"Suppose you were an advisor to the head of the KGB,
the Soviet Secret Police. Suppose you are given the
assignment of designing a system for the surveillance of all
citizens and visitors within the boundaries of the USSR. The
system is not to be too obtrusive or obvious. What would be
your decision?"
The think tank RAND essentially answered this question with
a blueprint for modern payment systems. Taler offers an
escape from the financial panopticon.