SPECULATION Would the galaxy be really that bad if the Empire had won?

Well, this is an interesting question.

I will answer it by saying that YES it would have been.

First, we humans have a basic desire hardwired into our brains = a desire for freedom which we find "inalienable." I happen to agree with this.

Second, the Empire is a dictatorship. There's no coincidence that George titled Palpatine "Emperor." In history there was a one "Emperor Napoleon." He is famous for, among other things, instituting his "Napoleonic law." Napoleonic law made everything illegal unless specifically made legal as a privilege. This is counter to free law which means everything is legal unless otherwise forbidden. I suspect the Galactic evil Empire acted with a sort of Napoleonic or Palpatinian law in that everything was illegal.

Third, oppression just plain sucks!

 

It is like asking, would be the Nazi Germany really bad if it had won?
It is the same, GL based the empire on extreme ideology, probably right out the Nazis. The Sith work in the politics the same as the Nazis did,
they are these crazy guys, who work trough demagogy, practicing occult stuff to ensure reaching their goal.
It is not in the movies, but at least in EU, there were information on something like concentration camp, commiting experiments on individuals and whole planets, discrimination of non-humanoid (or rather human-like) species and taking people into military service. Yeah, there are academies and people are joininig the Empire forces willingly as well, but not all of them. The Death Star, perfect tool for oppresion troughout the galaxy.
Not to mention how the Empire was installed at all.

Yeah, republic is not the ideal political system, but better than totalitarian one.

This is a no-brainer really

 

Sorry, as a Murican I really have a problem with the idea of being ruled by an Imperial police state.

 

I would say that yes, it would be bad. I see others have put forth very good points, so I'll just add this: The Empire in general had a very pro-human policy. It's the reason you don't see all those aliens in any form of official office or as part of the policing force. Sure, there were exceptions to the rule, but as long as the Empire (as it existed then) was in power, every other species would be subject to the rule of humans in general. Only in those areas under little-to-no control by the Empire did it seem more "equal" (in that everybody's life sucked, even the humans).

I feel this sort of speech is a slippery slope towards flame wars and the like. We should keep nationalities out of this discussion, instead focusing on particular historical governments like others have with the mentions of the Nazis and the Saddam regime. (from the US here, so don't take it wrongly)

 

The book "A New Dawn" actually gives a good insight into what life was like living under the empire, between the two trilogies. While life did not seem to be unbearable under the empire, it was obvious that building the military might of the empire was the most important goal of the emperor, and as a result the population of the government suffered. It has always been obvious that life hold little value in the star wars universe, but under the empire, it apparently holds no value. On a small scale, the empire will simply destroy a space freighter (killing the crew) rather than wait for it to be repaired, as it is quicker to simply send a new freighter. On a larger scale, the empire is not at all opposed to destroying a habitable world (and its population) if it will means more production of a mineral used in turbo laser batteries.

Under the empire, the population of the galaxy was simply an asset to be used in the pursuit of power for the emperor. The empire did not provide and stability for the populous, as the empire itself was a constant threat to the people. At any moment, the goal of increasing the power of the empire could benefit slightly from their eradication, and the empire would not hesitate for a second to do so. Even a core world like Alderaan was utterly expendable to the empire, and it was destroyed simply to send a political message to the galaxy. Under the empire, nobody was safe, and the constant fear that would go with living in that society would cancel out any benefit that living under the empire would provide.

 

In one draft of RoTJ Luke takes on Vader’s legacy after Anakin dies, Saying the words "Now I am Vader". If Luke would have switched alliances the Rebels would have been completely destroyed. Luke was a trusted commander of the rebellion with privileged information no doubt about it. The Empire led a communist state, and like @Rifleman said, they were more concerned with constructing an army and creating tools of oppression. After the rebellion would have been crushed the standing army may have been downsized to reflect the new mission of keeping control over the galaxy. This would mean fewer troops but better equipped. Petty crimes might have been solved by police and not a trial, meaning interpretation of the law is at your captor’s discretion. This would save time and resources. a modern example of what this would look like could be seen by North Korea. People would eventually become starved; resources would be redirected to other parts of the galaxy. Propaganda departments would be constantly hammering the citizens, brainwashing them. This would create obedient and loyal people with true fear of acts against the state.

 

Well. Even in the OT there were clues to tyranny of the Empire. They ruled by fear. That is the purpose of the Death Star. It seems to me that they used tactics of terror prior to the Death Star but that the single monolithic symbol was just the top. In the visual guide to Star Wars. It gives a break down of Boba Fetts costume, including braided wookie scalps which he earned hunting them for the empire. That's making money scalping sentient beings, that probably crosses some lines. In ESB Lando knew he had no where to go. Vader could say or do any thing he wanted and Lando knew there was no hope of any sort of redress.

In recent canonical offerings like Star Wars Rebels there has been a genocide on the planet Lessat.

 

A galaxy forever held a grip of terror & occupation countless worlds living in fear all sense of hope destroyed all jedi existence would be wiped out.

 

Let's not forget the Jedi Holocaust instigated by Order 66.
No, the Galaxy would not have been 'better off' or 'not so bad'

Better to live in the 'free chaos' that would be caused by the rebels then to live in the Empire.

 

Well the better side won in the end that's the way it works.

 

Hear Hear