A discussion of China and WeChat — how China has gained surveillance
of nearly all activity simply by making people pay for many vital
things via WeChat or Alipay.
Covid-19 is temporary, but if it acts as an excuse to impose
surveillance, the surveillance is likely to be forever. The time to
resist is now.
One way to resist is to join me in always paying cash when you
purchase goods, publications (textual or not), and ground transport.
If a store declines to take my cash, I say politely that cash is the
only way I can pay. If the store refuses to make an accommodation, I
say "Too bad," and leave.
It is useful to tell your local and state politicians that you want
laws to require retail businesses to accept cash. New York City
passed one last year.
Above all, don't be defeatist: don't give in to the attempted
self-fulfilling prophesy that Covid-19 will terrify us into paying
only through surveilled systems.