The status quo is unstable. If we do nothing, technology will advance and we will lose more of our privacy. The implication of massive computing resources and surveillance technology in the hands of government and other powerful institutions is that we will lose all of our privacy. Cryptography can give us some of it back. Some of the most provocative scenarios offered by crypto advocates are based on the combination of cryptography and anonymity.
Anonymity is important for political processes.
For example, there was a Supreme Court decision about anonymous pamphlets. The court found that anonymity was important for free speech in a democracy. We will never finish fighting for these things. All kinds of free speech issues will come up every few years. But I can see how anonymity could create some harmful side effects.