Is there a way to effect change without being noticed by the eye in the sky?
since you asked, here are some thoughts:
1) Do you live in a particularly repressive society where there are no human rights? If not, you might be letting fears of an unknown future control your present.
2) The world is too damn big to take it all on - but find something you feel is important and join their activist group or start a group. It takes one person to have an idea, but you need two to form a committee and call a meeting. Plus it's way more fun if you work with others -- if you can find ones who share your goals and concerns and are willing to get up from behind the computer and actually do something.
Is there a middle ground?
absolutely, but also change takes time. For example in 1848 women and men created the declaration of sentiments which was essentially a list of grievances regarding the treatment of women in the USA. It took over a hundred years, but those grievances have all been remedied. There are still problems, but imagine if the women in 1848 had said, nah, no way, what's the point.
Thanks for the thoughtful reply, I'll be considering this.