The Youth Contract: A slow response to a pressing problem

We do face major issues around youth unemployment in this country and what saddens me the most is the slowness at which we have responded to deal with this crisis.  There have been many charities that have been championing and calling for action for far too long and it seems the announcement of the Youth Contract, while a good first step, has come far too late.
 
The response of the government, its opposition and the media has not been good enough and the issue has only become relevant, it seems, when there is a headline to be made.  Youth unemployment represents a clear and present danger to an entire generation but this danger didn't just arrive overnight and we shouldn't be focusing on the one millionth unemployed young person but also the other 999,999 who needed help long ago.