There is a great deal of discussion in today's world about "Left wing" and "Right wing." Some are claiming Communism to be Left wing and Fascism to be Right wing. And yet both Communism and Fascism are basically the same thing: oppression of the people and denial of their rights!
The reason political pundits are using these terms is not based on philosophical extremes, but merely from where these party members sit in Congress! On the LEFT side of the chamber sit the Communists and on the RIGHT side of the chamber sit the Fascists! This is no sensible way to categorize a governmental power or philosophy.
The Founding Fathers categorized "Left" and "Right" based on the degree of governmental power - not where someone was seated. If a party believes in strong, dictatorial governmental power - they are on the Left of the power spectrum. This would include Communists AND Fascists, as well as Socialists, dictators, czars, monarchs or any government with one or a small few garnering all political power. On the other hand, if a party believed in a weak Federal government with little or no power - they are on the Right of the spectrum. This would include the Articles of Confederation, Libertarians, anarchists and mob rule.
The extreme parties on both the Left and the Right deprive the people of their rights and freedoms. The genius of the Founding Fathers was to find that delicate balance - the Balanced Center - where government had enough power to govern a civilized people, but not so much power that the people were deprived of God-given rights to life, liberty, property and to pursue their personal happiness.
Viewing Left and Right in terms of Governmental Power is the only sensible and reasonable way to discuss where someone sits on the political spectrum. Does one believe in more government control, regulation, protection, taxation, and a government heavily involved in your day-to-day life? If so, they are further to the Left, regardless of what political party they belong to. Does one believe in little or no government, to be free to do whatsoever one desires without restraint? If so, they are further to the Right, regardless of what political party they belong to.
Those, like the Founders, who desire the freedom to buy, sell, trade and even freedom to fail, who want to take personal responsibility for their behavior rather than relying on the government, and yet are restricted to honoring the rights of others, these are in the Balanced Center.
With just enough Governmental power and control to keep the people free, but also orderly, is the Balanced Center that the Founding Fathers were trying to achieve. Anything more or less than this will tip the scale to oppression on the left or mob rule on the right.
The Founders got it right. They achieved what politicians and leaders failed to achieve over millennia - the ultimate political sweet spot - the Balanced Center.
