Howard Staley

Dr. Howard Staley, (born March 23, 1955) is a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine [D.P.M.] and Surgery and a Chatham County, North Carolina Democrat, who announced on January 17, 2008 that he would join the race for United States Senate in North Carolina to challenge Republican U.S. Senator Elizabeth Dole.

Dr. Staley is one of five Democrats running for U.S. Senator. The others are Marcus Williams, an attorney; State Senator and attorney Kay Hagan; Duskin Lassiter, a truck driver; and Jim Neal, a banker. [ [http://www.howardstaley.com Howard Staley for US Senate 2008 ] ]

Early Life and Career

Staley was born Howard Anthony Staley in Camden, New Jersey to Marie “Mae” Cecelia Euker and Milton “Milt” Carlton Staley (both died in 1998). Dr. Staley grew up in Moorestown Township, New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in a family of three sisters and one brother. Staley married his wife Hélène in 1990 when he was 35 years old and she was 27 at Saint Thomas Episcopal Church in Sanford, North Carolina. Together Dr. Staley and his wife have three children ages 16, 13 and 4. Dr. Staley grew up as a member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Roman Catholic Church in Moorestown, N.J. and currently attends Pittsboro Presbyterian Church in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

Dr. Staley, who is a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)and the North Carolina Foot and Ankle Society, is a Diplomat of the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and the American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics. He is a Diplomat in both podiatric surgery and podiatric orthopedic medicine. Staley is licensed in both North Carolina and Tennessee.

He has practiced podiatric medicine in Lee, Moore, Wake and Nash counties. In 1981, Staley began practicing podiatric medicine in North Carolina. He maintains hospital privileges with Central Carolina Hospital in Sanford, N.C. – but held hospital privileges at Western Wake Medical Center during the years Staley ran three podiatric medical practices in Cary, Sanford and in Aberdeen.

For nearly 27 years, Staley has practiced podiatric medicine in North Carolina. He graduated in 1981 from the Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine -- currently known as Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. with a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine degree [D.P.M.] . In 1977, he graduated from Rutgers University in Camden, N.J., where he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry. He graduated from Moorestown High School in Moorestown, N.J. in 1973.

During podiatric medical school and during his undergraduate years, Staley drove a bread truck to put himself through school. Also as a student, he loaded trucks for Jones Motor Freight in a depot in Trenton, N.J. [To Escape Into Dreams Volume 1 by Hélène Hinson Staley]

Three Main Issues

Staley, who considers himself moderately progressive, says that the “change” we hear from the presidential candidates does not need to be disruptive but merely directional.

“Instead of this Nation bolstering corporate profit, we need to be concerned with the genuine needs of American people,” Staley is quoted to say: “We need to encourage pride in a United States of America that rewards its citizens with a guarantee of their basic needs – specifically good jobs, affordable housing, unadulterated food and water, and worriless healthcare.”

Staley adds:

“I see three big issues that are decreasing the quality of the lives of average Americans. One is the uninsured in a healthcare system that is based on fictitiously excessive charges submitted to a handful of insurance companies, which are reimbursed at unsustainable reduced levels. This means that unless you have paid insurance company premiums, you are being over charged because insurance companies reduce the fee. The free market no longer has any function in the healthcare system. Luckily, many healthcare providers still have a sense of charity.

“I feel we need to develop a system that includes everyone throughout their lifetime with a balance between insurance, patients, and the government.”

In addition, Staley says,

“Secondly, I believe that the well-touted tax cuts of the Bush administration have been a windfall for the wealthy, and have actually caused more total taxes to be paid by the less wealthy in the form of regressive local taxes.

“Thirdly, our unquenchable thirst for energy has turned us into a debtor nation,” he says. “Unlike the last one hundred years, the twenty-first century is no longer a period of cheap energy from third-world nations. These foreign nations now have returned these dollars by owning our children’s national debt, as well as much of our land and assets. Cheap energy has caused many of our other problems, such as urban sprawl, traffic congestion, pollution and human isolation by limiting interaction in communities. We need to develop technology, lifestyles changes, and native energy sources to release us from imported petroleum.”

Staley is also quoted to have said during political speeches and to the press:

“It is the gaps and limitations that are left in insurance that present difficulties in providing what I feel to be the best of care. This is most evident to me in several scenarios, one being diabetic foot infections. Prolonged and diligent care is needed to save as much of the foot as possible; however, it is cheaper to simply amputate the foot. Many patients choose the option in which insurance covers the largest portion of the costs. Unfortunately, medical insurance pays only for the immediate care and not the long-term problems the patient encounters. This is ultimately more expensive.”

