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Maine

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TexasTowelie

(116,768 posts)
Sat Apr 15, 2017, 05:48 AM Apr 2017

Thousands of Maine men are missing from the workforce, and no one really knows why [View all]

Jon Hunt, or Twitch as he’s known, isn’t much of a talker. He isn’t much of anything, as he sees it.

That’s because, at 26, Twitch has never held an official job. He’s worked as a roofer, a blueberry raker and a construction worker — “backbreaking shit,” he said — but always under the table.

When he’s not working for cash, he goes to the Bangor Public Library to chat with friends on Facebook Messenger using the free wifi; smokes marijuana at friends’ apartments; and listens to music — usually rap on his earmuff-sized headphones.

In addition to occasional pocket change gleaned from odd jobs, Twitch lives off a monthly $750 disability check he gets for his mild schizophrenia, which he says he was diagnosed with around 2011.

Read more: http://bangordailynews.com/2017/04/11/mainefocus/thousands-of-maine-men-are-missing-from-the-workforce-and-no-one-really-knows-why/?ref=The%20PointBox

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"No one really knows why" seems to be Maine's state motto ck4829 Apr 2017 #1
Haha! cheapdate Apr 2017 #30
Also . . . OldRedneck Apr 2017 #2
I don't think so.. whathehell Apr 2017 #5
Probably not, based on the video. wildeyed Apr 2017 #13
Trump and LePage will make this a nation-wide problem IronLionZion Apr 2017 #3
Did you watch the video? whathehell Apr 2017 #6
Many immigrants manage to work without getting disability IronLionZion Apr 2017 #8
And why have millions more gone on disability over the past few years? 7962 Apr 2017 #9
Um, they can't find a job? whathehell Apr 2017 #16
Not finding a job doesnt qualify you for disability. Being DISABLED does. 7962 Apr 2017 #20
No shit, but it CAN make one desperate.. whathehell Apr 2017 #22
I'm impressed that you're able to know my "life experience" by 2 comments 7962 Apr 2017 #23
I never claimed to."know" it, I only said that's what it sounded like.. whathehell Apr 2017 #25
I didn't see anything about his being an immigrant, whathehell Apr 2017 #15
Me neither IronLionZion Apr 2017 #17
Um, the only thing I didn't "understand" was your mention of "being the only US citizen whathehell Apr 2017 #18
Life kicks a lot of people down IronLionZion Apr 2017 #19
"Some of us kick back". There ya go. Good way to look at it 7962 Apr 2017 #21
Some are able to kick back, at least for awhile, whathehell Apr 2017 #24
We're probably not that far apart in our views IronLionZion Apr 2017 #26
No, I don't think so, and I'm glad.. whathehell Apr 2017 #28
I'm 34 IronLionZion Apr 2017 #29
Ok, you're a young dude.. whathehell Apr 2017 #31
I grew up in rural western PA IronLionZion Apr 2017 #32
Interesting. whathehell Apr 2017 #34
You're right janterry Apr 2017 #33
Mind Your Own Business modrepub Apr 2017 #4
A little off the mark Boomer Apr 2017 #7
Twitch alanbudda Apr 2017 #12
If you started looking for work during the great recession greymattermom Apr 2017 #10
Also Bear Creek Apr 2017 #14
Terrible story...I'd be mad as hell if that happened whathehell Apr 2017 #27
Lumberjack woodchip diet bucolic_frolic Apr 2017 #11
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