It wouldn't be so bad if the legislators and bureaucrats would acknowledge that they are ignorant on a subject and seek competent advice.  In 12 1/2 years working for the State of Oregon, I didn't see that happen, particularly in regard to  IT subjects.  The Department of Administrative Services, The Department of Motor Vehicles,  The Employment Department, all had problems because they didn't understand IT enough to even to know  what questions to ask computer types or how to define what they really needed.   As a result, millions of taxpayer dollars were spent with no results.  The Oregon Health Authority/Department of Human Services debacle was just the latest version of the ignorant leading the parade over the cliff.   When Oracle was selected on basically a time and materials contract with almost no measureable deliverable standards, failure was inevitable.