When asked what he specifically proposes will solve these problems, Staley, said:

“I propose a combination of government subsidized health care to allow access to the health care system for all residents of the United States and restoring some level of a free market economy to help lower medical fees. Insurance companies would be the intermediate step as an option.”

When Staley was asked how he would do the job of U.S. Senator differently than Elizabeth Dole, he said:

“As a U.S. Senator, I would base my decisions on how it would affect the individual citizens of our nation more than on how it would affect corporations and investors. During the Bush administration, Senator Dole agreed with almost all of the proposals that benefited the wealthy at the expense of the less affluent. If Senator Dole remains in office she will no doubt resist any attempt to change these policies. This means that more money will flow to the wealthiest five percent of our population, and less will be available to the rest of the people. If I am elected U.S. Senator, I will support a return to a more progressive tax system.”

When asked what voters should consider when looking at his qualifications as a candidate versus those of Sen. Dole and those of the other democratic candidates, Staley responded:

“As a candidate, I am not a lawyer. I am not a banker. I am a self-employed doctor who has spent my entire working career making decisions that are not based on my own self-interest rather based on the best interests of my patients. I have not placed money or politics as the measure of success. My practice has been a small business, which I have run successfully despite the hardships small businesses face.”

AAUW Brevard Voter Guide

When asked by the AAUW Brevard Voter Guide for Candidates for the 11th Congressional District of the U.S. House and for the U.S. Senator for North Carolina, what position he would urge Congress to take on the U.S. presence in Iraq, Staley said:

“I would encourage Congress to urge the President for an orderly and soon-as-possible withdrawal, especially of reservist troops.”

Staley, who favors a federal universal health care plan, was asked how he would address the growing problems of access to affordable high quality health care in the United States. He replied:

“I propose a combination of government subsidized health care to allow access to the health care system for all residents of the United States and restoring some level of a free market economy to help lower medical fees. Insurance companies would be the intermediate step as an option.”

When asked what his position on the bipartisan proposal to expand the State Children’s Health Insurance that was vetoed by the President, Staley said:

“SCHIP is a good alternative to Medicaid for children. Luckily, most children are healthy and require few medical services. The veto of this bill by Bush will ultimately inspire more developed health care plans in the future. Bush claimed that this was a step towards socialized medicine; however, his failure to agree will only lead to larger and more inclusive health care reforms in the future.”

When asked what components he thinks are needed in a comprehensive federal bill regarding immigration, Staley said:

“Identification, closing of porous borders, adequate opportunity for immigrants to obtain the proper passport or visas; also limited-time work permits.”

Staley, who opposes replacing Social Security with private investment accounts said:

“Social Security was designed to be just that, security for our society as a whole. It was never meant to be individual security.”

In regard to Campaign Finance Reform, Staley who was asked if he supports legislative efforts for election/campaign finance reform, said:

“It depends on what the specific qualifications are. Elections should be open to challengers -- not based on how much money they have already raised.”

On March 10th part of Staley’s campaign, which has included since Jan. 17th – trips and speeches in Bertie, Edgecombe, Guilford, Cumberland, Lee, Mecklenburg, Moore, Chatham, among many others, included a speech he made at the North Carolina Bankers Association meeting on a Monday afternoon. It was during this meeting, he told a gathering of 200 or more,

“If banks want to avoid government regulation, they will need to follow strict self-regulation, where the operative word is regulate, not self.”

“This is most important on consumer issues such as home mortgages and revolving consumer credit. Even from childhood, no one likes to play games where the rules change at any time…As a senator, I would try to avoid burdensome regulations to the banking industry, especially on business-to-business relations….I understand that some of the other contenders in this race have a background in the banking industry, and to them, speaking here must be like preaching to the choir….the banking and mortgage industry has been blamed for the current economic downturn that we are experiencing. I feel that financial services were provided to assist people to become homeowners with good intentions; however, making housing affordable only by continuing to raise the price of real estate had divergent goals, and it was inevitable that separation would occur. Unfortunately, it is mostly persons of limited wealth that are being separated from their homes and their savings.

