As a car rental company, I always get curious when a car is used as a metaphor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last Tuesday, during the government's press conference, Minister Hugo de Jonge did that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Often that's quite graphic, and you understand better what someone wants to say as a result. It made my toes curl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018We\u2019ve spent a long time looking in the rear-view mirror\u2019 <\/em>he began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You should never overdo it, it's asking for trouble. Unless you're by the side of the road, then you can look in your rearview mirror for as long as you like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n De Jonge continued: \u2018We want to be able to steer faster and more precisely. That's why we want to set up a dashboard so you can know how fast you are driving, and in which gear.\u2019<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n To steer better, I believe a steering wheel is more useful than a dashboard. And as long as you're looking in the rearview mirror, a dashboard isn't much use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018With that dashboard, we want to improve the view of the reality of the coronavirus.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n How about some good windscreen wipers? Or failing that, a cloth to wipe your window clean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2018On that dashboard, there will be a whole host of indicator lights: contact investigations, whether the street is busy, information from behavioural surveys.\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A dashboard full of warning lights? That must be a 1989 VW Golf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether it's busy on the street? Then you'd better look out the window than at your dashboard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I'm glad Hugo de Jonge isn't my driver. Listening to him, it seems wiser that he uses a driver himself. If he has to look out the window, he's staring at his dashboard, and if he has to brake, he's looking at his indicator lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you have a driving licence, and not car<\/a> (Did you meet the chauffeur)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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