Too Many Indians, Not Enough Chiefs: Why Are Americans Resentful of the Government?

We've all heard the saying, 'Too many Chiefs, not enough Indians,' referring to a skewed ratio of leaders over followers. It is an irreverent statement, politically incorrect and not very accurate.

The saying is based on several faulty assumptions. Assumptions about Indians, leadership, politics, and human beings in general. Assumptions, that have carried over from the last century and perhaps even centuries before.

Pre colonization Indians, or Native Americans, who lived in tribal societies, were often remarkably organized and highly democratic. They held tribal councils, comprised of men and women of esteem and these council members governed the tribe and facilitated important decisions. However, tribal members who were not on the council were not necessarily mere followers. They too had decision powers. Educated in the ways of the tribe, their decisions were guided but not dictated by the tribal councils. The good of the tribe came first, but the individual was not slave to its traditions. Europeans in the throes of medieval despotism, who first encountered these very functional democracies, had trouble understanding them.

Naturally, with a council and extended discussions, there were few snap decisions. Important issues, like wars or relocations took careful planning and may have caused extensive parlaying among the governing members. Europeans, used to dictatorships may have seen this as a weakness. The derogatory phrase listed above shows their mind-set about it.

Today, many Americans still believe in the need for a government, that spends little time in discussion and more time in direct action, even if the results are not in their best interest. Flashy moves impress more than carefully researched proceedings. They convey power and pretend insider know-how, cradling voters in false security. Americans often want pat answers to simplistic questions and they are happy if someone else is doing the deciding, even if, in retrospect, the decisions were dead wrong.

We tend to assume that leaders must by necessity have followers. And we tend to insist on a ratio of many followers to any one, usually authoritative leader. But, that is not how true leadership works. Today, in the workplace, we have returned to the democratic model of tribal societies. Teamwork is prized and team members must find ways to discuss opposing views respectfully. A consensus is not always reached and sometimes compromises are necessary. Good team leaders guide the discussion, but do not dictate decisions. And they must be able to follow as well as lead.

So why are Americans still resentful of such a government style? Is it because democracy opposes progress? Hardly! While democracies may be slow moving, they are still vastly more pleasant to live in than totalitarian societies. And they generally embrace positive change. Perhaps people avoid independent thinking and research because they feel overwhelmed. They may not have the resources to explain and understand more complex issues. Or they may just be afraid to try. And they may be uncomfortable with the amount of work and time others invest in leadership decisions. They become yea-sayers and one-issue voters because it is easier that way. And they become followers, or, as the saying goes, 'Indians' instead of 'Chiefs.'

The trouble is that we lack effective leadership on the grass-roots level. We don't have enough guides that can steer us toward in-depth information and resources, so we can make informed, intelligent decisions. And there are mechanisms in force that prevent us from getting to those resources. We must counteract these forces. We must halt the deterioration of our democracy before we forget how to do it. But we can only do it with knowledge.

We need more 'chiefs', more seekers, with their fingers on the pulse of knowledge to guide us into the next decade. We need more leaders and fewer followers. We need more informed citizens who can see the big picture and conduct respectful discussions about the future of our country. It is no longer a viable option to remain passive in this changing political world. You and I and Uncle Frank and Aunt Sarah-Mae will have to dig in our heels and educate ourselves. We must learn to lead, rather than blindly follow. And we must show up at the tribal council and let our leadership qualities shine, so that others can learn to their fullest potential. It is the democratic way!