Category Archives: Health Care

Sep
05

Start saying ‘electable’

Let’s all agree to take a month off from using the word “unelectable.” I promise it won’t be nearly as hard as refraining from using your iPhone for a day.

I recurrently hear people suggest that a seasoned physician-turned-congressman (Ron Paul), a tax attorney-turned congresswoman (Michele Bachmann) and a businessman who took Burger King and Godfather’s Pizza from deficiency to profitability (Herman Cain) are unelectable.

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Posted in Economy, Free Speech, Health Care, National Security | 3 Comments

Aug
08

Escaping the Federal Zoo

By Katie Kieffer Tiger cub in Montgomery Zoo If Britney Spears performs her hit single “I’m a Slave 4 U” alongside exotic animals or dances inside a cage, you assume she craves easy attention but you don’t think that she literally wants to live like a zoo animal. Needless to say, humans do not belong in zoos. Cages do not enable men to grow and prosper. But what if a man were born in a zoo? Like a baby tiger born in a zoo, he would not see the zoo as a trap. His needs for food, shelter and even procreation would be satisfied. (The zookeepers would figure it out.)

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Posted in Economy, Free Speech, Health Care, Law | Leave a comment

Mar
29

FDA headbangs with condoms

By Katie Kieffer

KISS concert: Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley.

If young people have casual sex, they’re rock stars, as long as they use condoms. If they casually smoke cigarettes, they’re borderline criminals. According to the FDA, that is.

The FDA takes a hypocritical and overly invasive stance on two adult products: Condoms and cigarettes. The FDA’s inconsistent and excessive regulation of these adult products hurts free enterprise and represents an inappropriate extension of government in our daily lives. Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment & Culture, Health Care | 3 Comments

Dec
02

Mayo, U of M challenge IRS

By Katie Kieffer

Image credit: "Medical students learning about stitches" by Tulane Public Relations on Flickr via Creative Commons.

Did you know that medical students at the prestigious Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota are required to pay taxes on their residency work? In 2005, the Treasury Department issued a rule that eliminated the exemption from paying Social Security taxes for medical students who work over 40 hours a week.

The Mayo Foundation of Rochester and the University of Minnesota are currently challenging this rule in the Supreme Court. The High Court’s decision on this case will have widespread implications that could impact your health. I will break down the basic arguments on both sides of Mayo Foundation v. U.S. I will also recap my interview with a pre-med student so that you can determine your stance on this case and see the relevance to your day-to-day life. Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Health Care, Law | 1 Comment

Nov
16

Identifying FDA flu symptoms

By Katie Kieffer

"Equipment" by trp0 on Flickr via Creative Commons.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal government agency charged with “protecting and promoting public health.” Unfortunately, the FDA is beginning to look pale and weak with a virus I will refer to as “FDA flu.” You need to know the symptoms of “FDA flu” in order to protect your own health.

1.) Coughing up millions of wasteful dollars

The FDA is spending millions of dollars for outside consultants to hold “leadership” sessions in Maryland at the Civil War battlefield site of the Battle of Antietam. FDA employees learn ‘the perils of backing away from “tough decisions,” Leadership Performance Solutions Inc.’s president, Dr. Feldman, gushed to The Wall Street Journal. Continue reading →

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Jul
07

Finding beauty in life

By Katie Kieffer

Life is a beautiful thing. That is why the freedom to give generously to others and to choose gratitude over discontent elevates humanity.

I was recently nominated by the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Foundation as one of the Twin Cities 25 Finest Young Professionals. Prior to being honored in this way, I was not fully aware of the impacts of this genetic disease. Recently, I was fortunate to interview Chelsea Votel – an amazing and optimistic young woman who is living with cystic fibrosis.

In the video below, Chelsea tells me about her daily regimen to manage cystic fibrosis and her hope for the future. I think you will find the video inspiring and eye-opening. Video filmed and produced by Charles Eide of Forever Film Studios.

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Posted in Events, Health Care, Personal | Leave a comment

Apr
16

Tax Day in video & photos

By Katie Kieffer

Katie Kieffer speaks at Tea Party Tax Day Rally at MN State Capitol. Image copyright Katie Kieffer. All rights reserved.

Yesterday, I spoke at the Tea Party Tax Day Rally at the Minnesota State Capitol. I wanted to share the video and some photos from the Tea Party Rally with you so that you can judge for yourself what kind of event it was. While the mainstream media likes to mis-categorize Tea Partiers, a poll conducted by The New York Times/CBS News just came out revealing that they are more educated and successful than the vast majority of the population. Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Events, Free Speech, Health Care | 4 Comments

Mar
29

How to make it in socialism

By Katie Kieffer

HBO's 'How to Make It In America' is a comedy-drama about two entrepreneurs who pursue the American Dream in New York City. Image credit: HBO.

“How to Make it in America” only works if capitalism reigns in America. I have positive news and ideas that will help you take America back to her capitalist and Constitutional roots in the wake of socialist and unconstitutional Obamacare, which I discussed here, here and here.

Let’s all agree that there is no silver bullet to halt this Administration’s apparent obsession with creating “historic moments” and “fundamentally different courses” for America. There is no Capitalist Fairy who can sprinkle Reagan Jelly Belly beans down on liberal politicians and eliminate their hatred and shame for America.

There are real people, like you and me, who have the right to vote, free speech and assembly. If you feel like you’re alone in this battle to preserve freedom, you’re not. You have more friends than you might think. I’m going to showcase your biggest friends in this race to combat socialist takeover of American free enterprise so you can join them in making your voice heard: Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Free Speech, Health Care | 2 Comments

Mar
24

Small biz gon’ run this town

By Katie Kieffer

"Spoonbridge and Cherry" by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Image: Minneapolis City Center Elite Members blog

Small business entrepreneurs, listen to me. You are the fuel of our economy. You provide jobs. Real jobs, not paper-pushing tax collector jobs or busy-body federal regulator jobs. You dream big and your dreams become job-cranking innovations, like iPhones, while your public-sector peers dream of ways to tax your profits and restrict your growth.

Last week, I partnered with Charles Eide and Michael Danielson of Forever Films to produce a film that showcases the value of entrepreneurship. Here is the introductory sizzle reel, and the full show featuring three amazing young entrepreneurs will follow shortly. Turn your volume up and expand the video full-screen for maximum impact:

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Posted in Economy, Free Speech, Health Care | 1 Comment

Mar
18

Out popped a drug lobby

By Katie Kieffer

drugmoneyForget the U.S.-Mexico border for a moment. We have bigger drug cartels to contend with.

Have you flipped the TV on this week? You’ve probably noticed some version of a commercial with the subheading “PAID FOR BY AMERICANS FOR STABLE QUALITY CARE.” Americans for Stable Quality Care is a front group for PhRMA, which stands for Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America, the largest drug lobby in Washington.

The commercials are soothing, professional and put viewers at ease on Obamacare: Continue reading →

Posted in Health Care | 1 Comment