The Associated Press breathlessly reported: "In 2008, once again, Americans must decide who belongs in the White House. It is one of the most pivotal elections of our age."

Let's come back to earth. Which party controls Congress was important in 2006 because it always is. This year's presidential election is pivotal because they all are.

We suspect this would be a far different country than it is had Aaron Burr been elected in 1800 instead of Thomas Jefferson. That almost happened because the Electoral College deadlocked and the House of Representatives had to choose the president.

Suppose Al Smith had been elected in 1928 and had the bad luck to be president when the Great Depression hit. Possibly, a Republican would have driven him from office in 1932, meaning Franklin Roosevelt never would have sat in the White House.

What if Thomas Dewey had beaten Harry Truman in 1948 or Richard Nixon had beaten John F. Kennedy in 1960? You could play this game of hypotheticals forever.

Every election is a historic happening. Had George H.W. Bush won a second term in 1992, someone other than Bill Clinton would likely have been elected in 1996 and re-elected in 2000, meaning he would have been in office on Sept. 11, 2001.

On the eve of each election, we remind people how important it is to vote. When only local offices are on the ballot, we are choosing the officials who directly affect our lives and our pocketbooks. When it comes to national offices, our votes have the power to change history.