Too Long; Didn't Read
Isaac Asimov's Foundation, a sci-fi series, details the galactic political struggle of the planet Terminus. Asimov foresees the eventual collapse of the Galactic Empire followed by 30,000 years of turmoil that sends humanity into the dark ages. In Foundation, Hober Mallow, a master trader who politically maneuvers himself to become the planet’s first merchant prince, also made political decisions this way. In democracies where politicians feel pressure to appeal to the voters, politicians are incentivized to pursue just the problems of today to stay in power.