> Well, I'm suggesting that it be in __builtins__, but whatever...

You apparently didn't get the memo; map, filter, reduce, etc., are all going to be placed into functools and removed from __builtins__.  Adding identity to __builtins__ is not going to happen.

Further, your preferred programming language not being Python is not topical to the discussion.  If you want Haskell, and your boss isn't letting you use it, please don't complain here.