> I think this is a fine approach for the left to take, as long as the moral foundation is never sacrificed
This is why we have Republicans in the first place who won't even consider implementing social programs. They believe so strongly in their moral foundation of lower taxes that they refuse to consider the evidence.
Being willing to look at the evidence objectively is something everyone needs to get better at, conservatives and liberals alike.
Agreed. I also think we need to allow ourselves room to question our moral foundations and make attempts at reconciling them with the foundations of "the other side," whoever that is for each of us.
Everyone should read Jonathan Haidt's book The Righeous Mind on the foundations of moral psychology and how they are used by liberals, conservatives, and libertarians. I think it's a great foundation for discussions about this kind of thing, and it makes it easier to understand where the other side is coming from.
I think this is a fine approach for the left to take, as long as the moral foundation is never sacrificed.
In other words, it should always be "we should do this because it's the right/moral/dignified thing to do (and if it saves money too, great)" rather than "we should do this because it saves money." Because what if new research comes out saying it _doesn't_ save money?
(See https://www.currentaffairs.org/2017/02/even-when-it-doesnt-s... for a more fleshed out version of this argument.)