I've read quite a few things on this. They do some bullshit loop hole stuff. There are actually bills out there that turn the U.S. into a corporation. Then some bills making it so signing your selective service card, getting your SS card, etc supposedly make you contractually agree to be the property of this corporation.
It is really messed up and I truly wish I could remember where I read this. I know it was years ago likely on a site about how we shouldn't legally have to pay taxes and I think one that described how to renounce citizenship.
EDIT: I do think the gender, race, religion, divides are being used so people don't have time to think about these things. It is also I thing slight of mind... distraction so they can pass more WTF bullshit laws and amendments without the citizens being aware because they are happily focused on attacking each other. Divide and conquer works in almost every case. A person who understand reason either through being taught or intuitively is likely the only person that will notice other things when that is used on them.