I think it’s helpful to sometimes reevaluate everything you think about politics and policy. With a clear conscience, last December after the Boehner/fiscal cliff cave-in, I considered why exactly I was a republican. I joined the party 35 years ago having been an independent before that. The only areas of concordance with the Republican Party were things they had historically supported but have recently abandoned. I saw no mainstream republicans supporting balanced budgets, reduced social spending, aggressive defense of personal freedom particularly for 1st and 2nd amendment rights and federalism. Everywhere I looked I saw democrat-lite republicans and me-too leftists.
An honest evaluation of the Republican Party vs. the Libertarian Party showed big areas of disagreement with both. Both parties have too many people supporting abortion, for example. There are many other areas of disagreement but ultimately I have to side with the Libertarians for the following reasons. They are more true to what they preach. They are not hypocrites. They understand that ALL spending has consequence and deploying the military should only happen if US interests are at stake.
There are many other reasons. Again I find much to disagree with the Libertarian party but I joined and, for me, the fit is better. Rather than attack the Libertarian party I ask you to carefully evaluate what the Republican Party has become and see if it still fits you.
I agree with you for the most part, and have voted for a few Libertarian candidates when they were better than all others. I’m staying Independent for now. If the TEA Party doesn’t force some serious changes in the GOP, I’ll join the LP.