Son of a wealthy Boston family and successful San Francisco businessman moves to northwest to have a go at the lumber industry. Enter the spotted owl and government, business fails, husband isolates family more than ever.
Distrust of government becomes obsessive and passed on to home-schooled children, debilitating illness attacks and keeps him bedridden, money gone, taxes on his choice somewhat isolated property not paid, out of town developers eye property.
He dies, local government plans to grab, detain grieving widow at funeral, search for reasons then backs off.
Home in shambles and desrepair, running water failed, refuse piling up, little food, matters are going beyond desperate.
Oldest daughter from first wife discharged from military, not physically fit, blames parents. "That's it!" cry the local government. "The children!"
Police trick widow into leaving home to apply for assistance. Arrest, charge her with "crimes" related to endangering the children, hospital alerted to care for sickly children.
Resentment against these disgusting parents grows among good people all across America.
Children become convinced the government killed their mother, get out rifles. Authorities there to take the children have to call police. Police decide to wait 'em out, decline offer of tanks and gunships from Washington, D.C. FBI HRT (just kidding).
Resentment turns to outrage, local government tells press that empty wine bottles spotted in refuse. "How could the parents brainwash and corrupt these poor malnourished starving children! Crucify the drunken *itch!" good Americans scream from coast to coast.
Oldest child (12?) tricked into leaving home and grabbed, gets his siblings to give up.
Children rushed to hospital -- big, big disappointment! They're healthy. They're well adjusted. They're well behaved. They're intelligent. They're well spoken and educated!
They're not normal IOW :)
Not to worry, justice has already been set in motion and the widow will go to prison. Supporters at her trial are denounced as extremist anti-government kooks.
Children given good homes. . .
That's where I left. I don't know how it finally ended.
A little corrective actions by the new (G.W. Bush) administration and tragically the 9/11 attacks prevented pulling the trigger.