This sounds very familiar to the Republic of Texas movement in the mid-90s. The notion that Texas was not legally ratified into the Union was making its way through the courts by winning its cases. Some activists thought it was moving too slowly and skipped a few steps. A new fiat money was involved, other countries started recognizing the Republic of Texas government, liens were being placed on property, oh, and then the kidnappings started happening.

The gung-ho crowd will always look like crazy types to the outsiders