The World System

Control. By wanting to control what you buy, when and from whom they want to control your mind as well.
The world then becomes like a well oiled battery farm for humans.

This is just my opinion, but it seems like the people who want centralized power are usually the people that want to impose their views on others, whether it's fascist views or overly nanny-state views. They think they have the answer, and only they can fix things. This includes all forms of power, but money being one of the biggest.
For people who like decentralized power, they tend to be ones who are like "live and let live". They might seem non empathetic but it probably is more like "you do you as long as it doesn't hurt me or my family".

Again, generally, and in my opinion.

It sure feels like it.

They have been saying that since the early '90s. By 1995 we were supposed to be a cashless Society According to some church dude but obviously that never happened

If "They" did it would be Chinese. The American dollar is about done. What I suspect is that all money will be e-money so everything you buy can be traced and tracked all the better to sell you more crap you don't need.

Not good.