Sure it's inconsistent: Ryan Blethen wrote the one, and Courtney Blethen the other. Those two can't agree on anything, from proper styling of their labradoodles to whether to black out the windows on their Range Rovers.
I read that first editorial and noticed that any mention of Tim Eyman's rich-guy-sponsored pet projects was conspicuously absent. Ditto for the skewing that occurs as a result of paid signature-gathering. But I think the real reason the Times supports the process is that they hope one day to hire Tim Eyman to spearhead an initiative that would impose manorial duties on the little people. Because for feudal lords, not paying their fair share of taxes isn't enough; they shouldn't have to pay for gardening, landscaping, or car detailing, either.
Just outlaw paid signature gathering. Problem solved. Now you have to actually get people organized and supportive enough to go waste their spare time in support of whatever your corporation wants passed.
Senseless and Shameless. It's stupidity to think you can be such a shill and be taken seriously. The Seattle Times is more like the Conservative Northwest Faily.