Pretty much, yes. Bread and circuses.What’s it gonna take to have actual change? Do people need to actually be waiting on line for bread or clothes and other basic needs before something clicks or what?
Going after Washington is a terrible approach anyway. The real goal should be local governments. States have way more authority than the Federal Government does. More often than not they simply choose not to use it because they'll lose funding or some nonsense though.
Constitutional Federalism is the way. Getting people to care and take action? That will forever be hopeless until their lives are hopelessly uncomfortable.