> "We'll post jobs," he said, "and it's very seldom that someone under the age of 40 is coming in the door to apply." Among the workers who remain, arthritis is a common struggle.

> "A lot of the people have said multiple times that they definitely don't want their son or daughter doing this [making shoes]," Heselton [of Maine Mountain Moccasin] said. "That's tough to hear."

The sense of loss implied in the title makes sense. But ultimately, were these good jobs to begin with?

The article doesn't even mention the environmental problems associated with curing leather, or making other components. All of those costs have been shipped overseas, along with the jobs.

The problem, of course, is that this practice of having China, Inc. make everything used in this US is increasing reliance on an increasingly problematic country.