Country Club Living - Palm Beach North - January 2026

10 C O U N T R Y C L U B L I V I N G - PA L M B E A C H N O R T H | J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 6 Humpty Dumpty and the Economics of theWall T here are numerous origins and evolving meanings of Humpty Dumpty. In fact, they are still being unearthed. The 2012 discovery of Richard III’s skeleton beneath a parking lot in Leicester refreshed long-running theories that the rhyme might have been a veiled reference to the king’s physical condition (scoliosis) and violent death. Shakespeare perpetuated this myth, famously portraying him as “a poisonous bump-backed toad.” Others have argued Humpty was a cannon toppled during the 1648 siege of Colchester, or a type of mixed drink. First printed in 1797 as a riddle—not an egg story—the character’s shape, symbolism, and interpretation shifted with every generation. Over time, illustrations hardened him into the egg-figure we picture today. Across these retellings, one theme endures: Humpty Dumpty represents lost opportunity through misplaced confidence. He is the archetype of someone perched comfortably on a high wall, assuming stability that isn’t really there. And once the fall comes, not even “all the king’s horses and all the king’s men” can restore what negligence destroyed. This is more than a nursery rhyme. It’s a universal warning for leaders, policymakers, and anyone responsible for making decisions under uncertainty. In business, Humpty Dumpty is the leader who doesn’t lead—the CEO/founder who waits, watches, postpones, or avoids responsibility. When meaning drifts and no one owns the narrative, ambiguity fills the vacuum. Followers sit on the wall, doing what’s comfortable instead of what’s required. But when gravity asserts itself—when a market shifts, a new competitor enters, or a crisis arrives—the fall is swift. And once the mess hits the ground, no cavalry, no consultant, no emergency meeting can fully undo it. Humpty’s mistake wasn’t the fall; it was believing the wall was safe. Economics works with the same unforgiving logic. As Thomas Sowell puts it, economics is ultimately about “the allocation of scarce resources with alternative uses,” coordinated by prices. Prices don’t exist in a vacuum; they respond to a dense web of outside influences—confidence, incentives, regulation, taxes, supply constraints, expectations, and yes, even luck. People rarely make decisions independently; they respond to signals, pressures, and opportunities shaped by forces they can’t see. his is why timing in economic policy matters so profoundly. Governments issue policies—rate cuts, spending packages, new rules, energy permits—but the effects don’t appear on command. A tax incentive won’t build a factory in a month. A rate hike won’t tame inflation next week. Supply chains, labor markets, construction timelines, capital cycles— each has its own rhythm, its own lag, its own inertia. So, how long does it take for policy to lower prices? The most honest answer is also the least satisfying: as long as it takes. Sometimes months. Sometimes years. And while models adjust, real people feel real pain. Political niceties mean nothing to a parent who cannot afford groceries or fuel today. Humpty Dumpty teaches the same lesson economics teaches: timing, attention, and decisive action matter. Assumptions are dangerous. Small, overlooked forces can create massive consequences. And once a fall begins, regrets won’t stop the impact. Lead early. Act intelligently. Be wary of the wall. Get live strategic tips. Subscribe here: https://bit.ly/AccelerationStrategy I respond to every email. therobertbailey@gmail.com * AI was used in the research and preparation of this article. This Palm Beach County Law Firm is headquartered in North Palm Beach, Florida, and has emerged as a recognized leader in real estate and commercial transactions. Founded in 1990, the Law Firm has successfully engaged in some of the largest and most complex transactions in South Florida. • Real Estate • Litigation / Appellate Law • Administrative Agencies • Corporation and Partnership Law • Employment Law • Probate Administration • Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning • Taxation • Construction Lien Law AREAS OF PRACTICE AREAS OF PRACTICE This Palm Beach County Law Firm is headquarted in North Palm Beach, Florida, and has emerged as a recognized leader in real estate and commercial transactions. Founded in 1990, the Law Firm has successfully engaged in some of the largest and most complex transactions in South Florida. • Real Estate • Litigation/Appellate Law • Administrative Agencies • Corporation and Partnership Law • Employmen Law • Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning • Probate Administration • Taxation • Construction Lien Law 712 US Highway 1, Suite 400, North Palm Beach, Fl 33408 • 561-844-3600 / www.COHENNORRIS.COM 301 Yamato Road, Suite 4120, B ca Raton, FL 33431 • 12300 South Shore Boulevard, Suite 202,Wellington, Florida 33414 Et tu, Mr. Dumpty? – By Robert Bailey - Community