I am thinking that yes we are losing alot of good solid factories and such that could be a big problem down the road.
But as far as working for yourself hey why not:) If you can make a good solid career out of it by all means work it:)

I'm all for capitalism.

If you want to work for yourself go ahead, by all means. But isn't the goal of starting your own business to make money and to sell a better product than other businesses with similar products? Capitalism is all about beating the competition.

Say your a painter and you decide you want to start selling your art. You don't have an original style, you have an original interpretation to that particular style, which is what makes your painting unique. But in order to sell it you have to market it to groups of people who like that style, but find your work more impressive that others in the same catagory. Competition is the basis of capatilism.

All the small companies that get eaten up by huge industries just didn't make it. Or if they don't close shop they form a merger with other companies. But regardless, all these larger companies were at one time little mom n pop type of deals with people struggling to get off the ground. They were just more successful than others.

But back to working for yourselves. Even if you do open your own small business with the goal of keeping it low key, once you start going and becoming successful you'll have to stop and ask yourself if you want to grow. Honestly, I think humans are greedy little creatures that would go for the gold instead of keeping it local.

But as far as good jobs being available? what's your definition? I have 2 part time jobs that I dig. They have flexible hours and I get along greatly with both of my bosses and well as everyone else i work with. To others they arent that special because I don't have health insurance and benefits of a full time job. But I don't care about a 401K plan. I care about being happy and enjoying my life and right now I'm doing it.