The majority of spending goes towards pensions, healthcare, education, etc. Education could be an investment but per student spending has tripled over 50 years

The majority of spending goes towards pensions, healthcare, education, etc. Education could be an investment but per student spending has tripled over 50 years, yet it would be hard to argue that there is a high marginal return on investment from the extra spending. Same with healthcare. Plenty have noted that the US spends more per capita but has worse outcomes. Seems like there's simultaneously cheaper and more effective approaches out there. Social security is just a transfer payment, but not sustainably structured.