# Fictional characters you'd like/trust as World Overlord? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 19, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593 "2009-04-19T03:56:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/61 "2009-04-20T13:53:19Z")
Jed Clampett. He’s good hearted, kind, and fair. Importantly, he also has a mojo working such that anything he attempts always works out for the best, even if he is operating with incorrect understanding of the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/62 "2009-04-20T14:05:42Z")
I’d very happily follow the lead of President Josiah Bartlet (_The West Wing_), either Gandalf or King Elessar (_LOTR_), the unnamed President played by Henry Fonda (in _Fail-Safe_), Simon Kerslake (the selfless, dedicated British politician from Jeffrey Archer’s _First Among Equals_), Tolly Mune (the irascible but good-hearted planetary leader from George R.R. Martin’s _Tuf Voyaging_) or King Arthur. But then again, I just wouldn’t want to live under a World Overlord. Better to have a Republic of Humanity with leaders we all elect, serving fixed terms. As Churchill said, “Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried from time to time.” ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/63 "2009-04-20T17:32:31Z")
Any of several extraordinarily upright and uncorruptible (and generally interchangeable) absolute leaders in the works of **David Weber**. Namely, Queen Elizabeth of the Star Kingdom of Manticore, or the king from **Off Armageddon Reef** , or the emperor from **Hell’s Gate**. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/64 "2009-04-20T17:35:04Z")
Let’s put Cobra Commander in charge! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/65 "2009-04-20T18:01:54Z")
> [@Algorithm](#): > > Greg House. House is a superb doctor and would be a piss-poor world leader. > [@CutterJohn](#): > > Professor Xavier might be a good candidate. I’d definitely trust him. But lots of people wouldn’t, and he’s far too ethical to make them do so. Plus, running the X-Men is a very different job from running the whole world. I have to agree with Vetinari. He’d be quite competent, and would focus on the good of the world above all else. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/66 "2009-04-20T18:23:11Z")
A few years back a bunch of Dopers voted for a guy named (omniously enough) **Sauron** as [Emperor of the World](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=152737&). ---
**Author:** ![schnuckiputzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecb155/32.png) [@schnuckiputzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/schnuckiputzi)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/67 "2009-04-20T18:51:38Z")
Dang it, Algorithm, I came in thinking “No one will think of Tyrion Lannister!” But he’s perfect. People underestimate him, but he’s wickedly intelligent, plus fair and honest to a point. Ned Stark would not have made a good overlord. Too unbendable. But Tyrion’s a slippery little devil. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/68 "2009-04-20T19:27:27Z")
Quoth **appleciders** : > [@](#): > > On first reading, I liked this answer, but I’m not sure how far I’d trust Mike- he did well for Luna, but we didn’t see a long-term position of command for him, and I wonder if he wouldn’t be too easily manipulated by his human friends. I would have guessed that **Mr. Kobayashi** meant the human Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock’s brother, not Mike AKA the HOLMES Mk. IV AKA Adam Selene AKA Simon Jester. Another good option that I don’t think anyone has mentioned is Stephen Byerley. I agree with Dr. Calvin that he’s probably a robot, and also agree with her that that’s a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Algorithm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/algorithm/32/12204_2.png) [@Algorithm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algorithm)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/69 "2009-04-20T20:09:35Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > House is a superb doctor and would be a piss-poor world leader. Yes, but I’d like him as leader because it would be hilarious, and comparatively make me look like less of an asshole. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/70 "2009-04-20T20:19:31Z")
Another vote for House, just for the inherent awesomeness of it all. Imagine House with all the world’s power in his hands dealing with the Israel/Palestine situation or religious fanatics or jehova witness or mimes 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/71 "2009-04-20T20:49:13Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > …Another good option that I don’t think anyone has mentioned is Stephen Byerley. I agree with Dr. Calvin that he’s probably a robot, and also agree with her that that’s a good thing. Good point. He _did_ rise to world leadership and did a pretty damn good job at it, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/72 "2009-04-20T21:11:08Z")
I love President Bartlett, but as Overlord?? Not so much. I would rather have Michael Westen. He used to be a spy. He’s benevolent, and he knows intrigue! Or Jules Winfield. A good authority figure since dodging the bullets. He could unite us. “English, Mother Fucker! You will speak it!” ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/73 "2009-04-20T22:11:47Z")
Willy Wonka and his Oompa Loompa cabinet. Weapons of mass chocolate. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/74 "2009-04-20T22:17:05Z")
Rudi Mackenzie of S.M. Stirling’s [Emberverse](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emberverse) series, if he weren’t just too perfect. At any rate, he’s probably going to be some sort of emperor – the projected seventh volume is to be titled _The High King of Montival._ ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/75 "2009-04-20T22:19:37Z")
How about [Iznogoud?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iznogoud) At least we’d know what we’re getting. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/76 "2009-04-20T22:44:44Z")
There is only one real choice: Mary Poppins She _is_ practically perfect in every way. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/77 "2009-04-20T23:21:17Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > Willy Wonka and his Oompa Loompa cabinet. Weapons of mass chocolate. You’re overlooking his Mengele-style “experiments” on his workforce. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2009, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/78 "2009-04-20T23:22:13Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > Julius Caesar, as depicted in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. with Mark Antony as his designated successor? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/79 "2009-04-21T14:32:29Z")
> [@Max\_the\_Immortal](#): > > Julius Caesar, as depicted in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. That dumbass fucking stiff?! Hell, no! Let’s have Julius Caesar as depicted in Colleen McCullough’s “Masters of Rome” novels! That stud can do **anything!** ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593/80 "2009-04-21T17:50:10Z")
President Beck, as played by Morgan Freeman in _Deep Impact_, is all kinds of awesome: smart, modest, determined, reassuring. He’d have my vote for World Overlord, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-characters-youd-like-trust-as-world-overlord/493593.md?page=3)