The left-versus right political divide, what does it really mean? Are you confused? Let me explain.

The typical left-right divide places Marxism and Communism on the far left, with socialism as a more moderate and democratic form of socialist government, with liberal slightly left of centre, conservatives slightly to the right of centre, libertarianism further right with fascism and Nazism on the far right. But is this descriptor accurate? It looks like this when explained pictorially.

It will take a few quick sentences to explain what we were taught in school is false. The reason it is false is due to a fundamental lack of understanding regarding what we need to measure. I suggest we must measure freedom. Individual rights and liberty under law.  If you look at individual liberty under law versus the freedom robbing totalitarian ideologies which seek to control us in whatever form they may take, whether that be Fascism, Nazism, Socialism, Stalinism, Marxism, Maoism, and yes, Islamism. Each demands blind obedience to that particular ideology. Each subscribes to government regulating our lives and our business affairs versus constitutionalism which recognises the inherent rights of each individual to pursue prosperity, happiness and individual dignity. Only when you look at politics in this manner will you come closer to understanding the truth. Here is what a spectrum that measures this looks like in pictorial form.

The real issue is collectivism versus individualism. The left asserts that just societies can only be achieved by coercion from big government while those of us who subscribe to liberty under law believe that constitutional law must limit government such that government cannot exceed its legal mandate to govern. This latter form of governance protects the individual from the tyranny of the many. It is not leaders who really matter per se, it is constitutional law which can force the executive, legislative and judiciary branches of government to recognise and respect the rights of each individual. And, as importantly, a 4^th Estate vigilant in calling out government when and if it exceeds its legal mandate to govern. No group of people has rights, no class of persons have more rights than any another, but every person has equal rights under law! That and that alone can ensure freedom!