For 15 years, I worked as a math/science tutor for adults trying to get their high school credentials. I could divide my students into thirds:

1) One third spun wheels for a semester or two. They told their social circles that they were "going back to school," but they really did not accomplish much.

2) One third do accomplish something. They pass their courses, but end up in similar jobs before their upgrading started.

3) One third move into higher academics. I helped many nurses and a few engineers reach their careers.

My salary and the salary of my co-workers came from the government.

We could argue that 2/3 of this money was wasted. But I tend to look at the 1/3. Most of them would not have moved on without that support. We needed to go through that 2/3 to find the 1/3. A lot of people who vilify social programs cannot see that.