Traditionally wars have been hot wars, but when a hot war between nations is guaranteed to go nuclear and vaporize all concerned, they have to find another way. The stuff in this article explains the alternatives and all are in progress and all are effecting every single citizen whether they realize it or not.

If you consider the US in WWII, the effects in the US, ie. inflation, shortages, control of people and speech, etc. is similar even if it isn't yet as bad as it got. Since the fighting wasn't in North America, they didn't deal directly with the fighting, but still had their lives changed. I'd argue our lives are already changed.