WHY LEGISLATORS KEEP TRASHING US. University Diaries picks up an Inside Higher Education report that refers to a Money job satisfaction survey; also links to Arizona Republic coverage of that survey. Best job to have: software engineer. Second best: college professor. University Diaries reflects on why there are so many miserable people in the academy. I want to focus on some of the misperceptions in the Arizona Republic article.

It isn't because college professors make so much money. The job has other advantages, such as a low stress level, flexibility and plenty of room for creativity. Oh, yeah, and college professors reported the lowest average number of working hours per week, 30, and the highest average number of vacation days, 31.

Right. Vernon Smith left Arizona for George Mason to get more vacation time.

The survey salaries appear to be skewed high. Selection bias in reporting?

Yes, it's a good job. Around Northern Illinois, however, the stress levels are rising. Record enrollments continue, with the university still in crisis mode and no relief from headquarters, let alone from Springfield, in sight.