I'm confused about the American Republican party

[kandrathe]

The US only appears like a 2-party system because of the voting system. If you didn't have First Past the Post, and probably an elected presidency as well, you'd have multiple viable parties. As it stands, two is the equilibrium number. Even if an incumbent is "killed" by a challenger party, the 2-party structure will remain.

::nod::

I would consider myself outside the two parties, but if I "want my vote to matter" I need vote for the most favorable person who has a chance of winning. Or, most likely against the person who I don't want to win.

Unless there is a huge grass roots movement to propel up a third party, they instead tend to drag down one of the two major parties with them.