Or move to Canada, where _despite_ diversity & multiculturalism, people care about each other.

As a Canadian, it's baffling to see how divisive the US is. The irony of it being that social programs like this would actually reduce the feeling you describe ('different from me') by levelling the playing field. Provide everyone the same quality of education, healthcare, and access and what differences are left?

"Maybe we can build a cultural identity that sees fellow citizens as kin instead of just greedy, grabbing hands." - Maybe, if you can build a culture that doesn't deify money.