From a sci-fi novel I’m reading called The Human, by Neal Asher..
Citizens found themselves becoming chattels of the state, and its corporate partners. An ever-increasing number of rules and regulations, produced by ever-expanding bureaucracy, required funding through taxation. Those citizens were complicit in this because, foolishly, they believed in every new ‘danger’ pointed out to them by the elites, which, of course, each needed ‘regulation’.
From “The Human” by Neal Asher
Neal has nailed the concept of modern slavery.
No longer sci-fi I’m afraid.