The motto, “all for one and one for all,” in the novel, The Three Musketeers, is the value that holds the group together as they face adversity. Proclaiming the motto is the impetus in the novel for the strength and success of the musketeers.
Written in Latin, it is also the unofficial motto of Switzerland, according to Google. In Switzerland, the motto would ideally guide the relationship among the people living in the 26 cantons and 2,131 communes the makeup the federation. The Great Seal of The United States, adopted in 1782, displayed the de facto motto: “E Pluribus Unum” (“Out of many, one”), among the original thirteen states.
Each of these mottos proclaims the value of uniting for the benefit of every person included in the many.
It seems this ideal of one for all and all for one, has little influence upon the current political and social activity of the country. Free speech, rugged individualism and the denial of the value of diversity dominate. Any suggestion of the value of pooling our resources to support people with needs, is tainted by the advocates of capitalism with the fear of a rise in socialism. Seeking a living wage for all, universal health care, equity among all people or the inclusion of immigrants are for some people, unamerican. However, some feel that such concepts may limit an individual’s freedom.
Yet, the motto, “E Pluribus Unum” is on U.S. coins and on the dollar bill. Perhaps it’s time for citizens to put our many dollars where all may be served.
The Smithsonian Institute writes, “The motto describes our history and our belief that we are a nation that should work together as one!” Yes, individual freedom is a valued concept in America, but it is tending to obscure the rest of the story: individuals free to work together for mutual equity. This is not for lack of trying. There are a number of programs in place to guide the way toward a fulfillment of the value of pooling resources to help those who have less than enough. The initiatives may be flawed or underfunded, but they exist to be improved or as reminders of a need to be fulfilled. Examples include the tax code, SNAP, health insurance and Social Security. Rather than be guided by the words on the Great Seal of the United States to improve or replace these struggling programs, some are being downsized or eliminated with no improved alternatives initiated.
Some of the ideas for policies include health care for all, a living wage established, reviving support for unions, support worker-owned companies and encouraging environment justice.
Health care for all may be implemented by insuring everyone, premiums set according to family income. No one is exempt because they are healthy. It is a concept of shared risk, the premiums from the many who don’t have a claim pay for the losses of the few who do. This operates on the commitment to all for one, one for all.
Unions, that have been losing support, must be protected from union busting through legislation. Workers contribute to the welfare of all and workers and companies may thrive by identifying agreed upon goals.
Worker-owned companies, by design, are pooling their resources for the benefit of all. And finally, environmental justice must be a concern of all citizens together. Those living in reduced pollution environments must be obligated to contribute to the environmental wellbeing of those living with the effects of pollution — often the poor, the racially profiled, and people with disabilities.
As you might surmise, these changes rely upon a change of attitude among the citizenry. Recently the dominating value has been individual freedom. This value must change places with the value of freedom to contribute to the wellbeing of all people. The idea has been germinating in the country since 1782.
It is important to understand that the exercise of values is not a zero-sum game. Individual freedom may exist along side the wellbeing of all. It is the affirmation of that motto, “All for one and one for all.”
John Buttrick writes from his Vermont Folk Rocker in his Concord home, Minds
Crossing. He can be reached at johndbuttrick@gmail.com.