Yes, people think it makes them seem independent but they are complete idiots if they do. Vote for the party, not the candidate. Few candidates, especially no "maverick" candidate, have much influence on the party policy (except the President.) When you vote for a single candidate for President, you are actually voting for a team of 100,000 legislators and bureaucrats who will control the government.
So much of what is done by the government to assail our liberties is committed by bureaucrats in the departartments of Justice, Education, EPA, etc. No matter what you think of the person at the top of the ticket, the real question is whether you want the Democrats continuing to run the government.
Even with all of the criticisms towards Trump, the bottom line is he will undo the power structure in Washington DC. That “Trumps” all.
You don’t have to like Trump to appreciate this.