I think you are well switched on to the mechanisms at work, but maybe not to the emotions of those that could make a difference :) they have to be worried about personal safety.
They are worried that if they give up their privelige, by allowing or enabling moving to say solar indexed stimulus, they will suffer from revenge attacks later.
So we should be looking for ways to give assurance none of that would happen, rather than assuring them they will be punished.
They need to be assured they will be rewarded, for doing the right thing rather than feeling like they will be punished for it, or anything actually, it seems to me. After all, would any of us not have done as they did, given the opportunity? I don't know, but I know I had big ambitions to be a "Captain of Industry" myself for a long time. It wasn't to be, but maybe there is good reason, who knows.