This world doesn't need Superman

Kal-El, The Man of Tomorrow, Son of Krypton. The Man of Steel. Clark Kent. Dean Cain.
Meet the poster boy of heroism. He is the hero of all heroes, a being with nigh limitless powers, a veritable deity above the foibles of mortal men. With his iconic "S" insignia, flapping red cape and perfectly groomed cowlick, Superman is the symbol of all that is good and noble, a bastion of democracy, freedom and idealism in this world.

Or is he?
To answer this question, one needs to examine the myth of the American superhero. Typically, an individual blessed with fabulous physical or supernatural gifts dons a colorful (if somewhat tacky) spandex getup or mask. He or she then scours the streets saving hapless citizens from the forces of evil, which an inept or corrupt government system fails to confront. Often, such heroes must work along or beyond the outskirts of the law, dodging crooked cops or possessing illegal artillery with which to fight crime. Violence is also the standard mode of redemption, wherein the caped crusader ends up destroying millions worth of public property in order to bury a villain - who will mysteriously ressurect anyway - beneath the rubble. Moreover, superheroes often possess a "secret identity", a necessity against the failed society who would persecute them should his persona be unmasked.

The message conveyed? Democracy, society, laws and government leaders will fail you. The system cannot be trusted. A cop can't catch a criminal to save his life - much less yours. The American myth of the superhero presupposes the need for an outside force, a vigilant above and beyond the law. Rescue for the beleaguered populace comes not from a trusted, elected body of individuals meant to serve and protect, but rather from some alien planet on the outskirts of the galaxy. A dead planet at that.
Where are the touted ideals of heroism in this superhero story? While Superman himself is the embodiment of such ideals, he is so because of the glaring lack of such heroism among ordinary men and women. It is a disillusioned portrait of society where we seek salvation from a phone booth or a bat cave rather than working towards it by virtue of our own abilities.
Furthermore, Superman is the ultimate scapegoat for those who wish to shirk accountability for the ills of society. The fantasy of some mythic, invincible hero who will swoop down from the skies and right all wrongs (faster than a speeding bullet I might add) relieves the common man from the burden of doing the same. There will always be someone else, some "other" who will brave the forces of evil, who will endure sacrifice and suffering to uphold what is right. The rest of us will merely applaud from the safety of the sidelines, creating action figures in their honor.
It is true that Superman can serve as an inspiration for the common man. His virtues are indisputable, his heroism genuine. Yet the system Superman represents is one that belittles the ability of man to take responsibility for himself. We need no superheroes because we posses the same capacity for greatness. We need no saviors for within us lies the power to save ourselves.
Th world doesn't need Superman.