“I would encourage financial institutions to continue providing the means for average Americans to become and to continue to be homeowners. Perhaps going forward to the past would be a solution, where riskier loans and lower down payments would have a higher interest rate, which would lower as equity was built….I would also encourage you to work with defaulting homeowners to structure reasonable means for them to remain in their homes. It appears we are heading into a period of job losses, decreased prosperity, and low wage growth. We do not need to compound these problems with increased homelessness.”

Staley said that the U.S. method of financing health care overlaps with banking industry concerns. He said healthcare is a leading cause of bankruptcy, even among the insured.

“Healthcare financing will be a major block to economic recovery and job growth in the United States unless we end our reliance on optional employer based health insurance,” he said.

Staley purports there are an estimated 40 million uninsured in the U.S. Many of these, he said,

“I feel they cannot enter the healthcare system because they do not hold the currency of insurance. More importantly, many of these people enter the system as unreimbursed cases, and this is straining many hospitals toward their own bankruptcies.

“A system that allows large profits for the middleman, yet refuses to cover twenty percent of the population, and refuses to reimburse the providers at sustainable levels, is headed for a future worse than the mortgage meltdown. Due to the interposition of insurance, there are no market controls on pricing or purchasing decisions, yet it is claimed that this is a free market. Unlike a free market, there is no advantage for providers to lower prices, because all pricing becomes fiction once it reaches an insurance company…This is not a free market…I am not opposed to insurance, but health care providers need the same freedoms as other businesses. Regulation of healthcare by government is immense, but regulation of healthcare by for profit companies is abhorrent.

“The United States needs a basic, entry level, healthcare system that covers all persons at all times of their lives…It could co-exist with our current systems of Medicare for the elderly, Medicaid for the poor, and optional private insurance for others. This would insure against loss of health insurance, loss of employment benefits, or uninsurability due to a pre-existing condition…I would like to be a part of a debate in Congress, as I have experience with healthcare financing from the viewpoint of the patient, provider and employer.” [ [http://www.aauwbrevardnc.org/voterguide-ussenate08P.html AAUW-Brevard Voter Guide Questionnaire ] ]

Independent Weekly Questionnaire:

What do you see as the most important issues facing North Carolina and the nation? If elected, what are your top three priorities in addressing those issues?

“The three most important issues I see facing North Carolina and the Nation are the economy in general, the war in Iraq and health care. I want to assure that this economic downturn does not lead to increased homelessness. I do not want a long-term presence in Iraq. I would like to see a health care system that is reliable at all times of a person’s life.”

What in your record as a public official or other experience demonstrates your ability to be effective in the U.S. Senate?

“As a practicing podiatrist for nearly 27 years, I have experienced most all of the pitfalls of our current health financing schemes from the viewpoint of a health care provider, as a small business providing health insurance for employees and as a patient. My experience would help to avoid more mistakes in the expected upcoming legislation to change our system of health insurance.”

How do you define yourself politically, and how does your political philosophy show itself in your past achievements and present campaign platform?

“I describe myself as a moderate progressive. I believe that small changes in direction will lead to great changes in the future. I believe that we should keep things that work and change things that are inappropriate without causing severe disruption.”

The Independent’s mission is to help build a just community in the Triangle and North Carolina. Please point to a specific position in your platform that would, if achieved, help further that goal.

“I support a more efficient and usable public transportation system, based on local needs that would relieve road congestion, decrease pollution and limit foreign oil consumption.”

Identify a principled stand you might be willing to take if elected that you suspect might cost you some popularity points with voters.

“All officials should take a position of authority that allows them to utilize their expertise in issues that are for the betterment of our society. All decisions are not going to be approved of by all voters at all times. In my specific platform, however, I would like to see a health care system that is available for all residents of the United States at all times of their lives without causing a noticeable redistribution of wealth. Any workable solution will be somewhat unpopular with all groups involved, including patients, doctors, hospitals, pharmacists, insurance companies, taxpayers and in some way just about everyone. There is no perfect system, but a health care system that is equally unpopular among all parties involved would probably achieve the goals stated above.”

The U.S. has been fighting the war in Iraq for five years. Was the decision to invade a mistake?

“Yes, I was opposed as was most of world opinion. We invaded Iraq on false claims of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Certainly, Saddam Hussein was an evil and deranged person.”

What should our policy in Iraq be today? Should we base substantial military forces there for the foreseeable future? Start to withdraw now, or if not now, according to a plan (i.e., on a timetable)? Which, if any, of the congressional resolutions introduced so far on Iraq do you support?

