It is an analysis that is a sales pitch because it says: we're so confident that we can tell you _exactly_ what the situation is, with an actually quite sad bitter self-awareness, and it won't make any difference.
"This is a stupid system [advertising and the crass mainstream] and I refuse to play. And I can tell you this to your face and you will still use me, because that's just how our world works."
>Besides the patronizing suggestion that people never actually put their money where their mouth is
That ain't a suggestion, that's the truth. And even if everyone were committing a significant proportion of their resources, it still wouldn't change the really bizarre affinity Americans have for taking causes and turning them into ways to make money. I believe I already mentioned the Rainforest Cafe.
I really don't think you're cynical enough, and just personally irritated because you actually donate.
Anyhow, Groupon doesn't care about customers like your wife/you. Groupon will continue to make money, for one thing; but not only that, Groupon doesn't need customers that are told what to do by advertisements. And if you're making a purchasing decision based on an advertisement, that's exactly what you are doing.
The goal of Groupon's advertisement was to not be an advertisement, but a stated fact. I hesitate to say it was an anti-commercial because it is still actually promoting its product, but it is definitely flipping off every other superbowl commercial for taking itself so damn seriously.
Finally, I'm assuming you know that Groupon is matching donations for the various causes. The way it's not making this clear actually makes me respect them more, because waving the size of your donation-dick (that's the second time I've used that phrase tonight, how old am I?) is just another form of crass advertisement.