# What problems could we solve in America, that could actually save money by solving the problem, but we still don't solve them **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 7, 2025, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017 "2025-05-07T16:49:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017/101 "2025-05-21T10:37:24Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > To my knowledge, most Western countries operate that way. Late to the conversation but: my “shithole country” - South Africa - calculates tax for you. You only need a tax consultant for unusual situations or to challenge the govt decision. Also, we have universal health care. I live about 300m from Groote Schuur hospital, the place Dr. Chris Barnard did the first ever heart transplant. Health care at government hospitals is means based, so while I cannot find the actual cost of that procedure, it could well have been free. My unemployed friend broke a leg paragliding. He got a free helicopter lift to Groot Schuur and free treatment including a long stay in a ward. I mean, yes, anyone who can afford to paraglide - the gear ain’t cheap - should be able to afford medical care, but the point is that he got treated just like any other unemployed person. I pay for Medical Insurance, because I have kids. But I don’t need to. It is my choice. It should be an American’s choice too. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017/102 "2025-05-21T10:57:25Z")
Are we distinguishing between “the value of a college **degree** ” and the value of going to college? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017/103 "2025-05-21T13:12:33Z")
I’m not. A degree provides more education than a vlass here or there; the hurdles involved in completing a degree involve separate skills than any single class: you learn navigating bureaucracy, for example. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017/104 "2025-05-21T13:31:47Z")
And actually completing and getting that credential demonstrates “stickability”. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017/105 "2025-05-21T13:59:26Z")
Back to reducing incarceration: it’s an issue over here, where there’s basically no more room in the prisons, hence: > **[Judges told to favour community alternatives over short prison sentences](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/may/20/judges-told-to-favour-community-alternatives-over-short-prison-sentences?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other)** > > Sentencing review to be published on Thursday aims to ‘ease prison capacity crisis’ and reduce reoffending ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2025, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017/106 "2025-05-21T16:53:06Z")
> [@PatrickLondon](#): > > Back to reducing incarceration: it’s an issue over here, where there’s basically no more room in the prisons, hence: _Gauke said: “For lower-level or first-time offenders facing challenges like addiction or homelessness, short prison sentences can push them into a cycle of crime…“Giving people the opportunity to address the root causes of their behaviour while under supervision in the community will not only help ease the prison capacity crisis but reduce reoffending, cut crime and ultimately make our streets safer.”_ Right- this is sorta was ai was talking about. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017/107 "2025-06-30T05:10:54Z")
> [@Cmyers1980](#): > > > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > > > You’re assuming the only value of a college degree is to find jobs > > That is what it has become in practical terms in today’s world. College educated people have much better life outcomes on multiple levels. - Longer life expectancies - Less support for authoritarianism - Lower smoking rates - Higher voter turnout - Lower incarceration rates - Lower divorce rates Granted, it is both a cause and effect. People more prone to do these things are more likely to go to college in the first place. And people who go to college come from better backgrounds than people who do not go to college. But its my understanding that college is both a side effect of personality traits with positive outcomes, as well as a place to nurture personality traits that have positive outcomes. With authoritarianism for example, people lower in authoritarianism are more likely to go to college, but also people who go to college see their rates of authoritarianism get lowered too. Education is one of the best investments a society can make. [https://scholarworks.umass.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/a522aa7f-5bf5-409d-ab75-d1837591f3b8/content](https://scholarworks.umass.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/a522aa7f-5bf5-409d-ab75-d1837591f3b8/content) Investing a billion in education results in more economic growth than investing a billion in demand side tax cuts, military spending, health care, etc. > **[education-jobs hosted at ImgBB](https://ibb.co/LDgc7g63)** > > Image education-jobs hosted on ImgBB ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017/108 "2025-06-30T06:43:25Z")
It’s a common saying over here that the overall longterm economic and social returns are better from government investment in support for the early years rather than further and higher education. ---
**Author:** ![Cmyers1980](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyers1980/32/11814_2.png) [@Cmyers1980](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cmyers1980)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017/109 "2025-06-30T12:42:54Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Education is one of the best investments a society can make. I agree. Someone should still be able to have a good life without a college degree though. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017/110 "2025-06-30T12:44:09Z")
That’s pretty well acknowledged on our side of the pond too. But it’s anathema to conservatives, so it mostly doesn’t happen here. And getting kids out of poverty not through inadequate handouts, but through economic reform so there are no working poor because all jobs pay living wages is right out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-problems-could-we-solve-in-america-that-could-actually-save-money-by-solving-the-problem-but-we-still-dont-solve-them/1018017.md?page=5)