The motorized chair in which I spend much of my life is a Model VP Tri-Motor Electro-Glide Personal Cruiser.
It’s the souped-up version with extra power, three forward gears, joystick control, air-flow breathable foam seat, 5-position back support, padded armrests, and the optional radar-activated bumper system.
It’s a pain in the ass to have to be in one of these, but if you do have to be in one of these, it’s a pretty sweet ride. I call mine Tee-Em. That’s short for Turtle Maserati.
The “VP” in Tee-Em’s name is for Victor Papanek, the late industrial designer who is revered for his product development ideas but reviled for what some call his patronizing and/or reactionary views. Since this wheelchair seems to be pretty well designed, I give him a pass on any biased statements he may or may not have made. Perhaps that makes me a selfish girl; this I know not.
What I do know and care about is the way wheelchairs are part of a gigantic corporate healthcare swindle. This is the way the scam works: hefty campaign donations are made to avaricious members of congress who then pass odious legislation that favors one manufacturer over others.
There have been several superb design advancements for those of us who must rely on wheelchairs, including laser beam sensors, automatic braking, better maneuverability on ramps and stairs, and even the capability of elevating us to reach items on an upper shelf.
The firms making the old-fashioned chairs don’t want to provide these designs, so they urge the passage of laws making it unlikely that insurance payments will cover the cost of wheelchairs offering these benefits.
When money is the deciding factor in healthcare, what’s good for patients becomes of secondary importance.
Not to brag, but I am now in several record books as one of the survivors of an astounding series of collisions involving more than seven dozen vehicles, a train, and a water tower. Allow me to bring you up to date on the circumstances...
(Full story is available free on johnscottg.com)
Subscribe gratis…
Thanks for this!