The answer to your question is based on the historical time frame. In general, left is synonymous with change and a belief is the goodness of people. Right is synonymous with preservation and a belief that humans are inherently bad and evil.
So, right wing generally wants to regulate a person's actions more with harsher repercussions, while the left does not. Examples include making drugs/alcohol illegal, mandatory minimum sentences, and "stiffer punishments." The left wing usually wants fewer personal regulations, less harsh punishments, and "rehabilitation" or other treatments.
The left wing believes in regulating economic systems, the right believes in fewer regulations. The left believes in more equal distribution of the benefits of a society. Those on the right believe that the way to improve society is by rewarding primarily those who have the initiative, the skill, or the right daddy to move ahead of others.
This has little to do with political parties as positions change over time. Democrats supported slavery and Republicans opposed it. Democrats improved civil rights, Republicans opposed them. Democrats believed in states rights, then federalism. Republicans believed in fiscal discipline, then run massive deficits.
|