 
 
 
Why have you been wasting your time meditating? All that you need is the "enlightenment card"!
Another sign of the Apocalypse
I'm fairly hard to shock these days, but I was shocked today when I saw an Internet ad for Visa's new "enlightenment card."
Apparently inspired by the bullshit "The Secret" merchandising (in which "The Secret" snake-oil salesweasels take your money in exchange for telling you that your materialism and greed are actually quite spiritual, so not only keep it up, but go for more, more, more!), Visa has introduced a new line of "spiritual" credit cards.
I don't even give a shit what Visa's marketing excuse for its new "enlightenment card" is; I so don't give a shit that I'm not going to bother to delve into Visa's advertising text that tries to justify the megacorporation's use of spirituality to push credit cards.
I do know what Jesus had to say about mixing God and money: Jesus said that you cannot worship both God and money and that it's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And Jesus angrily knocked over the money-changers' tables in the temple -- because obviously Jesus had a big problem with the mixing of God and money.
Visa, however, has no such trouble.
I'm not entirely anti-money. I believe in the Buddhist middle path; there is no great reason to be destitute if you can avoid it, and nor should you live in opulence, either -- if you have that much of a surplus, you should be sharing it with those in need, asshole.
But Visa's "enlightenment card" is a new low for a megacorporation to try to co-opt that which is most important in life: spirituality itself.
Leave it to out-of-control capitalism to try to wrap its slimy tentacles around absofuckinglutely everything. Capitalist greed knows no bounds, no decency and no shame. Capitalism has gone wild, and to the capitalists nothing is sacred (except for money and more money, of course).
Anyway, your new Visa "enlightenment card" number will be easy to remember: 666.
P.S. OK, so I had to see what Visa's marketing propaganda for its "enlightenment card" is (I have copied and pasted it below). Wow, am I unimpressed. It looks like any old credit-card-ad language with some New-Age bullshit thrown in, and just as is the case with "The Secret," you're invited to sucker a friend! Not that by doing so you'd just be a slave-ho for Visa or anything!
Anyway, whoever came up with this campaign is going to hell. (And in hell they don't take Visa.)
Finally, a socially conscious credit card
Some people say money is evil…
We say “how” money is used determines the effect.
Welcome to the Enlightenment Card vision: a membership and a Visa Reward Card program. When you apply for our card, it automatically enrolls you into our free membership program that can be used for discounts on health-conscious stores, products, and services.
The Enlightenment Visa Reward Card was founded on the idea that money is energy and if used with positive and integrative intention, can have the power to affect change in our lives and the world. Everyone uses a credit card, so why not have one where people can earn points towards positive products and services that enhances their overall conscious life? Some of the categories of rewards you can earn points toward are: Travel, Retreats + Workshops, Yoga Classes, Organic Products, Holistic Spa Treatments, Books + DVD's, Merchandise, or use your points to donate to a charity.
Some of the benefits that come with the Enlightenment Visa Card are:
- No annual or membership fees
- Points never expire
- Earn 1 point with every $1 dollar spent
- Earn an instant 5000 points with your first purchase
- Earn 5000 bonus points when you refer a friend
- Discounts offered through our partner’s stores when you purchase with your Enlightenment Card
If you have any questions about the reward program, you can contact 888 464 8848. Or click on the link to the left “Reward Program” to find out more about the rewards we offer. Currently we have over 1100 products and services you can choose from. Check back every week as new rewards are being added.
To apply by phone or check the status of your application, call 1-800-215-1475. Or click on the "Apply For A Card" link at the top to get started. Please remember that when you are done applying, an important email will be sent to you with your user name and password for the rewards program.
If you are an existing customer and want to speak with customer service or have any banking questions, please contact 888 436 5051
Become An Affiliate
Earn $20 as an affiliate member for every person you have sign up for the card who is approved. Click on our affiliate link to the left to sign up.
Refer A Friend Program
Earn 5000 bonus points for every friend or person you refer that signs up and is approved. There is no limit to how many points you can earn.
9:21:50 PM 
|
