Short Term: The Fallacy of Generalizing Politicians

“Politicians are the same everywhere. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river.” – Nikita Khrushchev

It is often propagated that politicians only see as far as the next election, stifled by electoral cycles, interest groups, and the desire to look good in the media. However, this assumption seems flawed, and I am about to find out for myself whether this impression holds up or is disproven by facts.

At PRIME Society—a nonprofit organization aiming to reinvent the gears of modern governance—our mission is far from simple: convincing cities, states, nations, companies, and citizens to join our federation. The challenge lies in balancing the need for quick results to satisfy the immediate political expectations of a single term while proposing deep, structural reforms with long-term benefits that exceed the bounds of imminent pragmatism.

It is worth remembering that politicians are, above all, human beings. Like any of us, many are drawn to immediacy, simplification, and the comfort of quick fixes. However, there are also those who, with at least a basic understanding of career planning and the consolidation of a successful personal brand, recognize the need for a forward-looking vision. They know that a leader is not forged without perseverance, nor without cultivating a purpose that goes beyond the next election.

Abraham Lincoln and Yitzhak Rabin, each in his own way, faced repeated failures before achieving their greatest deeds. In France, Marine Le Pen ran for president three times without success, yet she continues to gain strength. City council members or representatives, for example, who aim for a Senate seat may spend decades on that trajectory. So I ask: is it truly the case that there are no politicians willing to join a “club” dedicated to reshaping methods of governance—supported by scientific, historical, and technological knowledge—to propel their image toward a promising future?

Consider, then, someone genuinely determined to “change the system for real.” Would such a politician believe that starting a new party, winning the presidential election, and securing a majority in Congress, the Senate, and even judicial support would be faster than building, in advance, a governance “operating system” from scratch? A flexible platform that different governments could adopt—even partially—to improve their administrations?

Politicians often lack resources—financial and human—to conduct research and seek out best practices, solutions, and especially ways to implement them. PRIME Society emerges as a response: we rethink governance standards, develop open-source software that implements those standards, and make these ideas accessible for adoption and customization. As more people join our “club,” its value grows, thanks to the accumulation of research findings, tools, and success stories, all readily available to those who aspire to lead with substance and a strong foundation—instead of just governments united under the United Nations, they are governments, businesses, and politicians united for the planet.

By embracing this approach, a politician gains solid tools backed by a long-term vision. They are no longer held hostage by potentially outdated ideologies—be they left or right—that do little to reassure the public, nor are they intimidated by examples of anti-democratic nations whose models appear to progress at a rapid pace. The political challenge remains formidable: one must still negotiate, persuade, and secure votes and support. But if we wait until someone reaches the pinnacle of power to start building a new governance platform, we will waste precious time—and the likelihood of that politician failing only increases.

The typical wear and tear of any term in office shortens the window of opportunity to enact large-scale reforms. Hence the urgency of having a “version 1.0” of these systems ready for when politicians who back such ideas assume decisive roles. By aligning themselves with proposals such as Autonomous Governance Special Zones (ZEGA), digitalized registries, electronic public participation, full transparency in resource usage, effective oversight and procurement models, science-based legislative processes, social interoperability, and comparative indicators, these leaders will be pointing the way toward a more efficient, honest, and prosperous future.

No political system will ever be perfect. However, it is undeniable that a society’s “operating system” shapes where its people’s aspirations flow. And as migrations teach us, when people leave one place and move to another, they are “voting with their feet,” rejecting the old order and endorsing the rules of their new destination.

Our aim is to give politicians the tools needed to keep families from abandoning their roots and communities in search of better opportunities simply because where they live lacks proper governmental mechanisms. We seek to offer a new way of managing public affairs—a method that enables every visionary leader to truly succeed for the benefit of their constituents, and not merely in the fervor of the ballot box.

In short, while the short term may command immediate attention, it is over the long term that genuine transformations solidify. And those who choose to lead boldly will find, in PRIME Society, a path to balance immediate results with structural changes, ensuring that the bridge they promise to build leads somewhere real, dignified, and enduring.