[js1138]

How about the counter-syclic economic ideas of John Maynard Keynes? The kibbutzim of the Zionists? Fabian socialism and syndicalism? Modern trade unions? Universal health care? Social Security (even though that's usually attributed to a very conservative 19th century German)? Child labor laws? Environmental preservation? General tolerance (although this one too has many fathers)?

These are good ideas? I think what you have is a laundry list of good intentions, but things that don't survive in application. Social security, basically a forced retirement investment, cannot survive its Ponzi financing without an expanding economy, so why not put the investments directly in mutual funds? Trade unions are important in an era when corporations are allowed to run like organized crime, but unions are essentially the employers of their members, just like temporary employment agencies. So who protects the worker against the union, which is now the employer?

Basically I'm dubious of any idea that involves involuntary subscription.

[liberallarry]

I have nothing against your suggestions for improvement...but

The kibbutziks built Israel with blood and sweat - a lot more than just good intentions
Social Security doesn't have to be a Ponzi scheme
Trade unions are an attempt to get employers to share the wealth. That only works under favorable conditions. Otherwise they become guilds, mafias, or unworkeable (if employers are forced to compete against others employing non-union labor)
and so on.

Socially, righties are for the status quo, lefties for change. I don't see how you can devalue either in any general way.