Seattle Times business columnist Jon Talton is the only consistently good read in the entire paper. Even when I disagree with him (which isn't often) his commentaries are always well-argued and well-supported. More importantly, he's one of the few journalists outside the paper's sports section who writes with a distinctive voice.

But it turns out that Talton is an even better writer when he's writing on his own blog, Rogue Columnist. For example, take Talton's most recent post: "Secession with benefits," in which he details the hypocritical economic parasitism of the government-hating red states. Talton derides a "white-right rabble" and its "Ayn Rand fantasies," while warning of a "breakdown in governance ... not seen since the eve of the first Civil War." But Talton goes even further:

One other thing to remember: Portions of the armed forces are heavily populated by right-wingers and fundamentalist Christians, right up into the officer ranks. This is yet another way the military is alienated from the mainstream of civilian life in much of the country, especially in diverse blue zones. Think that doesn't carry the potential for dangerous consequences? Just wait until the next shock from the criminal class on Wall Street or attack on Das Homeland.

This is why I think we need a new amendment that allows for peaceful secession. It might result in a redrawing of state lines. West Virginia, after all, was once a few counties of the Old Dominion. I say: Let them go in peace. Let them see what their world looks like without the tyranny of federal dollars.

The alternatives look increasingly dangerous.

This is the type of forthright and provocative writing I long to read in a daily newspaper, but which, alas, is too often relegated to blogs. Read the whole thing.