"Caveat emptor" is crucial to us; but it is NOT the law of the land.
When the rule of law is diminished, (by failure to enforce laws on the books) the economy suffers terribly; in large part because contracts drawn according to written law become worthless.
Your government agencies occupy themselves ensuring their lucrative future careers in lieu of executing their responsibilities to enforce the law.
In this environment, the cry "caveat emptor" only serves to hide conditions which must be corrected for a stable economy to exist, let alone flourish.