A study released today from Dr. Dan Smith, a political scientist at the University of Florida indicates lack of education at the college-level was a significant factor in how Florida’s ban on gay marriage was passed at the ballot box in November. Nearly 62 percent of Florida voters cast ballots in favor of Amendment 2, which amended the state constitution to define marriage as a union between a man and woman. Controlling for political and socioeconomic factors, the study found each additional 1 percent of a county’s population with bachelor’s degrees correlated with a 1 percent decrease in support for the amendment. “There’s a lot of evidence showing increased education leads to greater tolerance,” Smith said. While this research is definitely important, it’s not shocking. There is a multitude of social science studies, including my own, indicating a major difference in attitudes towards gay persons among people who are college-educated versus those who are not. The sad point here is that ignorance and lack of education permitted the passing of a statewide amendment that took away civil rights of thousands of people who will lose health insurance and other vital benefits. Of course, all of this to “protect” marriage does nothing more than increase the burden on taxpayers who will now have to subsidize health and social services for these people. Conservative moronism continues to cause major social problems for everyone.