an Australian ATC just worked his basic shift
Coming from a person who obviously was never able to "just" be a good Air Traffic Controller. The usual scenario is, you can't cut it at the radar, get yourself promoted where you can't kill anyone but just screw up all the good controllers working lives.
The reason ATCOs are selected initially is because of their ability to separate aircraft. The reason they are paid what they are is their ability to separate aircraft. Why is it then that management rewards and appreciates Powerpoint producing, e-mail forwarding oxygen thieves. We are not "just" Air Traffic Controllers, we are Air Traffic Controllers and damn proud of it.