Yes, the election matters...

...and Sarah Vowell, frequent contributor to This American Life, author of the wonderful Assassination Vacation and voice of Violet in The Incredibles, has an explanation of why in this Sunday's New York Times. This excerpt captures, I think, the spirit of her piece:

I have spent the last eight years so disgusted with the incompetent yahoos of the executive branch that I had forgotten that I believe in one of the core principles of the Democratic Party — that government can be a useful, meaningful and worthwhile force for good in this republic instead of just an embarrassing, torturing, Book of Revelation starter kit.

If you're not already familiar with Sarah, here's a fun little video clip to help you out.