WHEN LAYOFFS HIT HOME, POLITICS SHOULD TAKE A BACK SEAT

The town I live in recently announced mass layoffs at the battery plant. Depending on who you talk to, the numbers vary, and the speculation runs wild. Some say it’ll be a few hundred, others believe it could be far worse. No matter the final count, one thing is certain: real families are waking up today facing uncertainty about their futures.

In recent days, as I scroll through the comment sections of local news posts, you’ll see something that makes me realize why I usually like animals more than people: gloating. People are making this political. People are turning other people’s fear into ammunition for their own side.

And look, I’m not shy about being critical of the leadership in this country. I’ve had more than my share of disagreements with Trump, and I don’t hide that. But this moment is not the time to push a political agenda. This isn’t about scoring points for “your side.” This isn’t about red, blue, or independent.

Not being able to afford a mortgage is not partisan.

Not being able to keep food on the table is not partisan.

Not being able to buy new clothes for your child is not partisan.

These struggles don’t check your voting history before they show up at your door. They don’t care what sticker you had on your bumper. When a job is lost, it affects human beings, your neighbors, your friends, the people you pass every day at the grocery store, or cheer next to at high-school football games.

We get so caught up in labeling people as “left” or “right” that we forget something basic: they’re human. They’re Americans. They have families, hopes, worries, and bills just like you.

In the wake of people losing their livelihoods, compassion should come before politics. Empathy should come before arguments. This is a time for community, not division.

Sometimes the most American thing we can do is remember that we’re all in this together.