Can't fight this feeling

The deluge of mudslinging propaganda is in full swing and once again I find myself completely jaded with the Republicrat two-step. Granted, I'm the poster child of uninformed, uninvolved, and arguably uninterested eligible-to-vote America, but this post is more about reflection than criticism. So far.
This reflection has mostly been, "Am I a Democrat or a Republican?" (Don't get me started with neither). As a matter of DNA, my moorings are steeped in self-reliance, responsibility, entrepreneurial spirit, religion and conservative thinking—tenets Republicans vocally espouse. The problem is that I've seen enough inequality in this world to know that such ideals, while inherently noble, tend to benefit those who are already disproportionately benefited. And I'm not a believer in meritocracy.
I can already feel an impending jaunt to a nearby virtual soapbox so I'll wrap it up. I read an interesting blog last week (I PROMISE I'll start keeping track of these things so I can make a reference—I'm still pretty new at this). Anyhow, the gist of the post was that the reason Republicans were so successful was that they supported candidates who were loyal to the party. The author then continued by condemning "fence-sitting" democrats like Joe Lieberman and Senator Clinton because they often undermine the Democratic Party as a whole by voicing dissenting opinions to further their own agendas. The author then commented that Republicans generally stick together on "core" Republican issues rather than diluting party momentum through self-indulgence or indifference. I'm not sure if I agree or not, but it's an interesting viewpoint—which leads to the crux of my post-reflection musings. Why is a person's stance on hot-topic issues the litmus test for his or her political affiliation? If I'm against abortion, gay marriage, and stem cell research, why does that make me a Republican? What if I believe in a right to privacy, wish for greater economic, gender, and racial equality, want affordable healthcare coverage, and support low-cost, publicly-funded university education? Is the fact that I'm not a "liberal" a deal-breaker? Worse, am I seen as a traitor? As a Republican or Democrat apologist?
To move out of the hypothetical realm, my two-cent conclusion is that I'm a Republican who yearns for a more Democratic world. I support the Democratic vision, but not the approach. I don't think the government should be responsible for funding and enforcing Democratic ideals. I think the people should. Our government rewards charitable giving more than any other. I wish that our conscience was what galvanized us into humanity. Not politics.