Here’s how I think Maine’s welfare system works.

Let’s suppose someone from outside Maine heard of Maine’s generous benefits. This person gets on a bus and goes as far as his fare would allow, which happens to be Lewiston. When this person gets off the bus, he says to the first person he sees, “Sir, thank you so much for my generous welfare benefits.”

The man looks at this person with confusion and says, “Don’t thank me, I enjoy the same benefits you do.”

So after thanking several people and getting the same reply, over and over, this person starts to get very confused. The person thinks there must be someone he can thank for his generous welfare benefits.

It was getting later in the afternoon, and this person becomes very insistent and says to the next person he sees, “Please! please! Who can I thank for all these generous welfare benefits I am receiving?”

Someone turns to the person asking the question, who says, while looking at her watch, “I believe most of them get out of work at about 5 p.m.”

Maine’s welfare system is a joke.

Robert Clark, Auburn