I believe the gulf between our politicians, which includes the belt-way talking heads we incessantly see on our television sets, and the citizenry of this country has widened to the point of almost disconnect. We are moved around and talked about as if we were chess pieces on a board -- much like the famous episode of The Prisoner.

The result is an impotent public who are disturbed to say the least and disillusioned at best. I also believe that whether because of cause or of effect, we have gotten exactly what we disserved. Because an apathetic, disinterested, uninformed populace allowed itself to be treated in just this way.

It is no wonder that an impotent, objectified public turn to sport as an emotional opiate. Whether it exists in reality or not, people feel more connected to their sports heroes and ordinary players than they do to their local assemblyman.

This connection is fueled by attendance at games, fan behavior at games, as well as calls to talk show hosts-where you can eventually get through to the hosts. It is on plethora of sports shows that one can wine, opine and eventually manage that world.

It is far more intellectually and emotionally satisfying to have the power of solving those problems in the world of sport, when the ability to do so in world problems are overwhelming and have left us powerless.

So if you want to feel like you have a say -- get involved with sport. If not, just read the front pages of our newspapers, or call your elected official and feel like a non-entity.

My opinions are just formed from great frustration. Do I personally suggest calling the FAN instead of your Congressman or Senator -- not at all. In fact, my point is that is our problem and not our solution. The idea is to get up from the mat and keep punching away no matter how hard it hurts.

Dr. Richard Lustberg is a well known psychologist who has always had an interest in the psychological aspects of sports and athletes. For more information about him, go to his web site -- Psychology of Sports at www.psychologyofsports.com. In addition, Lustberg has created a blog, of which this article is an entry. To read more articles like this, or if you have comments on this one, go to http://www.psychologyofsports.com/blog/blogger.html