I remember having a similar freakout a couple of years ago when I was working at a job I didn't like in a really unhealthy corporate environment. I was thinking of getting into a different field, etc. Then I found a better job, and suddenly I was happy programming again.

There are good programming jobs where you can take pride in your work and be appreciated for it. They are usually in smaller companies, or in small isolated groups within larger companies.

You could probably make a go of it doing consulting, but the reality is that the people who hire consultants are often big companies with problems. The unhealthy company I escaped from was crawling with consultants. So, if your goal is to escape from corporate america, you're probably better off with a small company doing work you like than as a hired gun working for whoever will pay.