"If you're looking for a leader, you're going to get a ruler"

Right on!

"The only way that we defeat this grotesque government is to take it
apart from the top down"

I think this is partially true. However, it's not the "only" way. Building new systems to replace the old systems is a bottom up effort that also needs to be done. How are "top down" decisions going to build new societal structures based in non-violence? How do you enforce top-down decisions when people don't go along with it?

Just points I brought up to think about. As you pointed out, seeking a leader might be an issue. What if people start looking to you as their leader?

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” ~ R. Buckminster Fuller