Worse, I believe anything the average citizen can do will either be ineffective or counterproductive. They are not going to listen to anything other than force

Worse, I believe anything the average citizen can do will either be ineffective or counterproductive. They are not going to listen to anything other than force and any outside force will simply provide a focus. Thus the force must come from within--law enforcement has to do their job. Or, if they don't, a military coup.