Start local. You absolutely can get into office if you've got some good ideas and you get people around you interested in what you have to say. Get in at the smallest local unit of government you can, whether it's the town council or water board or whatever.

You'll discover how much relationship-building goes on, and how that leads to bigger and better opportunities to make a change in the world.

Guess what, it isn't easy, but it's absolutely doable. (Not for those who call it all a myth, of course.)