How do people come into politics?

I think they start out as slick used car salesmen, or women.

One can study just about any field and become a politician.A degree will help strongly with your political carer.Political Science as a major,then they enter Law School like Hillary and Bill Clinton.

Some make the career choice in High School . Like we had an Alder person/ Local Council , getting paid $120 per month but getting rewarded with a union job (took money from union dues)

And went to India and Taiwan as part of their seat on the City's board of Education.

Our Mayor has the power to appoint people into certain or most City jobs as is in City charter,they can steer contracts to construction companies for campaign finance and at times for X_Mas presents.

So a career in politics is a profitable venture,sometimes ones pinata of a politician is voted out and there goes his chums,as the new one would have his own.

Municipal jobs are handed out also,especially in these dark economic times the fight for city jobs with free health insurance,usually a name brand,Overtime and weeks and weeks off for paid vacation etc

Being rich is the dominant factor.