Step into the political and spiritual journey of Stephen Frank, as the Greenville native and insurance businessman lays out his vision for a political office once held by Adam Morgan. Drawing from his formative years steeped in the teachings at Bob Jones University, Stephen weaves a narrative that's both personal and profound, revealing how his Christian faith is the bedrock of his life and political ambitions. He's not one to shy away from hot-button issues such as pro-life initiatives and the unwavering support of Second Amendment rights, all underpinned by the belief that our rights are a divine endowment, not a governmental gift.
As we navigate the complexities of politics and policy, we grapple with the potholed roads of bureaucracy and the quagmire of government overspending, seeking solutions through accountability and restructuring. Discussions pivot to the challenges of unchecked growth, the distortions of corporate welfare on free markets, and the disconnect between conservative citizens and a less conservative legislature. In the throes of this episode, Stephen Frank and I dissect the morality of abolishing state income tax and the resistance faced by reformists disrupting the status quo. It's a discourse that promises to leave you reflecting on the calibre of integrity and character that we should demand from those we elect to represent us.
Step into the political and spiritual journey of Stephen Frank, as the Greenville native and insurance businessman lays out his vision for a political office once held by Adam Morgan. Drawing from his formative years steeped in the teachings at Bob Jones University, Stephen weaves a narrative that's both personal and profound, revealing how his Christian faith is the bedrock of his life and political ambitions. He's not one to shy away from hot-button issues such as pro-life initiatives and the unwavering support of Second Amendment rights, all underpinned by the belief that our rights are a divine endowment, not a governmental gift.
As we navigate the complexities of politics and policy, we grapple with the potholed roads of bureaucracy and the quagmire of government overspending, seeking solutions through accountability and restructuring. Discussions pivot to the challenges of unchecked growth, the distortions of corporate welfare on free markets, and the disconnect between conservative citizens and a less conservative legislature. In the throes of this episode, Stephen Frank and I dissect the morality of abolishing state income tax and the resistance faced by reformists disrupting the status quo. It's a discourse that promises to leave you reflecting on the calibre of integrity and character that we should demand from those we elect to represent us.
Welcome to More Than Medicine, where Jesus is more than enough for the ills that plague our culture and our country. Hosted by author and physician, dr Robert Jackson, and his wife Carlotta and daughter Hannah Miller. So listen up, because the doctor is in.
Speaker 2:
Welcome to More Than Medicine. I'm your host, dr Robert Jackson, bringing to you biblical insights and stories from the country doctors' rusty, dusty scrapbook. Well, I'm privileged to have online on the phone with me today Stephen Franklin from over in the Greenville area and Stephen's running for office and I understand he's going to try to fill the vacancy left by Adam Morgan and Stephen. Welcome to the program today.
Speaker 3:
Thank you, Dr Jackson. I appreciate the invitation to come on here with you.
Speaker 2:
Well, sir, tell me a little bit about yourself, about your family and your background, and a little bit about your business, before we launch into the political talk.
Speaker 3:
Certainly, certainly Well. I'm from Greenville, been here my whole life and grew up over at Bob Jones University as a faculty kid. So that's kind of the first part of my life K-5 through college over there. That was my education and life sort of revolved around a lot of that, lived just off the campus and grew up riding my bike over there and had a lot of friends to grow up with. I'm grateful to God for that opportunity. We had a great childhood. Greenville is my home and those are my people. I've never left. I've stayed put and met my wife there. We got married and started a family and I started a business there and you know it's a wonderful place to be and I'm so thankful that God put us there.
Speaker 2:
I hear you, and what kind of business are you in?
Speaker 3:
I own an insurance agency called Magnolia Risk. We handle business insurance and commercial risk management so, god's blessed, I'm so grateful for what he's done there. It's kind of given me an opportunity to think about some other things such as, you know, politics and civil service here that otherwise I might not have the opportunity to consider.
