The fault block mountains shift
A. High-rise developments reduce population density
Well alternatives for college education would be vocational
or trade schools where you learn skills and get certifications for it that
proves your qualifications in that profession.
Then there is an apprenticeship where you study under an expert or
well-known person in that field. You can
also apply for a training program where you can learn a trade and find work
right after you complete it.
Democracy is the rule of "demos" - people. However, it is not the case that all people want the same and that people can agree on what is important. Because of this, it is important that a compromise is reached in which everyone profits a bit : otherwise emocracy could "stall" due to conflicts (which is actually often the case in governments where the ruling party has only slight majority).