Brian Summers provided a nice justification of idealism in a 1987 article from FEE.org:

The Foundation, it would seem, is out of touch With the real world. Our idealism, it can be argued, is a luxury which men and women of practical affairs can ill afford. It will only get in the way.

But if we pause to reflect, we see that idealism-standing ramrod straight for liberty—by no means prevents us from reaching practical goals. In fact, a Principled stand for liberty may be the only way to attain the kind of society any of us—or our children—would want to live in.

Read Summer’s four points for idealism here:

Perspective: The Power of an Ideal : The Freeman | Ideas On Liberty.

I especially like this one:

When the ideal goal is far from the everyday reality—as in the case of the freedom ideal—the student of liberty doesn’t despair. His ultimate goal isn’t tomorrow’s Congressional vote or next year’s election. He is striving to work on the highest possible plane—his own understanding and exposition of the freedom philosophy. Self-improvement along these lines is a full-time job. There is no time to be disheartened when the political winds seem to blow against us. Self- improvement is enormously satisfying. And it is fun!