In my lifetime we've gone from voting to kill what thin social services existed in this country (Clinton) to voting for change and getting the iron clad throne of the imperial presidency (Obama/Biden), to doing the genocides as loudly as possible and calling anyone who stands against it a nazi (Biden). On every single issue I care about as a "this effects my life and those around me immediately", particularly living near-ish the southern border, It seems to just be a cycle of "rally against the racist Repulican!" followed by "Do everything that man promised, 10x harder, nobody will say a word" with Dems in office. The Janus face of capital, both masks, equally cruel, but damn one is a lot more effective at being evil.
Every US admin in most of our lifetimes has grown the federal government. None have meaningfully reduced spending long term or decreased involvement in military adventurism. It is difficult to see how the future would be different.
Definitely focus on your own community and vicinity. Politics is downstream of culture.