The typical reach for most people’s power is just beyond arm’s length. That is absolutely a great place to start.

There’s an expression in the military, “You can lead from any rank.” This is an era where your leadership is needed. Those of us who feel anchored to higher powers, higher callings, and values that are bigger than us – we lead with how we live.

The federal government, through its betrayal of laws, contracts, and alliances – is trying to create a norm of might-makes-right scams. The powerful is attempting to crush the less powerful just because they can. Distributed power – a democracy – wither in a society where the cruelty is the point. Democratic government structures rely on the willingness of leaders to practice restraint and to be mindful of collective well-being. No one can ever become too powerful.

For better or worse, the American system of government maintains itself by requiring that when someone tries to accumulate too much influence, someone else says no. The check and balances rely on the willingness of others to stop what is unconstitutional. Some of our struggle is from those others failing to fulfill their patriotic duty.

When those norms are broken, what do you do? One thing is to ensure incivility does not seep into your everyday life.

Treat people fairly, and with respect.

Honor your agreements.

Be ethical in your dealings with others.

Do not cooperate with the unjust.

Make your decisions based on what leads to the most good, not necessarily what leads to the most accumulation of money for yourself. Live in ways that are more ecologically friendly, that support the types of workplaces that you think should exist, and that center care as a guiding ethos. In the words of Frozen II, do the next right thing.

When you care for the people around you, you are fighting fascism.