AIBU to not have a clue about the American elections?

[KelperRose]

The American elections really confuse me

So, from what I can gather only one of two people can get elected?

I know Barrack Obama is one, and the other is Nick Romney?

Why do Americans only get two people to choose from?

You can't really line them up. Although the Republicans tend to be more right wing, rich and fiscally conservative. They believe in small government and things left in the hands of the rich people.

Democrats tend to be more left wing, believe in bigger government and that 'the people, bless their hearts' needs lots of direction.

I don't really like either party. That's why I'm a registered independent.

But, yes, there are much less social services in the US than in the UK.

I'd say the Republicans are New Labour (suckers up to business, and tax loopholes like all those pre-2009 ones here; war-starters; draconian law introducers). Don't think Democrats have a UK counterpart at the moment.

DH and his US friend (a prominent Democrat blogger) have come to the conclusion that US politics are generally more to what we would see as being the right, so that opinions that might be classed as right-wing Tory in the UK come out as being Democrat rather than Republican in the US.

Many Americans in my experience don't have a clue how the election works and they had to do it as a class in High school so I don't stand a chance.
I do know each state is worth so many electoral votes, the more people live there the more EV's they have. so the election ends up being about a few states where no one seems to have the majority of voters, like Most of the West coast is pro Barack and Most of the East Coast is pro Mitt (or mitten I prefer) it's the beggars up the middle mostly who are the toss up.
They spend billions of dollars on ads slagging off each other, and in every state there are others up for election too, school boards, county councils, state senators and others, so we are being bombarded by Ads for all of these people too, and for the propositions for new laws and taxes too. I'm fed up of it all and I need lots of wine and sleep till November 7th when it's all over but the shouting about who was done out of what.

They boot the PM out on election day if he looses?
I had no idea. I imagine if he was doing badly in the polls he'd have boxes packed already then.
I can see the new PM and his wife running in and changing the sheets

I always thought that the parties in America were right wing and even more Rightwing

CaliforniaLeaving, I don't think that's quite right -- the coasts usually go Democrat, and it's the "flyover country" that goes Republican. Obviously a mass generalization, but it's not an East-Coast/West-Coast thing.

I've sent my ballot back.
One oddity of US forms is that each candidate shows up several times under different party names.
I'll put a picture of it up ....