• lqdrchrd@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    9 months ago

    This is the crazy part to me. It’s not completely unreasonable to want to live on your own terms, but to demand that and then beg the U.S Treasury Department for free shit just seems antithetical to their whole schtick.

    • protist@mander.xyz
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      9 months ago

      I guarantee in their mind they’ve created a rationalization devoid of logic

    • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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      9 months ago

      That’s the thing, they’re not actually seeking to live on their own terms. They’re not radical libertarians.

      They believe the US government was replaced by a corporation by Lincoln, and birth certificates are actually representative of stock in said corporation backed by the US Treasury that’s traded on the stock market, and that if you just know to ask you can cash out your secret corporate account, which is what your name in all uppercase letters, as found on your birth certificate, represents.
      Every interaction with the false government is actually mediated by Byzantine rules, but you can always opt out, since they’re a corporation and have to play by the rules.

      In their minds, they’re not seeking to live free, they’re checking “do not agree” on the TOS to driving a car, which means they don’t have to follow the rules because they didn’t sign the contract.
      Same as telling Comcast you didn’t want phone service, but you’ll accept one month free internet, they don’t feel interested in signing the “speeding ticket” contract, but they would be happy to cash out their secret bank account.

      Say what you want about the viability of extreme libertarianism, “I don’t want the government telling me what to do” is a coherent stance.
      Sovereign citizens are just unhinged, usually because of life stresses and a helping hand from someone who wanted to make a quick buck. They still dangerous, despite often being victims themselves, however.

      • KevonLooney@lemm.ee
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        9 months ago

        Banks are highly regulated. They can be shut down by the OCC if they don’t count all the pennies correctly. Next time you’re in a bank, take a look at the boring posters they have on the wall listing your rights. They can literally be shut down if that poster is missing or out of date.

        • HerrBeter@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          My brother in Carl XVI Gustaf the banks are self-regulatory and committ FINRA violations willfully since the penalty is lower than the profit. It is the cost of doing business.

          • KevonLooney@lemm.ee
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            9 months ago

            Uh, lol no. I know a guy who used to work for the OCC. Banks pee their pants just hearing the name. When they shut down a bank they literally walk in and tell everyone to stop what they’re doing and lock the door. It’s like the movies.

            My point is: they are not “living on their own terms”. The Federal Government gives them a bank charter and can take it away.