"We are somewhere between the ballot box and the ammo box... I think repressive government can be removed one bureaucrat at a time, and without using bullets."
Some things call for repressive government - terrorism for example.
But as far as abuse of governmental offices, there are three ways to deal with that politically. First, use our right to vote to get good people in office and get good laws on the books. Two, support fair and equal enforcement of the law (which includes removing corrupt officials). Three, put our lives on the line to forcibly replace a failed government that cannot be reformed.
I am not ready to advocate the third, ultimate option. But we need to keep that option available by protecting gun ownership, free speech, free enterprise, property rights, and by taking advantage of these opportunities without abusing them.
"The KJV was written at a time when the Divine Right of kings was centrally important... You won't find Paul elaborating on these convenient-for-some directives."
Contrarily, this is not an issue of translation. The principle of submitting to God-ordained authority is woven throughout scripture. Paul also repeated this teaching in many other places and practiced it as well.
Paul's doctrine mentioned earlier was also taught by Peter. (See 1 Peter 2:13-17.) The Old Testament has many examples of it as well. First Samuel 15:22-23 says, "... To obey is better than sacrifice ... rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry".
God invented government and speaking evil of it is disrespectful toward Him.
You have gone well beyond Paul's admonition to render what is due. You have a lot of history of Christian revolutionaries to reconcile that statement with.