Background

The People’s Commons is a corporation that claims to give its customers “citizenship of an Internet nation.” It works within the laws of its customers' countries to act as a second government, to serves its customers in the ways it believes the real government has failed them. It provides its own currency, laws, healthcare, and so on, to those that opt-in by paying a yearly subscription, which the Commons collects as “taxes.” The Commons is managed as a democracy, with members of the board elected yearly by the customers.

By 2090, the Commons’ membership has surged to include nearly a fifth of the United States. In the Supreme Court transcript below, a Mr. Lopez--supported by the United States Attorney General--fights to take down the Commons by arguing that they do not have the right to collect taxes from its customers. These taxes are core to The Commons’ continuing business, and a loss in this case would likely lead to the complete dissolution of the People’s Commons, and similar nation-corporations.

After a 2 day discussion, it is the final decision of the court (5-4), that the Commons be allowed to continue to collect transaction fees from its customers. The majority opinion was written by Justice Carie Morrie, and a dissenting opinion by Justice Kaylen Brennan.