If you think a 7.8 percent unemployment rate in this country is terrible, ask an unemployed 18-year-old how their job search is going.

I’ll tell you, not well. Today, unemployed workers between the ages of 16 and 19 years old have an unemployment rate of more than 23 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number falls to 20.9 percent among white kids and explodes to 39.3 percent for African-American youths. The dismal fact is that for America’s young adults unemployment is 30 percent higher than the national average.

Crocodile tears are flowing again for low-income people. In his State of the Union address, President Obama proposed raising the minimum wage from $7.25 to $9 an hour. A debate is shaping up between those who support the proposal and those who favor keeping the wage where it is today. But there are good grounds — for the sake of the poor — to repeal the minimum wage altogether.

Let’s try development from the inside out

The Smart Growth workshop of Feb. 20 and 21 drew a small group of local people, five the first night, eight on day two. Why so few? Community Lawyer Charlene LaVoie suggested, “plan fatigue” — we’ve been hearing this kind of thing for 20 years. 

After a combined 80 minutes of public comment periods in which some members of the public spent time arguing back about issues unrelated to the agenda, members of the Winchester Board of Selectmen may finally be fed up enough to lay some ground rules for audience members during their regular meetings.

As is likely described elsewhere in today’s paper, the parade of participants during the public comment section of Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting raised several issues.

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s recent announcement that the ban on women officially serving in combat roles has finally been lifted after years of women fighting, dying and losing limbs in combat opens more than an opportunity for women’s military career advancement. It also opens the door to required Selective Service System registration.

Saving the postal service

Ralph Nader has some great ideas on how to save our post office, including Saturday services nationwide. You can see them online at www.nader.org.

I have a few more ideas to add, some that even conservatives will love and see the need for immediately. Here they are:

As we work to reconcile this year’s budget in light of several issues, we nonetheless have to prepare for next year’s budget. According to the town charter, I must submit my proposed budget to the Board of Selectmen no later than March 15. Prior to that, however, I expect to offer a draft budget to the selectmen and the community on Feb. 28. By seeking comment on a preliminary draft, I will be able to address issues raised in the two remaining weeks before the formal budget is submitted.