“Our policy in Iraq today should be to achieve stability no matter what the solution be that reunifying Iraq or splitting Iraq into regional areas, but we need to stabilize it as soon as possible. Since we destroyed Iraq, we do have some responsibility to maintaining a necessary military presence. I would rather leave the decision of when to withdraw to the President, who is the Commander and Chief and who would have the most flexibility to make these decisions as to when to withdraw. I would look forward to working with the new Administration. I am not in favor of a long-term military presence in Iraq.”

Evaluate the war in Afghanistan. What troop levels and funding should be allocated to fight that war?

“I think we abandoned the war in Afghanistan by insufficient troop levels, and no clear victory by starting a simultaneous war in Iraq.”

What is our goal there, in your view? What should our policy be? What legislation should be introduced to address those issues?

“Our goal in Afghanistan was to completely destroy terrorist organization and to depose the Taliban. The terrorist groups moved slightly to Pakistan, and the Taliban is now seeking a resurgence. Luckily, we now have some NATO assistance to stabilize the government; however, I fear we may need to aggressively confront the remaining enemies. I also feel this should be conducted by the military under control of the President. I don’t think Congress should be involved in the daily management of the war. It should be left to the military under ultimate control of the President. We will also need much greater assistance from Pakistan to avoid our own troops being accused of entering their sovereign territory.”

Economic inequality in the U.S.: Is a major problem? If so, what steps do you advocate shrinking the gap between rich and poor?

“Is it a major problem? Yes. The gap between the rich and poor has once again led to an aristocracy in our Nation at the expense of the middle-class. A great difference in wealth is a self-perpetuating cycle of higher prices for the lower income levels. This is most noticeable in the cost of college education – especially at private institutions. The only effective method to address this would be a more progressive income tax – especially when CEOs are making more than one hundred million dollars a year.”

Universal health care: Do you support a program of universal health insurance? If so, is your model for it closest to Sen. Clinton’s? Sen. Obama’s? Some other plan? Or do you favor a free-market approach like Sen. McCain’s?

“Yes, I support a health plan that would always be available at any time of a person’s life. I define universal health care as covering all medical services for all persons at all times, and I do not feel we can afford a system of this magnitude. We need a basic and well-defined plan that has aspects of government guarantee, available private insurance and free market control by required co-payment.”

Infrastructure: Should the U.S. undertake new investments—and if so, how much? -- in highways, bridges, transit systems, water and sewer systems and the like?

“The United States does need to encourage more usable public transportation to reduce the effect of excessive automobile use. Since the federal government has subsidized automobiles by subsidizing roads, it will probably have to play some role in developing public transportation systems although the ultimate decision will have to be made by local governments – states, towns, counties, and cities. The Nation and North Carolina in particular are straining their clean water supplies. I would be in favor of water projects to increase our supply of clean water for the future.”

There has been an increase in unemployment, a rise in home foreclosures, a spike in food and fuel prices, a huge federal deficit, and other troubling economic indicators. What do you see as the primary sources of our current economic problems? What measures should Congress use to resolve address them?

“The primary source of our economic problems is a war that is not being paid for except by borrowing money and an imbalance trade deficit – especially for foreign oil and Chinese imports, which are artificially under-priced due to China’s monetary policy toward the dollar. Also, American’s reliance on credit cards and other means of borrowing has not let wages grow to a level that would sustain our standard of living. There are several proposals to slow the rate of home foreclosures including government home purchase and interest rate assistance, but the features of these plans would be in the details, as we do not want to bail out reckless investors. All of these plans would help to some level.”

How would you begin to reduce the federal deficit? What are some of the possible negative consequences of your proposed solutions?

“At this time, the federal deficit is so huge that it will take years to reduce it. This can only be done either through reduced spending, or increased taxes – neither of which is popular. Government spending should not be reduced during an economic recession. This would require a microscopic examination of where the federal government may be able to reduce spending. I do not recommend an overall tax increase for most Americans.”

Trade: What changes in trade policy do you advocate, if any?

“For the most part I believe in free trade policy; however, we do need the ability to change unfair trade policies of foreign nations. I believe imported goods should be in compliance with the United States’ policies on pollution, workers’ safety and child labor laws. We have exported most of our industries that cause pollution to countries that do not have strict anti-pollution laws. We are polluting the rest of the world by purchasing these cheap foreign goods. At the same time, we have lost jobs. Artificial exchange rates, as with China, also need to be addressed. [See next question.] .”

