In politics when people talk about the left and right what do they mean?

Question

It is one of those things I always meant to find out but never did.

Answer 1

An unbiased answer now:
Left wing are liberals, with extreme left being communism. They believe that everyone should be entitled to a fair (or in the case of communism, equal) share of the country's wealth.
Right wing are conservatives, an example of an extreme right party are the Nazi Party). They believe that people need to earn what they get, you don't get something for nothing (although in most developed countries with right-wing governments, a benefits system does exist). They believe in traditional values and respect as the key to a good country.

Answer 2

If you don't know the dif, pls stay out of the voting booth. There is nothing more dangerous to our representative democratic republic than the uninformed voter. The 'left' is described by their liberal policies, ie; bigger govt w/more control of your very existence, higher taxes, welfare & govt giveaways whereas the 'right' (we're called that because we are) believes in smaller govt, lower taxes, lesser control of our lives, a strong military & a firm adherence to the Constitution, the Bill of Rights & personal responsibility. Liberals are basically cowards, against the military use of force when it is necessary & essential. They believe in "negotiating" which has never solved the problems we have been faced with since the foundation of this nation.

Answer 3

They're talking about a political spectrum which asseses how much government should be involved in the lives of its citizens.
Left extreme: Totalitarianism
Right extreme: Anarchy

When it comes to the role of government in a democracy the spectrum is narrowed considerably around the middle:

Left: More government involvement in business, more government programs and benefits (welfare, universal healthcare), Higher Taxes
Right: Less government intervention, fewer benefits, lower taxes.

Personally the less government is involved the better. I also know how to spend my money better than the government does.

Answer 4

Left=liberal, right=conservative. It goes back to the french parliment when conservatives sat on the right side & liberals on the left.

Answer 5

Left = you think people should be able to do pretty much whatever they want to do or should have the right to do and that everyone should look out for eachother's best interest...a kind of Nirvana (Democrats)

Right = you think people should keep their (out of the clear blue) opinions to themselves and that there's a prescribed set of behaviors/reactions for every situation/circumstance...a kind of Pleasantville (Republicans)

Answer 6

Democrats are liberal Socialists, want everyone to have the same, money, etc.

Republicans are conservatives, believe and practice free economy. Be as successful as you can or want to be.

Answer 7

Left - Liberal on the issues
Right - Conservative on the issues

Answer 8

Left are people who have their heads up their butt, rights area named that because they are right so much on the issues. No matter what others post that would be the big reason. Left bad, Right good, just a universal truth

Answer 9

Left wing is liberal, right wing is conservative and your on the scale somewhere!

Answer 10

left is liberal(Democrat), Right is Conservative(Republican).