John Kennedy, Karl Marx and Citizen-Ownership Democracy

John Kennedy

Inaugural address of John F. Kennedy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country."


Karl Marx

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need (or needs)

While John Kennedy is concerned with what you can give to the country, Karl Marx is equally concerned with what the country can give to you.

Karl Marx must have assumed a country with very limited wealth, and thus the requirement to distribute to citizens based on needs. He could be right for certain countries during his time.

Citizen-ownership Democracy

Ask what your country can pay you, because you are the owner of your country.

The emphasis in a citizen-ownership democracy is on what the country should give to you. 

It is not that contributing to the country is unimportant. It is just that there are already many ways that a country reminds you of that.

While Karl Marx uses a very subjective yardstick of personal needs, a citizen-ownership democracy uses a very objective yardstick of common wealth with equal division among citizens.

In modern times, and in at least a few countries, equal distribution of a country's dividend from common wealth is enough, or even more than enough, to meet every citizen's basic needs, High level luxurious wants such as first class plane tickets and golden toilet bowls can be and should be individually earned, separate from distribution of citizen-ownership dividends.