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.