You give the people in charge too much credit regarding any long term thinking or goals in general.

The goal is to win the next election but I think the populace is to blame for this more than anything.

The populace is who is too interested in winning politics as a sport that the politicians have really no choice other than to focus entirely on winning the next election.

If the voters treat politics as a constant form of sports entertainment, constantly checking the latest news and events, then voters are actually the fundamental problem as to why the politicians can not do anything in terms of long term planning.

Or thinking