It’s fascinating that interest groups expect other interest groups to sacrifice “for the greater good,” but defend their own group’s right to be dead last on the list.

Take this NC State Technician editorial about possible furloughs for campus employees. Apparently a catastrophe awaits NC State should furloughs occur (emphasis is mine):

Before considering implementing furloughs, the University must take extra steps to ensure the actions they take will have the smallest possible impact on its mission of educating students.

University administrators at the highest level should step forward and take pay cuts before allowing furloughs to happen. This would be commendable and set the example of sacrificing for the greater good.

If the University decides to implement furloughs, it must take the proper steps to ensure these changes have the smallest impact on the quality of education.

But at a university that puts a lot of emphasis on research, furloughs could be devastating.

The quality of research will go down the drain, as educators would be more likely to cut research before classes. They could also cause the quality of education to drop because of larger class sizes due to fewer classes available.

Well then, editorial board members, exactly what is it NC State students are willing to give up for “the greater good”?