Check out The Freemen. This is pretty much where this stuff came from, whackos in Montana during the 90s who pulled off the longest standoff with the FBI in American history (may have changed since).

They had their own currency (which some locals would actually accept), and they were very, very good at painting themselves as innocent victims.

I believe that because of them and other groups like The Montana Militia are one of the prime influences for this movement.