The falling dollar: The euro and the dollar were equal not long ago. Now, one euro costs $1.50. What’s the problem, and what should be done to address it?

“The falling dollar should be a wake-up call to all Americans – that America no longer reigns supreme economically. Foreign nations no longer want our dollar. This is due to an imbalance of trade and excessive borrowing. Unfortunately, nothing needs to be done because this more realistically aligns the dollar with foreign currency – especially China.”

What is your position on capital punishment?

“I am undecided. There have been serious and heinous crimes that probably deserve capital punishment [e.g. the 911 disaster.] There have been; however, too many cases of discovery of innocence of convicted death row inmates. Taking one innocent life is too many. If a convicted person chooses his or her own capital punishment in lieu of life-long confinement, I would probably not object. My main objection to capital punishment is that it can be overused. If we are to retain capital punishment, we do need to limit its availability to only the most deserving and undeniable crimes.”

What is your position regarding LGBT rights? Please address whether gay marriages, or civil unions should be made legal in North Carolina, or as a matter of national policy; also, whether sexual orientation and identity should be added as a protected class under federal or state anti-discrimination laws.

“There are rights in the U.S. Constitution that are afforded to ALL Americans. There are no special LGBT rights, and state constitutions vary. I would support adding sexual orientation or identity to hate crime statutes should that be found to be the cause of the crime. I do not support gay marriage because that implies an approval of unnatural sexual acts. The word marriage needs to be reserved for the union of a male and a female. I see nowhere in the U.S. Constitution that provides a right to marriage. If marriage were a right, it would not be regulated as it is by most state laws – especially noted in marrying your own relatives. I would like to think that civil unions of gay partners is an attempt to establish some type of family life. Everyone needs and benefits from a family organization. I would support legislation that would allow gay families under a term such as ‘assumption of family rights.’

Should the nation’s labor-organizing laws be strengthened to better protect workers’ rights? If so, how?

“I support organized labor, but I think organized labor would be better off bargaining for better rights, and strengthening their own position rather than relying on laws from Congress.”

Where do you stand on retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies that engaged in domestic surveillance without a warrant?

“I do not like domestic surveillance without a warrant, but I feel the telecommunications companies felt they were complying with the law as re-written following the 911 attack. I would support the Senate version of the bill granting retroactive immunity for past actions, but not for current or future actions.” [Independent Weekly 03/26/08]

The Charlotte Observer Questionnaire:

What would be your top priority if you are elected?

"The top priority is resolving our military presence in Iraq. Although my long-term priority is providing a reformed system of health care financing, the war in Iraq is most in need of immediate attention."

What's the most difficult thing you've ever done?

"The most difficult thing I've ever done was being the generalcontractor and laborer for building our own house. This was a several yearproject that I brought in successfully below budget. This is a passive /active solar house mostly of my own design, which we have enjoyed living inat Chatham County."

How would you measure success in your first year in office?

"I would measure success as if Congress enacts a bill that providessubstantial access to medical care for everyone in the United States. Also,I would like to see the United States economy once again be first in theworld. I would like to see our military presence worldwide reduced, so thatwe would have a strong military reserve. I would like to see the UnitedStates change its position in the world from the largest energy consumer tothe leading energy-conserving nation." [The Charlotte Observer]

Quotes

“As a candidate, I am not a lawyer. I am not a banker. I am a self-employed doctor who has spent my entire working career making decisions that are not based on my own self-interest rather based on the best interests of my patients. I have not placed money or politics as the measure of success. My practice has been a small business, which I have run successfully despite the hardships small businesses face.” 01/08;

“What makes me different than Elizabeth Dole is that if I am elected as U.S. Senator, I am not going to be frivolous. I am not going to be lazy. I am not going to take the people of North Carolina for granted. My loyalties are to the residents of this state and to the rest of our country.” 02/18/08;

"On May 6th, I encourage you to vote your conscience." 02/18/08

Books

Dr. Staley's wife, Hélène Hinson Staley is the author of five books: "Shielding Our Innocents, A Prevention Plan On Child Sexual Abuse," [published in 1997] ; "To Escape Into Dreams," volume 1; [published in 2004, 2005] ; "Appendices of: To Escape Into Dreams," volumes 2-3 [published 2004] ; and "Dishonest Housekeepers," a novella, fiction [published in 2007] . [ [http://www.xlibris.com Print On Demand Online Book & Manuscript Self Publishing Services - Xlibris Publishing ] ]

References