But we are gaming animals just as we are political animals. Taking chances is built into our genes, and politics is how we get along in groups, for better or worse.

Sometimes politics seems a lot like gambling. I go into the booth and pull the lever like a slot machine or fill in the little circles like a Keno card and hope for the best. But I know the deck is stacked. The house always seems to win.

It seems like every time I pick a number or a candidate I regret it a little right away. And they always make me regret it sooner or later. Even when I win I often lose. The candidate's promises fade in office. The dreams of hitting the jackpot vanish with the last quarter in my pocket.

Elections and betting give us a fleeting sense of power we don't get elsewhere in our lives. They keep us coming back, hoping, believing that fate can be changed against all evidence of the odds.

Americans seem to believe in gambling just as much as politics these days. But chance is a dead end if it becomes a civic religion. Putting your faith in fate is like making a willing return to the dark ages.

There is more to gambling and politics than meets the eye. Politics is more than elections. Politics is who gets what, where, when, and how, in every arena of our lives. It is how we negotiate socially. Gambling is taking risks, in every aspect of our lives. The smart gambler weighs the odds and makes a move. Ditto the smart politician.

Politics and gambling mix seamlessly in Nevada. Casinos back candidates with the money gamblers turn over at the tables. But if as many people who gambled took a chance on politics it just might make a difference. And it might make politics a funner game.

The devolution of politics means new niches are opening in all kinds of arenas, especially at the local level. It's a good time to take a chance on politics and not just at the polls. Study the odds. See where you can make your move. And then put everything you can risk on it. Give it your best shot. Bet on the side you believe in. Bluff when opportunity strikes. Whether it's for a community board, the PTA, a union, or an advocacy group, walk a precinct, make some phone calls, talk to your neighbors.

Gambling on politics is too important to be left to professionals. And as the French say, "Who quits the game, loses."