Centralization and the democratization of hurt in the economic crisis

I believe that Barack Obama is doing his best in our current crisis which is pretty darn good as Presidents go. Having said that, he's coasting along on many of the same assumptions that got us to this low point: Big/more is better, more ease amounts to better quality of life, etc. When a centralized economy tumbles the pain is spread widely because when such an economy is booming people forget how to do for themselves and those in their communities because it just doesn't seem necessary. "Why not just pay someone to do it for us? Isn't that a sign of success in addition to helping the economy?" In this state of mind, it's easy to forget the impact of the capitalist dogma that says dependence is the name of the game. Dependence may be good for business, but it has real consequences when people are left dependent on things that suddenly disappear. People may be able to learn to do things again, but the more dependent people are when they start trying to relearn what was lost, the more painful the transition. As painful as it may be, I believe it can be done and there is hidden soul satisfaction in the processes that may yet convince us that we didn't have it as good as we thought we did when we were "the greatest engine of wealth creation the world has ever known". At least I hope and pray it does!