What is the American Left-Right spectrum?

[MysticDevice]

This debate has become a long and convoluted mess of ideologies and conflicting sentiments. They way I thought it worked for the longest time does not appear to coincide with what everyone else is saying.

I'd like to hear from you, in your own words, what each side is supposed to represent and the pros/cons of both.

I'm not looking for any specific or "correct" answers, so have at it.

[DizzyDesii]

Honestly, to sum it up, my life doesn't revolve around politics. I only vote because i feel i have to and its not even for the top two parties’ candidates so i dont give much of a fck since neither party fully represents what Im about. There is a small 3rd party (nope not green nor libertarian either) that i vote for and i agree with all but their stance on one thing. But they are not important enough to me for me to ride around with their stickers on my car and their flags in my yard. I see the good and bad in every party but its not even worth discussing. Its like talking in circles because people look for a reason to jump in and debate. Debate class was optional in high school. I didn't join for a reason. Its just not that deep 🤷‍♀️

[msmissydc]

So I dont know the real answer because often I see americans use it differently than everybody else. I could tell you the origin of left and right or how it spread and is used in politicalscience, but that is not what you are asking. I can tell you that it is often confused with liberal and authoritharian which is NOT the same.
The political spectrum is a a model with X and Y axis. Left and right are the X axis and libertarian and authoritharian is the Y axis.

[MysticDevice]

You see where my confusion comes from then. Cause everyone is saying something different.

[Anonymous]

Being by definition broad political collations, the right generally refers to conservatives which is people who favor the way things are or were in their country.

In America that starts with the small goverment libertarian foundations of the American Revolution.

Therefore "right wing" in America holds it's roots in being generally small goverment, pro-gun, and Christian.

[Googlemyahoo]

Basically both sides are a bunch of misinformed self righteous aholes. They do exactly what the 1% want, fight each other while they get richer.

[Pterodon]

Basically the left thinks the government owns the people and the right thinks the people own the government