"Don't count your chickens yet"

....is the message Andres Oppenheimer of The Miami Herald  seems to be sending to leaders of Asian countries in his piece Asia Treading Near Overconfidence .

I understand his skepticism surrounding the rise of the Asian superpowers (China and India) and can empathise with where he is coming from.  I happen to agree with him that Asia's rosy economic outlook is questionable what with the current global landscape.

I also find it darkly ironic that there's no mention of the States' overconfidence, which resulted in its economy's near-demise. (And it's a democracy, to boot). He's also conveniently left out that Asians Americans are one of the most affluent ethnic groups in America. Additionally, he doesn't offer constructive advice on how Asia can thwart economic overheating on its way up, which would have made the article more balanced.  Instead I detect an almost palpable fear between the lines, fear that Asian economies will eclipse the West during the latter's meandering economic recovery.

That's my two cents worth on the piece. I'm not saying that Asian countries should crow over their Western counterparts, but wouldn't it be nice if the Americans didn't tell us what to do for once? Wouldn't it be nice to be on a level playing field with the 'big boys' for once?

P.S.:  Note Oppenheimer's views on Asian attitudes toward education, it made me do a double take!