Accord Quote by Preston Manning
“Remember the referendum on the Charlottetown constitutional accord? The more Canada's political and business elites threatened Canadians that the country would disappear into a black hole if the accord weren't passed, the more Canadians opposed it.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Canadian Referendum Debate, 1992
Fear‑based political rhetoric can backfire, prompting public resistance to proposals.
In simple terms: Threats can cause people to reject ideas.
Key Takeaway
Avoid fear tactics in persuasion.
Themes
politics
communication
public opinion
Mood
cautious
analytical
Type
political
historical
When to use this quote
- policy proposals
- campaign speeches
- public consultations
- media coverage
Key Concepts
behavioral economics
propaganda
Questions to Reflect On
- Why did the threat narrative fail here?
- What alternative messages could have succeeded?
A Different Perspective
Some audiences may respond positively to strong warnings, making nuance difficult.
![“I think on all the debate on immigration, and all of that, the class of person that should be given the benefit of the doubt is the genuine refugee that is just in real desperate strait. Some of them are in the United States illegally because of [human] trafficking. They were caught up in…” quote by Preston Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4ca/preston-manning-16966_arguing_i-think-on-all-the-debate-on-immigration_395989.jpg)
