The Democrats have a Ted Lasso problem

If the Internet has taught us anything, it’s that sometimes it’s easier to speak our minds anonymously.

– Ted Lasso

First, let me begin by saying that I am a huge Ted Lasso fan. The show touched on so many important issues and made me feel all the feels. That being said, the character of Ted Lasso has a major flaw in his coaching – and personal life – in that he does not see the value in winning. Ted’s coaching tends to focus on building better relationships between players, and having the players improve as people. This is wonderful, don’t get me wrong, but it misses the point that these athletes and players are playing a game at the professional level. They aren’t playing youth soccer in a rec league with their friends. They are playing in a league where the main goal is simple: win. If the team doesn’t win they don’t move forward. They can lose a sponsorship, people can lose jobs. Plus winning feels good. Why would two teams compete in a soccer match if they didn’t want to win? Ted’s attitude of doing your best and hoping it’s good enough is, well, not good enough. His players want to win. His assistant coaches want to win. He should want to win. He shouldn’t betray his ideals or his core principles in order to win, but he should realize that wanting to win, and striving to win are not bad things to pursue. Being the “nice guy” and not showing any ambition towards reaching victory are just going to hold him – and the team – back. Getting upset when your best isn’t good enough is okay. It is okay to want to win and to be upset when that doesn’t happen. He tends to brush it off as a learning experience. Which is all fine and dandy, as long as you use what you learn to WIN the next time.

This is where I want to tie Ted Lasso in to how the Democrats have been running, and are continuing to run, their campaigns. The Democrats have been taking the high road. For the most part they have not been running smear campaigns or hitting below the belt with their advertisements. I’m not saying they should resort to the types of campaigns we are seeing from many Republicans – with lies and fear mongering at the forefront – but why can’t the Democrats show that they want to win? What is wrong with coming out swinging? If you know your opponent has lied you should publicly call them out on it. If you know an opponent has voted on a bill that is harmful for your constituents you should share that information. It’s no longer good enough to just run a clean and friendly campaign and hope it is enough. Because it isn’t. Republicans are winning elections because they are showing they will do anything to win. Do I want to see the Democratic party resorting to winning by any means necessary? No, of course not. What I do want is for them to show some fight. Show that they’re not complacent in the status quo. That they want to win. That they know winning is important. That they learn from their losses and come back stronger and with a better game plan. Stop playing the game where it’s okay as long as you did your best. Start playing to win.

I am cautiously optimistic – both for season 3 of Ted Lasso and the future of the Democratic party. But they need to focus on winning. Because if they keep holding their punches, how will they ever win?