Welfare Pigeons
 Michael Emerling

 (Michael Emerling is an activist, writer, speaker and motivator whose
Art of Political Persuasion workshops have drawn rave reviews
throughout the United States and Canada.) 

In the early l970's a group of scientists conducted an experiment
called "The Pigeon in a Welfare State". They took hungry pigeons and
divided them into three groups: a control group, and two test groups.
One test group learned to hop on a pedal to get grain. The other test
group got the same grain, regardless of what they did. The control
group went hungry. 

All three groups were then put into cages where they had to learn to
peck a lighted key to get grain. The group that had learned to hop on
a pedal for grain learned fastest. The control group finished second.
And the pigeons who got fed no matter what they did finished last. 

Once they had learned this lesson, they were put into new cages where
they got fed when they refrained from pecking. Same results. The group
that learned that their dinner depended on their efforts did best. The
control group was second. The Welfare Pigeons finished last. 

Of course, people are not pigeons. People are far more intelligent and
resourceful. But, like pigeons, we are dramatically influenced by our
early learning experiences. 

Think of a young boy whose parents are on Government Welfare. What
lessons is he learning? That you don't have to work for a living. You
can passively wait for someone, somehow to provide food, shelter, and
clothing. That diligent work, responsibility, and resourcefulness
aren't necessary to get on in life. He learns to be helpless. He
learns that it pays off. 

There are millions of young boys and girls learning these lessons
every day. Some day, they'll be parents. They will instill these
lessons in their children. By example. And this legacy of learned
helplessness will be passed down from generation to generation. 

The Government Welfare System is undermining the Canadian way of life.
We must make certain that people are rewarded for their work. And that
they must work for their rewards. 

Otherwise, we're the pigeons.