First off, the answer is Yes to both questions.
Is it worth confronting the fools and has socialism become “respectable”.
Just recently I rode an elevator with an extremely passionate young man that couldn’t contain his excitement for Sanders. All I asked was why? He spewed out the standard talking points with glee and when we reached our floor, I looked him straight in the eyes and with a dead calm seriousness and said “You’re an Idiot”.
You are awesome. Hopefully, the young scholar will start to think for himself.