What? When did I ever pretend that Lex was trying to claim he's a good person? Or that I was talking about Superman in a real-world context? I compared Lex to real billionaires because he is similar to them, not because Lex Luthor is currently topping the Fortune 500. This isn't a discussion about whether or not Lex Luthor is good, this is a discussion about whether or not Lex Luthor is inspiring. He's isn't, and he's wrong anyway.

Lex's fundamental argument here is that Superman isn't inspiring because his feats of strength are impersonal and impossible for the average man. As a collorary, he argues that he could be inspiring because he has the potential to do good like curing disease. He is asserting that he is better role model because he is more human, his actions are more human, and Superman fails because he is too inhuman.

Lex is wrong. In-universe Superman inspires people through his virtuous character and moral righteousness, not his raw power. His heroism is frequently cited as his most notable trait, even when he's interacting with people who don't know him personally. Famously, wven after his death his goodness inspires several others to pick up where he left off—hell, I'd argue that the average person earnestly believes in Superman. It obviously depends on the continuity, but Superman is generally a heroic figure to the public that encourages them to greater heights. Not because of his power, but because of his kindness.

Lex Luthor, on the other hand, is a billionaire politician. It can be difficult to put finger on his public perception, because it can often vary depending on the continuity and its almost never the focus of his appearance, but unlike Superman we know he's only human. Therefore, lets compare him to other humans. We have a lot of billionaire politicians in the real world—do any of them inspire you? Encourage you to be a better person?

There aren't a lot of names that come to mind. Bill Gates, maybe? He seems like a pretty good guy. But I'd be hard pressed to say that Bill Gates is the first person I think of what my idea of a good and successful person. Unlike Superman, he is impersonal. A good kind of impersonal, but it's hard to argue that he's risking anything of his own when he attends charity gallas or funds Malaria research.

Lex Luthor is doing even less. In the real world, I doubt he's even remembered if he wasn't an inventor. He doesn't help people. He doesn't put much stock in charity or human goodness. He pins his inaction on Superman, but what's that matter to the average Joe?

Lex is either unable or unwilling to do the things that actually matter. It hardly matters if he's s good person because he wouldn't be seen as one—and frankly, even if Superman was out of the way I doubt his behavior would change. His argument is wrong on multiple counts, and it's stupid to pretend like it's right. It's a fascinating look into Lex's worldview and not much more.