Actually, I'm registered democrat so that I might vote in the primary (republican would do as well). I generally end up voting for someone who isn't going to win because the front-runners are generally assholes.
Independent--the sweatshirts that say "independent" on them lose their meaning when half the people in school are wearing them.
I don't know, Inky. Independence does not imply uniqueness. I never did understand (even when I was one) the penchant for teenagers and young adults to do whatever is trendy to proclaim that "uniqueness," though.