Governments are mightily jealous of anyone else having force or power. They want their citizens disarmed and powerless, their neighbours similarly disenfranchised and all unable to resist their every whim and wish.
The end result of this jealously is tyranny and slavery.
Which would be OK if slaves were treated well and the society prospered but that is not what history teaches us happens to slave societies.
When you take their assets, initiative, responsibility and freedom away from the individual and concentrate power in the hands of the few, as can be observed by even the most casual student of history, that society fails and is present only after in the history books or in archeological digs and museums.
How do you make a slave? Give him things. Look at the actions of most present day governments and they are very busy taking from the producers and giving to the indigent. A time tested formula for producing slave societies.
If you want to remain a free man/woman, turn your back on handouts and look anywhere and everywhere for opportunities to do something you love by which to earn your daily bread.
You will be strengthening your survival potential and that of those around you by your example.