Speaker 2:
I hear you. I hear you. Well now, what in the world prompted you to go into politics?
Speaker 3:
You know this is being new to the scene here. This is a common conversation that I have. You know, this is being a Southerner and a South Carolinian and loving my heritage and culture and my people. I've always thought that maybe, you know, down the road I might do something like this Always been interested in serving in the legislature in some form or fashion, but that was always down the road. You know, life always sounds easier. 10, 15 down the road. Kids might be older. Everything just always sounds easier. It's not usually the case, but that's the lie we tell ourselves.
Speaker 3:
You know we'll do it down there and back in the fall a few folks had come to me and thinking about some different. We were just having coffee, not even talking about me running for office. It wasn't even on my radar and it was presented to me that Adam was going to be running for Congress. It had not been announced yet, but he was very interested.
Speaker 2:
You're talking about Adam Morgan right.
Speaker 3:
What's that?
Speaker 2:
You're talking about Adam Morgan, right?
Speaker 3:
Adam Morgan, that's right Leading the Freedom Caucus in the legislature and he was putting his plans together to run for Congress and wanted to make sure that when he left the legislature in South Carolina, that that seat was like-minded and conservative. And so he'd been working hard and praying hard about that. And the question was just proposed to me. You know, like you consider doing that just out of the blue, and of course I hadn't, but we started thinking about it, praying about it, talking to my wife about it and figured that was the first vote I had to get.
Speaker 2:
Did she say are you crazy?
Speaker 3:
That's exactly what we talked about.
Speaker 2:
I said well, you already know that.
Speaker 3:
It took us several months. I didn't even know if I wanted to do it. My life's happy. I've got a great family, I've got four kids, good business, church, family Every sphere of life is happy. I didn't need anything else. I didn't need, you know, something like this, but really felt that God was kind of opening some doors that I hadn't expected and felt that he wanted me to maybe step out of faith and at least explore it. And the more we explored it and the more counsel I sought on, it just started becoming evident that, you know, it's something that god had for me to do I hear you.
Speaker 2:
I hear you. Well, it's an, it is a calling, and you have to be obedient to the call, don't you?
Speaker 3:
yes, sir, you absolutely do and sometimes it's uh.
Speaker 2:
Being obedient means moving into an area that's not very comfortable it's not comfortable at all.
Speaker 3:
this, this is far outside my comfort zone, but God gives grace and he's helped me. I've grown and met some wonderful people along the way that have been a tremendous help as well.
Speaker 2:
I got you. I got you. Well, tell me what are the issues that are dear to your heart, that you're running on.
Speaker 3:
Well, I know we haven't got all day, but we could spend all day talking about issues. So I kind of try to pick a few that are near and dear to me and then maybe a couple issues that my voters have brought up. Constituents, as I've been meeting folks, you know, being a Christian, our values, I feel, are often under attack. I'm not the first one to say that. You've talked about that many times, whether it's pro-life or the Second Amendment, you know the right to defend ourselves, and so my whole premise as I look at politics, my worldview, is I believe that our rights come from God.
Speaker 3:
I believe that's a biblically accurate view, I believe that's a historically accurate view. And so then, if our rights come from God and not from government, then that begs the question what's the government's role? And I believe the first order of government is to protect and uphold our rights, and so I think that right there is our first mandate in the government. It's protect and uphold the rights of the citizens in whatever form that takes, and oftentimes that's just trying to stop evil encroaching bills that would take those infringe on those rights. And so some of those would be the right to life. I believe that life begins at conception. It's valuable, it's precious and worth fighting for, and I think that's going to be an ongoing conversation.
