Star Words: Episode III, Part 29

After his impassioned account of the foiled Jedi coup, Palpatine has the captivated Senate right where he wants them. Amid overwhelming support, he announces the "reorganization" of the Republic into "the first Galactic Empire." He promises security. He promises safety. There is hardly a dissenting voice amid the clamor of approval.

And Padmé grimly observes:

"So this is how liberty dies. With thunderous applause."

Lucas has said elsewhere that "democracies aren't overthrown; they're given away." The greatest tragedy of the Republic is that its representatives willingly give up their autonomy and freedom to a heartless tyrant. He uses their fear, mistrust and greed to convince them that giving him greater and greater power would be in their best interest. Like the more personal story of Anakin's fall, a good thing is not destroyed by evil -- a good thing becomes evil. Which makes it a much more potent and horrifying evil.

A functioning democracy is predicated on the idea that we are all willing to listen to each other. As Padmé noted earlier that the war represents a failure to listen, so she notes, in this portentous moment, that the voice of freedom has been drowned out by riotous, deafening cheers. There could not have been a more ironic beginning for an evil, oppressive Empire.

Next, a quote that makes you wonder who really originated a certain point of view...