Why aren't consumers more discriminating?

A local politician, in a campaign ad, rants against banks charging swipe fees for debit cards. In this ad, the candidate claims that he will go to Washington, and fight to eliminate this unfair practice. Why do people think that the answer is in Washington? There are plenty of banks out there that will do business with you under your terms. Plus, nobody is forcing anyone to use a debit card. So why are people so quick to imagine that corrupt, ambitious, amoral politicians are going to do anything but make their lives more expensive and more complicated. All anybody has to do in this case is be an informed consumer. Is that really too much to ask?