>>211542066
In the deleted Luke and Biggs scene from E4 Biggs mentions how the Empire is starting to get more domineering in the inner systems. He predicts that when the Empire does finally decide to look over Tattooine that they'll nationalize his Uncle's moisture farm.

And then there is Alderann but even in the novel/radio drama (which Lucas used to say was canon) Vader questioned Tarkin's decision and said that the Emperor should be consulted before blowing it up.

So the Empire was kind of a Cold War Soviet Union bad until Alderann which became the rallying cry for the rebellion.