Government officials maintain their extortion scheme via a varity of mechanisms:
Brainwash the citizenry (especially children) to support the authoritarian state.
Expand the scope and power of the state to create more opportunities for rentseeking.
Increase taxes
Persecute individuals believed to be a threat to state power
Suppress speech that does not agree with official dogma
Even in relatively free countries, people are kidnapped, caged, and murdered by government thugs for ridiculous "crimes":
Poundland to stop selling kitchen blades in every Midland store amid knife crime rise
NYC Bans Willful And Malicious Misuse Of Gender Pronouns, Fines Up To $250,000
Body Camera Once Again Catches An NYPD Officer Planting Drugs In Someone's Car
As Biden Admin Bans Menthols, Remember Cops Killed Eric Garner Over Cigarette Laws
33 U.S. Cities Have Restricted Feeding The Homeless In Past Year Alone: Report
Federal Court Allows USDA to Suppress Testing for Mad Cow Disease