Ticket Scalpers: Entrepeneurs or GRAVE ROBBING BASTARDS?

I have an immediate family member who used to work for Ticketmaster, and was chummy with a number of "re-sellers" for major events in Vancouver. In that bleak interregnum at the turn of the century, when the Canucks were still reeling from the Mike Keenan era and the Grizzlies had not yet bolted for Tenessee, my trips to "The Garage" were often interrupted by the scalpers sorry tales about how both clubs various discounts and ticket packages were "killing" them. These annoying little corpses went even colder with the NHL lockout.

As the entire world is aware, the Tsunami of December 26 saw over 120,000 people (and counting) get killed FOR REAL. Individuals and communities across the globe are responding to help, and in Vancouver that includes the artists and staff of another company this same family member once worked for, Nettwerk Records. Two Tsunami Relief concerts will be staged later this month at General Motors Place and Calgary's Penngrowth Saddledome to raise money for orphans, rebuilding infrastructure, medical supplies, and whatever else it will take to help the survivors.

Sadly, at various web sites and classified ads before the shows, as well in front of the arenas, the vile, subhuman cancerous waste of skin known as a ticket scalper will be raising money for himself! Tickets for the Vancouver show that went originally for $40 are now being priced at over $300, as scalpers hope to recover from the lack of an NHL season by cashing in on one of the worst tragedies in human history.

There are days when I have difficulty explaining to people what's wrong with capitalism. My heartfelt backhanded and cynical thanks to these hard working Canadian businessmen for making it glaringly obvious.