I know it sounds nerdy/stupid, but hear me out. I was discussing this with my dad tonight and now I'm really interested and thinking about this.
Throughout the original Star Wars Trilogy, the Galactic Empire is portrayed as an evil, immoral, overall horrible force that must be destroyed by the Rebellion. However, is this the real case? It seems to me that neither side is inherently good or evil, with the only really bad part of the Empire being the Emperor and the Sith.
So, I'll start it off, and everyone please contribute everything you can. Keep it civil kindly.
So as I said, it is very subjective to say that the Empire is truly evil and the Rebellion truly good. It seems to me that the Empire is necessary to keep stability, security, good economy, and, to some extent, civil rights.
Stability.
The Empire is an enormous organization spanning (according to Wookiepedia) 1.5 million planets and 69 million colonies and protectorates. If left to their own agendas, the state of the galaxy would be total anarchy as a whole, with quadrillions or more sentient beings making constant war with one another and resulting in a continual state of primitive and static cultures.
Security.
As stated in this thread, we have examples from other canon associating a takeover by evil in order to do a greater good. Yes, how it is accomplished may be less-than-reputable, but is it not still the greater good and in the interest of the galaxy?
The same applies for the Empire and it's security. From without, there are countless numbers of unknown planets and confederations that would likely have a ball destroying a disunited galaxy. With the Empire and its incredibly strong military (larger, even, than the Republic's), the galaxy would be safe for, barring a rebellion from within, billions, even trillions of years.
From within, Crime would be soon entirely rooted out and put down with an iron fist. Yes, Imperial taxes are excruciating to traders, thus prompting smuggling and other illegal activities, but I believe that the taxes would level out and drop after the completion of the first Death Star, decreasing the need and demand for smuggling and crime. Either way, the Hutts and their crime empire would, in time, be destroyed and entirely wiped out. Petty crimes would likely continue to be treated with an iron fist, as they should be. I know it sounds crazy and idealistic, but I think with Imperial order brought in full force to the galaxy, crime could be, in time, phased out completely.
G2G, far, far more later.
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