Speaker 3:
No matter what victories we might find ourselves winning, that's going to be an ongoing issue. But protecting rights in general, whether that's private property rights, right to defend yourself, those are constantly under attack. So we've got to stand firm on those more specifically in our, our legislature. I think we've got to look at some judicial reform right now. The way our judges are selected leads to the the possibility of a lot of corruption. You know, corruption goes hand-in-hand with government. You'll never get rid of corruption in government, but but I think it's worth trying that every turn we can take and reforming our judiciary and the way our judges are selected. You know, right now we have situations where a lot of our lawyer legislatures, our legislators, are practicing in front of the judges that they, that they selected. So then you have a conversation well, who's actually working for whom?
Speaker 2:
here.
Speaker 3:
That's right, and uh, and so that leads to a lot, of, a lot of problems, and folks don't often see those things because if they're not in court all the time, it might not impact them on a daily basis, but it breeds corruption. We often complain in general about corruption in our government, and that's one way that we can start to, I think, clean some things up there.
Speaker 2:
That's a very sensitive issue for me. I'll tell you a personal instance. I was accused by a live-in boyfriend of a patient of mine who died of lung cancer and sued in court, and the lawyer who was defending me was actually defending me before a judge that the legislature appointed and he was part of that appointment process, or actually some member of his law firm was.
Speaker 2:
Well, the statute of limitations had run out on my case. But the judge looked at me and my lawyer and said I realize the statute of limitations has run out, but I'm going to let this case go forward on its merits.
Speaker 3:
Wow.
Speaker 2:
And my lawyer didn't say a word, he didn't protest, he didn't do anything. He just nodded and said OK, and I looked at him and I said you can't do that. At him. And I said you can't do that. And I realized later that there was a legislator, lawyer, in his law firm who had helped to appoint that judge. And I was, I was incredulous. But you see, that's what, and I went through two years of misery until that case ended up being dropped. But it was all because a lawyer, legislator and his firm had helped to appoint that judge.
Speaker 2:
So I'm very sensitive to that issue.
Speaker 3:
So you felt it firsthand and that highlights you never know. Nobody knows when those issues are going to come about. You weren't expecting that you didn't do something that you thought, oh, this is going to happen, it just happened to you.
Speaker 2:
I just knew that the case was going to be dropped because the statute of limitations had run out and I wasn't going to have any issue. And then bam, two years of misery because the lawyer wouldn't even stand up for me.
Speaker 3:
Wow, wow. So you know that's a prime example of why we need to reform the way this whole system works. Most of the states in the union don't work the way we do, so there's plenty of precedent for doing things differently. That's one that we talk about. The roads are always an issue. Probably every other door I talk to is the roads. It used to be well, what can we do about it? But in the conversation, well, it's the roads, and it used to be well, what can we do about it? But in the conversation well, let's just tax the people, get some more money for it.
Speaker 3:
Well we've done that and our roads are still rattling our tires off. And so now the question is well, why haven't we fixed the roads? We have the money. We thought we were going to solve the problem with the money, and I think it just goes back to corruption in government.
Speaker 2:
Why are we not doing the things that we said we're going to do and taking care of our infrastructure? It's both incompetence, bureaucracy and corruption. It's all three.
Speaker 3:
It is. It is and several of the members of the Freedom Caucus have thought through the issue and have some plans to try to restructure some of the bureaucracy and bring some more accountability, and I think that's going to be crucial to seeing results on that issue. You know, another issue that really we need to tackle and it's becoming evident to everybody, is really fighting for free markets, and that's often a common buzzword in conservatism or a phrase, but where I'm seeing this specifically applied is corporate welfare schemes that we have specifically in the area of this rapid expansive growth that we're seeing. I'm a capitalist, firmly a capitalist. I own a business, I love growth and prosperity, but it's got to be natural market-driven growth.
Speaker 3:
And what we're experiencing now especially I live in Greenville and the larger city centers that are exploding are feeling this and you look around and say, well, this doesn't feel quite natural, and oftentimes then the pressure goes back to the county councils and people well, what are you going to do to slow this down? And now they're in a conundrum of, well, we've got this rapid expansive growth that we can't sustain, but then we've got private property rights and how are we going to balance this out? And what a lot of folks haven't realized. The problem goes even farther and deeper than that. It's not a county council issue.
