How do you turn on the bright lights in a 2000 Ford Taurus?

The 2000 Ford Taurus doesn't have a separate "bright lights" setting in the way some cars have high beams. Instead, it uses a high beam switch. To turn on the high beams (what you might be calling "bright lights"), you push the lever on the left side of the steering column *away* from you. This lever usually also controls the turn signals and low beams. Pulling the lever towards you is typically for low beams/parking lights (and also activates the turn signals).