Blessing
The U.S. government would love to make it harder for drug dealers to launder money. And they've (allegedly?) been the victim of counterfeiting of $100 bills by Iran and North Korea.
And they've been concerned with the cost of printing money; a while back, it was noted that their pennies cost 2.4 cents to mint.
So why didn't they think of this?
Aside from the traditional American dedication to individual liberty, I'm sure it helps that an influential and vocal section of the electorate would categorize such a system as the Mark of the Beast, without which no one could buy or sell.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
