Idealists excite us but at what cost?

This is another of John Humphreys' interesting pieces in his 'Unthinkable' column in The Irish Times. It appeared in Thursday's paper.

A quote from Reinhold Niebuhr in the article:
'Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary'

https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/in-defence-of-realism-idealists-excite-us-but-at-what-cost-1.4427767#.X9I9dHzhhbk.mailto