now, I think what we have problems with him on this is we think it's a—probably a cop-out. Um, you know, that is true, that's a—a form of punishment, but it's not the one they deserve. They deserve the conviction and the full force of the law being brought down upon them. And that's—that's what I think, you know, that was the context of his quote. Charlie James: Okay. I appreciate it, Bob. Thank you very much. Now we got Mike calling back from Hickory. What's going on, Mike? Mike: [laughs] Thanks for taking my call back again. Yes, sir. I'm a long-time listener, first-time caller, United States Marine, retired police officer. Uh-oh. [laughs] Charlie James: You get the bell! [bell rings] Good job. What's up, man? Well, congratulations, and listen, thank you for a lifetime of service, man. We appreciate it. Mike: Thank you very much, Charlie. Listen, you got—that—that—your show is one of the high spots of my life—of my day. Charlie James: Thank you. Mike: [laughs] The—the one thing I heard was that last politi-politician who was on the show. Uh, I've heard—I'm—I've been a political junkie all my life. My father owned a newspaper, so I was—I have a background in it, and at 85, I've heard them all since the '40s. Now, uh, that is—was he ever a barker in a circus sideshow? [laughter] Charlie James: No, I don't believe he was. He—he had quite the military career himself. Mike: Oh, okay. Because I've heard political speak, and that was class-A political speak. The—the—the numbers that he was throwing at you, he might be well-versed in it, he might be well-experienced, but the—the—the numbers that he was throwing here and there, considering all the influx of new residents, there has to be a lot more money being spent and taxed in South Carolina. Charlie James: A lot! I mean, I know, like I just said, they just taxed my truck and it was unbelievable. But what got me, uh, Mike, was he said they had to compromise to give money... So, in order to—in order to raise our sales tax, they had to promise to give some of that tax to somebody else? [laughter] I was like, what? What? That doesn't make sense! Mike: The—the double talk was amazing. He sounds like he's a lifelong politician, a lot of experience, but boy, he has to—the, uh—he has that, uh, time track down pat. Charlie James: There you go. All right, Mike, I appreciate it, buddy. Thank you. Let's go to Jason in Gaffney. What's going on, man? Jason: Hey, ...

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