Isn't your hypothesis dependent on the fact that there is a way to convince the public at all? The alternative tends to be more enticing. Humour me; how would

Isn't your hypothesis dependent on the fact that there is a way to convince the public at all? The alternative tends to be more enticing. Humour me; how would you have convinced the public that a pandemic was a real risk before it happened; such that they would need to fork out more money for taxes? How would you have convinced someone before 2008 that regulating part of the finance industry might be somewhat a good idea; such that they would have to reduce profit on their pension funds? And how do you convince someone, /today/ that climate-change might have quite far-reaching consequences; such that they'll need to pay more for consumer goods?