The Left Guide

The distinction between the left and right began as a reference to seating arrangements of the French assembly in the 1790s. The Monarchists sat on the right, and the Republicans on the left. Modern usage of left and right usually breaks down to liberals and conservatives. Unfortunately the connotations of liberal and conservative have not remained consistent in modern times, especially the word "liberal." To avoid confusion, "The Left Guide" avoids using the term "liberal" altogether. Organizations in "The Left Guide" are usually referred to as civil libertarians, progressives, leftists, socialists, and radicals. This book was produced with the help and cooperation of most of the listed organizations. The organizations new the focus and the title of the guide, and they wanted to be listed. Others were reluctant. Reluctant organizations were also groups that receive significant government funds, either through contracts or grants. Since most of the organizations listed herein take positions on current issues, it is relatively easy to match positions with their place on the political spectrum. We were in doubt, we referred to published material from Americans for Democratic Action and The American Conservative Union. Both organizations monitor votes of members of Congress on key issues and scales the votes on what most people call the left and the right. Of course, neither organization necessarily agrees with our classifications. Before this book there was not a unified source of information on left of center organization's. It was difficult for private citizens, journalists, students or scholars to understand the extent and impact of left oriented organizations in America. The left guide is part of a nine-year continuing effort to make the work of both the left and the right more widely available. It is a comprehensive and independent source of information on organizations that promote and advance the principles and objectives of the left.