WHAT KIND OF PIG ARE YOU?

(2-minute tail about economics)

"Do you know how wild pigs are caught?"

The teacher smiled, expecting a light-hearted joke or amusing story. But the student’s expression was serious as he continued:

"It’s not a joke. Let me explain."

The classroom quieted as the student began his tale with earnest determination.

"To catch wild pigs, the trapper first finds a spot in the forest where they frequently roam. He scatters a little corn on the ground. At first, the pigs are cautious, but the free food tempts them, and they come to eat. The trapper returns every day, laying more corn in the same spot. Soon, the pigs begin to expect it.

One day, the trapper places a straight fence along one side of the corn. The pigs notice the change but ignore it because the corn is still there. Day after day, he adds more fences, slowly enclosing the area—one side at a time. The pigs grow accustomed to the fences, focusing only on the free food. Eventually, the trapper completes the enclosure, leaving just one opening—a gate.

By this point, the pigs see the corn as their daily sustenance. They walk right through the gate, oblivious to the danger. On the final day, the trapper closes the gate behind them.

At first, the pigs panic. They run, scream, and push against the fences, desperate for an escape. But the trap is perfect—there’s no way out. Over time, their fear subsides, and they return to eating the corn.

Days turn into weeks. The pigs grow dependent on their captor for food. They forget how to forage for themselves. Eventually, they stop resisting entirely. They even grow grateful for the hand that feeds them, oblivious to the fact that it’s the same hand that will lead them to the slaughterhouse. Generations later, their descendants walk willingly to their fate, trusting the very system that enslaved them."

The boy paused, scanning the room. Every eye was on him, his words hanging heavy in the silence. Then, he turned to the teacher and asked:

"So, what kind of pig are you?"