I disagree with you concerning the Patriot Act, etc., as I believe some spying activity of this sort is not avoidable ss long as we are facing down the possibility of WMD's being smuggled in and set off in our cities.
Otherwise, I'm with you for the most part. With a Republican congressional majority and Republican executive we got CFR passed and approved along with a huge extension of the use to which the commerce clause can be put. Not to mention unprecedented spending on domestic programs.
In short, Republicans, including our president, seem no different than Dems in the belief that government should play a major role in ordering society.
So I no longer feel much loyalty to them, but do continue to vote Republican since the alternative is so unthinkable. But when I get calls asking for more money, I unfortunately have plenty of handy reasons to reel off explaining why I don't want to.
Have you stopped to consider what the ultimate result of this attitude will be? No different than what 'Rats would do, only a bit slower.
Sometimes the best action is to rip the bandaid off quickly and get the pain over with - vote your principles (or don't vote at all if there are no candidates with your principles) and if the 'Rats get back in maybe America will learn a harsh lesson sooner rather than later.
The way things are going under Republicans, a slow slide to 'Ratdom is inevitable even if they retain power.
America deserves better than alternating power between two Big Stupid Government parties.