There re two illusions at work: believing politicians have any real power to act, and thinking citizens have any control over such actions.

We in Western society are witnessing a growing illusion: politicians still think they're making effective decisions, when in fact they have ever less power in the face of increasingly strict governmental systems.
At the same time, a related illusion is at work among citizens, who believe they can control politics, have a say in it and affect its direction, when all they control, at best, are politicians with no real power.
Is there any remedy this difficult situation? If one existed, it would be at once humble and heroic.