I've participated in many discussions on the politics forum about unemployment, welfare etc, and I've maintained that people can find work if they really want to, but that the system rewarded laziness over working. Why find a job if you can get paid more to stay home playing video games? Others maintain that there just aren't jobs available. I'm wondering if these people are willing to put their money where their mouth is. I've been thinking about doing a prop bet where I can find a job/multiple jobs in the Detroit area.

A little about me: I'm a thirty year old white male. I'm probably average looks-wise, which is actually something employers use when choosing who to hire. I've played poker professionally for almost seven years, in which time I have not had any other job. I have an AAS (two year degree) in Robotics and Automated Systems. I worked as a Robot Programmer, mainly in the auto industry, for four years, from 2000-2004. Before that I worked at Wal-Mart for around three years.

Even for those that aren't interested in betting, and regardless of your position on this issue, I would love any ideas for structuring the bet. Odds, stipulations, etc. I have no idea what the market is like for Robot Programmers, so I'm not sure if I would be able to get a job in that field or not. If I'm only allowed work that doesn't involve my work experience and education in Robotics and Automation, the odds would have to be better. I've also heard, rightfully so, that racism plays a part in hiring, in which case I might recruit one of my black friends to take part in the bet as well. I'm open to almost any idea. If you think it's a terrible/stupid idea, I'd like to hear that as well.

If the price is right, I might be willing to try another area, if you feel the Detroit area would be too easy.

If you bet on getting a job I like your odds of getting a job. That's not to say you can't fill out 500 apps Downriver and get 1 call for part time dishwashing. That's how it worked for me in Jan 2007, before the real wave of business closings.

City of Detroit only, fast food franchises only.

What is the reasoning for this? Don't think a cracker like me can handle working fast food in Detroit?

Not so thinly veiled racism ITT?

Because otherwise your premise makes no sense. Your point is that all those unemployed people in Motown are lazy. I'm assuming you're not specifically talking about lazy people with robot programming degrees.

Yes you can get a job. It will take <30 days.

Any job in 30 days or less id bet strongly against OP if i had the money to spare betting against him.

You misunderstood what I said. I'm not saying the racism is justified. I'm saying minorities are justified in claiming that racism is a factor in their not getting hired.

you might need to limit it to national chains or something... "get a job" is kind of vague, and either you'll have to have an extensive list of terms and conditions or there might be dispute about whether running to the pharmacy for some old lady once or twice a week counts as a job... make it clear what has to be done, then adjust odds accordingly imo.

Requiring me to work fast food in Detroit is not the requirement for unemployed people. I should have the option to work any job that I'm qualified for, just as any unemployed person should be able to work for any job they are qualified for. If you're qualified to work fast food, you're qualified to work retail, or in a factory, etc. Since my education and work experience qualifies me to work as a robot programmer, and a lot of unemployed people do not have this advantage, I am willing to entertain a bet that would disqualify jobs requiring either an automation degree or experience in that field.

The time requirement would certainly be part of the bet, but keep in mind that people on unemployment have a LOT longer than thirty days to find work.
I would think enough work to be able to pay for life's necessities. If the only places hiring were part-time, that might mean either cutting all the unnecessary crap out of my life, or finding a second part time job. I think local places would be okay, assuming I could prove I was working there, by showing a pay stub or something.

The only limits i would expect to see on the job is it needs to be advertised as either permanent or temp for at least 6 months and needs to be 30 hours or more per week. I also wouldnt allow you to use family ties to pull off getting the job cos that is really easy to angle shoot on.

Also you cant lie on your CV ldo.

Edit:
Of course, im just saying you are a monster dog for 30 days or less imo.

That said i dont think you should have a ridiculously long amount of time, but that would be something someone betting against you would have their opinions on.

Why wouldn't I be able to use family/friends? Can't unemployed people use this to find a job? For the record, I have a very small family, none of which live in Michigan, and most of my friends are younger than me and are working entry level positions, but I don't see why I shouldn't be able to do what any unemployed person could do to find a job. Also, I have a pretty small social circle, and am pretty solitary, so it's not like I have a bunch of connections. I something go a week without seeing anyone outside my apartment complex. I think having to find multiple reduce the angle-shooting part of it, or the get rid of the worry that I might already have a job lined up and am looking to freeroll. Also, I put in the idea that if the price was right I would relocate to another area, although this is not something I would like to do.

I was getting my popcorn ready for the drama that was going to follow.

Gonna have to clearly define what constitutes Detroit too. Are we talking Detroit proper, some of the 'burbs, all the 'burbs, etc?

I would think any job within driving distance, so the suburbs will be fine.

Why are you trying to prove you can find a job? That's not the half of your theory I'm interested in testing.

I challenge you to make more money than minimum wage sitting home playing video games--that's where the rubber hits the road.

lol

Thread title request change: "Can I find a job in Detroit southeastern Michigan/northern Ohio/Ontario?"

Answer: yes, despite the fact you made this thread

/thread imo

i think that this is a really interesting idea for a prop bet, but it's really to bad that it's getting destroyed by the details.

The reason I say Detroit is because if I said Rochester Hills, MI you probably wouldn't have any idea what I'm talking about. Not you personally, since you're from Ann Arbor, but the general population. But I think someone living in Detroit should travel to Rochester Hills if that's where the work is, much like I would travel from Roch Hills to Detroit if that was the only job.

This.

Minimum wage, 160 hours a month, pays $1184. Can you explain how to make more than this from the government by doing nothing?

When I was on unemployment in WA it was $570/week. That comes out to $14.25/hr assuming a 40 hr work week. That's not a bad haul for sitting on your ass. That's nearly 30k a year for almost 2 years with the 99 week extention plan.

Unemployment benefits for someone that lost high paying job pay way more than minimum wage. You lose your unemployment benefits when you take a minimum wage job. Therefore the only logical thing to do is collect unemployment instead of work a low paying job.