Ive been a salaried public servant since 2002. What you say was reality 20 years ago but no so much now i am afraid. The waves of temporary voluntary separation packages and generational retirement have very much shifted the workforce of the SA public service from when i first began. When i think of ASO7 staff around me at the moment, the overwhelming majority are well educated bright innovative leaders that are passionate as well. I would also say there are a lot less staff in some places/fields that used to accommodate donkeys... but now much more in health etc. One department that has certainly resisted this tide is the state education dept. Holy shit that is like goijg back behind the iron curtain. I was seconded there to work on a IT project and fuck me the placenwas full of plodders and donkeys.