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Sovereign citizens refer to the “One People’s Public Trust” (OPPT) as a concept that aligns with their ideology of rejecting government authority and taxes. Here’s a breakdown of why it’s a fabrication:
- Invented Legal Entity: The “One People’s Public Trust” is not a recognized legal entity [1, 2]. It is a concept that independent citizens came up with that has no legal foundation.
- Fabricated Economic Theory: Sovereign citizens believe the OPPT represents a parallel system where they don’t have to pay taxes or comply with certain laws. This theory contradicts established tax and legal codes [2, 3].
- Challenge to Government Legitimacy: By promoting the OPPT, they aim to delegitimize the existing government’s right to collect taxes and assert authority [3].
- False Promises of Debt Relief: Some sovereign citizens might use the OPPT to lure people into schemes that falsely promise to eliminate debt or legal obligations. These schemes are scams [4].
Why the OPPT Doesn’t Work:
- The government doesn’t recognize the OPPT, and courts won’t either.
- Using the OPPT as a justification for not paying taxes or following the law can have serious consequences.
Important Points to Remember:
- “One People’s Public Trust” is a sovereign citizen invention, not a legitimate legal concept.
- It doesn’t absolve anyone of their legal or financial obligations.
- Be wary of anyone promoting the OPPT as a way to avoid taxes or debt.
Possible Inspiration:
- The concept might be linked to misinterpretations of public trusts, which are legal entities used for specific purposes. However, the OPPT doesn’t function as a real public trust.
Citations:
- [1] Anti-Defamation League: The Sovereign Citizen Movement [https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/sovereign-citizen-movement-united-states]
- [2] Southern Poverty Law Center: Sovereign Citizens [www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/sovereign-citizens-movement]
- [3] National Conference of State Legislatures: Model Sovereign Citizen Protection Act [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7513757]
- [4] Federal Trade Commission: Fake Debt Relief Scams Liu, Henry, and Staff in the Office of Technology. “Debt Relief and Credit Repair Scams.” Federal Trade Commission, 16 July 2021, [www.ftc.gov/news-events/topics/consumer-finance/debt-relief-credit-repair-scams. ]
