Appalled

I have been following the protests in NYC and other cities across the U.S. against the banking system and other more amorphous forces that have been leading our country down a dangerous path for the past several years. However, until a few days ago, I was only following them out of the corner of my eye, so to speak, mostly because I didn't seriously believe they were happening as reported.
Like most Americans, I have trusted the mainstream media (at least certain sectors of it--PBS, for example, and the NYTimes) to present most of the truth of what is happening in this country. But even when a group of unarmed protesters, all female, were herded behind a barrier and maced full in the face, apropos of nothing at all, seemingly, except speech that is guaranteed under the Constitution, I became alarmed. Even in the 60s, when something similar happened, the papers and news programs aired it all as their top story. People were shocked, inquiries were made.
What has happened to our country that this is happening and no one seems to care about it enough to publicize it? What can I make of this? Is this becoming Yemen or Libya, or Egypt? Do the banks own our government, our news media, our lives? And what can we do about this?
Taking to the streets is evidently not the answer. All it will get us is a boot to the face (or a spraycan) and no one will care, or too few to matter.
What can we believe? And what can we do to take us off this path of destruction, economic and political, that we seem to be running on full tilt?