The only safeguard "regular" citizens have against the powerful is a more powerful governance. It is incredible that "conservatives" cannot seem to understand it. We are in a very strange and unique (among all other people upon this earth) position wherein close-to-a-majority of regular working-class Americans have so become worshipful of the rich and powerful that they somehow have become accustomed to identify with their "oppressors" goals. 
If denying people health care, good schools, and safe neighborhoods isn't oppression, what the heck is?