Speaker 3:
This is a legislative issue that we've created, because this goes back to having a Republican supermajority in Columbia but not having a conservative supermajority. Every Democrat runs as a Republican because they have to to get elected with their people. Because South Carolinians are conservative people, our culture is a conservative culture, but our legislature doesn't reflect that, and so, because they want to spend money like Democrats, they're going to spend that money, but Republicans can't raise taxes. You can't have the appearance of raising the taxes if you're a Republican. So to solve that issue and save face, we're not going to increase tax rates, we're just going to increase the tax base. And so that's where we see all these big corporate handouts, billions of dollars being given away to foreign corporations to come here and it's sold to us as oh, we're going to create jobs for our people. Well, our people have jobs. We have low unemployment rates. We don't need the government coming in to pick jobs. The government ought not be in the business of picking winners and losers.
Speaker 3:
That's exactly right, because there's no time to pick losers anyways. That's right. But even if they could pick the winners, they shouldn't be in the business of picking the winners and losers. So we have this massive corporate welfare scheme driving it, and so the issue is the goal is not to create jobs for our people, it's to create all this massive influx and increase in tax base so they can keep the social welfare systems afloat, the massive bureaucracies. And so we've got to fight for free markets, truly fight for free markets, and end this corporate welfare.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, I agree with you 100% there. Yeah.
Speaker 3:
I wish you in my district I'd vote for you. Well, you've got a good man over there, Josiah. Magnuson is my representative and he's the bomb he is the bomb he is, the bomb he is, and his character is strong. I think highly of him, and so, along those lines too, is eliminating the state income tax. I think it's time we do that.
Speaker 2:
Yes, sir.
Speaker 3:
Yes, sir, and a lot of folks. That's gaining momentum. But this isn't a new thing for me. I've always been anti-tax because I believe taxation is theft and so the only way for government to get money is to take it from us. But I believe taxing. I don't want to get rid of the income tax just because I want to make us more competitive so that more people move here. I want to get rid of the income tax because I think it's really immoral to take people's incomes. That's stealing from them.
Speaker 3:
In fact, there was no income tax in the United States until 1913 when we created the Federal Reserve. That's right. So we operated that. Entire history over here had militaries and roads, bridges and schools with no income tax. That's a relatively new invention for us. Especially with inflation, people are. I know my grocery bill rivals a house payment. I've got four kids, six-person family. You know inflation is killing people. The Bidenomics are impacting us. So, especially now, I think it's time to end that income tax and start giving people relief. Of course that's going to mean we've got to cut. We've got to cut these bureaucracies. We can't keep our massive government. But I think it's time we start tackling that.
Speaker 2:
Yeah, you're right. When there's been some serious criticism of you from some of your opposition and some of the out-of-state opposition, can you respond to some of that?
Speaker 3:
Oh gosh, it used to be that two sides could maybe and uh, but at the end of the day and on the weekends might, be able to shake hands and even uh, you know, cook a burger outside together, you know, and maybe try to work things out and see, you know, maybe we don't do well, don't agree, and see eye to eye, but I can see how you got where you are, you might appreciate where I am and and we can keep it friendly. But the attacks that we're experiencing now are far from that. I'll always keep a clean campaign. I don't mind drawing a contrast between an opponent and myself. I think that's obviously what you do in a campaign. I show why. Maybe I think my way might be better.
Speaker 3:
But the mailers that are going out on us just nasty and far-fetched. Not even a thread of truth in them. One went out last week saying that I wanted to sentence women to death for having an abortion. I've never said any such thing. I've never hinted at any such thing. My position isn't even close to that. I'm pro-life. I don't want to be killing people at all. It's stuff like that. Other members of the Freedom Caucus have been attacked. I hear there's an attack coming on me for being an anti-Semit somehow and hating the Jews. Dr Jackson, I'm learning all kinds of things about myself. I never knew.
