What the heck do politicians mean when they talk about "going forward" or "going backward".

I think they are all assholes, so they can say pretty much what they want to, and in many cases I will judge it as bullshit.
But now that I got that out of the way…
Politicians who generally favor a greater influence of government over people’s lives, whether through more regulation, taxation or both, talk about moving “forward”. They accuse other politicians who accuse the government of being too big or too expensive or both as wanting to go “backward”.
What the hell are they talking about?
If I move in the direction my nose is pointed, I go forward. If I move the other way I go backward.
What is their reference point? What is the forward of which they speak? Backward to where?
More central authority smacks of the age of Kings, which is moving backward in an historical perspective.
People who try to escape tyranny, whether the Pilgrims or prisoners of war, are clearly moving forward.
I do not understand what they mean when they say “We need to move forward”.
I think it is bullshit.
What do think?