Too many chiefs and not enough Indians

(idea) by ModernAngel (9.4 hr) (print) ? I like it! Tue Feb 15 2000 at 22:10:45

A metaphor for a company that is top-heavy with management. Inefficient, a disproportionate amount of payroll goes to a pack of goofballs with nothing better to do than get in the way of people trying to get some real work done.

(idea) by tim_three (3.4 y) (print) ? I like it! Wed Feb 16 2000 at 7:26:05

Similar to too many cooks, but with the added complication of a shortage of execution units.

Usually uttered when things are pretty well screwed, and one of the too many chiefs just wishes there were people that would just follow orders instead of giving their own suggestions.

(idea) by Boldra (3.2 mon) (print) ? I like it! Tue Mar 06 2001 at 14:01:54

I heard one smart alec radio reporter use this phrase to describe the political instability that was afflicting Fiji in 2000.

In slightly more detail; there are a significant number of ethnic Indians living in Fiji, mostly tracing their heritage back to "coolie" labourers brought in by the English. For an ethnic minority, the Fijian Indians have quite a bit of political and financial influence (not unlike the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia) and they are well represented in government. However, the military almost entirely consists of ethnic Fijians; which is what lead to George Speight's coup in 2000.

The intention of the reporter was to suggest that if the ethnic Indians weren't a minority, and the Fijian Chieftains were a little more tolerant, the coup might have been avoided.

printable version
chaos

Too many lemons and not enough limes	Get the fuck out of my office	I'm afraid of posting on e2	George Speight
Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels	Trotsky's Bodyguard	2000 MacArthur genius grants	triumvirate
Statute of Jewry 1275	Coolie	From now on, any ordinary knowledge is no longer going to satisfy you, I'm afraid	Whom and Wherefore to the Indians
Bob's Yer Uncle	skins	Error: Too many errors	smart alec
Cochise	Conflict Diamond	Injun Summer	Quaternary
River Titan Bokamba	naughty bits	concrete	Too many cooks spoil the dish

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