What powers do validators have/what do they actually do?

[SneakyFish5 32]

I am curious on the powers of a regular validator. By regular validator I mean non recommend UNL validators. If I started up a validator node right now, could I:

• Participate in consensus? Like actually, not just check if my vote is the same as UNL vote.
• Vote to change fees
• Vote on amendments

I just want to know how much we actually help as validators. Thanks for your time  

[Sukrim 1,767]

> Participate in consensus? Like actually, not just check if my vote is the same as UNL vote.

Not until either Ripple or someone on Ripple's UNL or someone on Ripple's UNL UNL etc. adds you to their UNL. Since Ripple only has themselves on their UNL for now, you can vote, but your vote is silently discarded by everyone.

> Vote to change fees

You can vote, but your vote is silently discarded by everyone.

> Vote on amendments

You can vote, but your vote is silently discarded by everyone.