Bus Series #8: Black Market Bus Tickets

Here, in Ottawa, if you happen to be walking in the market or in the general downtown area, you are likely to be asked if you would like to by some bus tickets for 25 cents. (They cost 1.90 dollars for a ride). One who need bus tickets would most likely fee inclined to buy them since it's such a good deal. But wait a moment- where did they get those from in the first place?

There are two ways that I've seen. Some are actually stolen during robberies and are handed out to there buddies, and others ask you for bus tickets out side of a bus station (instead of change). With out thinking about it, one might be more inclined to give away their bus tickets than their money.

My opinion is that we shouldn't buy these bis tickets from them. The first reason is the very same argumentation that applies to the statement we shouldn't give them money, and that is because money only relieves them temporarily and or they don't necessarily use the money for productive goods. They say that donating money to orgs or volunteering or entering a social field is much more effective help for the ind. and the systemic problem.

An other argument is that if you've even giving tickets to these guys and then bought some from them later, you've effectively just paid twice to take the bus, once to the govt and once to the black market...which brings me to my next point.

So the third argument is that the underground ticket sales support drug trade. That's right I said it. Don't we all feel reluctant to give a beggar money because we are fearful they will just spend their money on drugs? What difference does it make if we are getting something out if it? In fact, I'd say that's worse because you are directly benefiting from the sales of goods that go towards buying illegal drugs. Of course this depends on whether you are opposed to the violence that is caused by the trade and are concerned about the health of the drug users and ppl susceptible to using drugs.