Republicans, Racism and Romney

Romney’s campaign is benefiting from racism among voters; Catalonia’s cry for independence is inspiring violent threats from Spanish institutions; meanwhile, “Fifty Shades of Grey’s” immense popularity reflects the modern sexual condition. These discoveries and more below.

On a regular basis, Truthdig brings you the news items and odds and ends that have found their way to Larry Gross, director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication. A specialist in media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies.

Racial resentment adds to GOP voter enthusiasm Getty Images captured a photograph of a Romney supporter late last week wearing a shirt that read: “Put the White Back in the White House.”

When Will We See Tanks in Barcelona? “Independent Catalonia? Over my dead body and those of many other soldiers.”

Mitt Romney: The Great Deformer Bain Capital is a product of the Great Deformation.

America’s Truly Densest Metros Economists and urbanists have long argued that density plays a key role in innovation and economic growth.

Catalonia and the Trilemma According to Dani Rodrik’s political trilemma, “We cannot have globalization, democracy, and national sovereignty simultaneously. We must choose two among the three.”

Workers Stand Up to Walmart When a torrent hits an obstacle that refuses to give, it either flows around or over the obstruction.

What the Fifty Shades of Grey phenomenon says about the modern sexual condition “Most novels, especially popular ones, are humiliating,” wrote D. H. Lawrence in 1928. “The public responds now only to an appeal to its vices.”

In defense of academic freedom Tolerance in and out of the classroom is part of democracy’s foundation, in the U.S. and Israel.

For richer, for poorer Economic inequalities around the world are so obscene even the Economist has taken notice.