As I write this, thousands of locals are making their way through frigid, blustery conditions to vote in the 2008 municipal election.

As soon as I finish this column, I will do the same -- for the first time.

Throughout my 20s, I was strictly a national election man. Local elections just didn't turn my screws. I viewed them in much the same way I used to view the local opener at a nationally touring artists' concert: Inconsequential, boring -- something to be actively, aggressively avoided.

Not anymore. Now in my 30s, I can't live with myself knowing I've voluntarily refused to exercise my only opportunity to directly influence the leadership in my community.

Even when the choices are just short of vile (as is often the case), a grown, educated man not voting because of apathy or laziness is vile in every respect.

But I have to admit, it is guilt, not duty, that is driving me to the precinct.

I think most other Gen-Xers deal with similar guilt. As teenagers, we watched MTV religiously as rock stars shilled for civic involvement in "Rock the Vote" ads.

The "Rock the Vote" campaign was extremely effective for its time, and it made it imperative for all newly turned 18-year-olds to vote for Bill Clinton in the '92 presidential election.

But more than that, it transformed an entire generation into uncommonly disciplined presidential election voters. To this day, Gen-Xers rock the vote something fierce in national elections. But come local election time, you are more than welcome to come knockin' on this poll booth, because by and large, it won't be rockin'.

Why are Gen-Xers turned off by local elections?

Ordinary candidates. Nothing against all of those would-be city-council members, but their ho-hum oratorical skills and average-at-best looks aren't exactly celebrity grade. In most cases, they aren't even local celebrity grade.

No apocalyptic threat. For better or worse, every presidential election comes with the threat, real or imagined, of apocalyptic catastrophe should your candidate lose. There's a strong sense of urgency.

But in local elections, your candidate's defeat just means that teachers will get paid less or the crime problem in neighborhoods you probably don't live in will continue to be neglected.

Inconvenience. In the contemporary version of Dante's Inferno, local precincts are located in the eighth circle of hell, just above the BMV. Most of us are too busy syncing our iPods to bother.

None of these excuses justifies voter apathy. Of course, if you didn't vote this year, it's too late. The good news is, local elections are like horror sequels: Every few years, another one seems to pops up.

Since the end of www.intakeweekly.com also meant the end of an online home for my weekly column, Circular Logic (which appears in the print version of INtake), I will be posting it here at Indy.com each week. Offended, bored and irritated parties can post their grievances in the comment box.