This is how I've always seen it as well, though I consider myself independent. It's funny the issues you mention are commonly held by quite a few people I know

This is how I've always seen it as well, though I consider myself independent. It's funny the issues you mention are commonly held by quite a few people I know, myself included. "Why can't the gay couple up the street get married, while smoking weed and shooting off some rifles?" is how I describe my views. I've definitely noticed that the amount of people I meet with views like that have been a little rarer lately.