Registered Independent here as well. While I do not follow one party or another exclusively I feel the republicans generally follow my ideals more closely. But to me registering as a republican or democrat screams of blindly following a party which I am not about. I would rather vote for a Dem that I felt was honest and open and genuinely there to help the people over a Rep that I feel is dishonest and corrupt even if he claims to follow my ideals more closely. My view is neither side is about the country so much is its about their own agendas. Frankly I have had enough of all of them.