Speaker 3:
It's just wild. But you know, most folk, I think, are reasonable people and they can see through a lot of that, but it's's still, it's just so nasty. Um, you know that that. This is the way, you know, the opposition chooses to play yeah, I understand that.
Speaker 2:
I see it happening all around me, yep, yep, well now. Well, let me ask you this then um, um, you're, you're, you're running for what's the district that you're running in?
Speaker 3:
So it's House District 20, but nobody knows what those numbers mean. So, geographically speaking, house District 20 is the east side of Greenville and Taylors.
Speaker 2:
Okay.
Speaker 3:
Or a lot of Taylors. So it's kind of, if you're from Greenville and listening, that's going to be really kind of Bob Jones University all the way down to Reed School road and up past the state park and then kind of down on uh, south of that a little bit. Uh, some of taylor's and the lines are so so drawn over the place that it's it's hard to get a grasp. But that's, generally speaking, what the geography is I got you.
Speaker 2:
I got you and people will have to vote in the primary on june 11th. Is that correct?
Speaker 3:
That's correct. We do have a challenger that today will not commit to joining the Freedom Caucus and really fighting with the true conservatives in Columbia, and so so, in order for me to serve my people in Columbia, I've got to win the primary, be on the ballot in November. So June 11th is a big day for us. We've got to win that election in the Republican primary.
Speaker 2:
And I understand that your opponent's support is mostly from out of state. Is that correct?
Speaker 3:
That's correct. She had a fundraiser in Washington DC and had the audacity to bring all that money in. First quarter raised $500 out of the state of South Carolina out of the $18,500 raised. So you know I don't know what kind of native can't find more money from their own people. All my money's come from almost in district, at least in the state, saved a couple of my aunt and uncle in Indiana gave me some money and I'm so grateful for that.
Speaker 3:
But, that's my knowledge. That's the only out of state money that I've gone and I'm going to keep it that way because I want to serve my people, not other interests that have an agenda.
Speaker 2:
I got you. I got you. Now, if somebody wants to give a financial contribution to your campaign, how would they go about finding out more about you and about your campaign?
Speaker 3:
And making a contribution.
Speaker 3:
Yeah, yeah, we need contributions. It seems the other side always has all the money where the special interests are, in the lobbyists. So this is an entirely grassroots effort. But they folks are on Facebook. They can find us on Facebook Vote Stephen Frank is the little tag on there. Then online on my website it's just votestevenfrankcom Stephen's with a P-H, so votestevenfrankcom. You've got links to give and a phone number, email you can reach out, ask me questions. So when those nasty mailers go out and you want to try to see where I really do stand on something, I call people back and love to have conversations about it.
Speaker 2:
Okay, Now I understand. You've been out knocking on doors.
Speaker 3:
Been out knocking on doors In fact today's Saturday as we're recording this and pulled over in a parking lot here so we could have this conversation, and I've been out for a while today, and then when we hang up getting back out there trying to meet everybody that we can, I hear you.
Speaker 2:
I hear you Well. I appreciate your time. I appreciate you coming on. More Than Medicine, We'll pray the Lord's blessing on your campaign. We're talking to Stephen Frank, who's running for House District 20. Is that what you said?
Speaker 3:
Yes, sir, house District 20.
Speaker 2:
All right, well, thank you for your time. You're listening to More Than Medicine. I'm your host, dr Robert Jackson. I hope you'll be back with us again next week, and may the Lord bless you real good.
Speaker 1:
Thank you for listening to this edition of More Than Medicine. For more information about the Jackson Family Ministry, dr Jackson's books, or to schedule a speaking engagement, go to their Facebook page, instagram or their webpage at jacksonfamilyministrycom. This podcast is produced by Bob Sloan Audio Production at bobsloancom.
