Two Cheers for the Jedi

I think, perhaps, you're forgetting that the Jedi are essentially Zen Bhuddist monks that don't have as large inhibitions against violence as our Zen Bhuddist monks do and are also a bit more socially pro-active.

Mostly, they'd like to be left alone to contemplate the force, but they go out and help people largely at the request of the senate and, if things are to be believed, they usually serve in the role of conflict mediators, as opposed to generals.

Don't forget Sifo-Dyas as a turned Jedi.
If it weren't for the Sith, how much good would the Jedi do? It seems to me that most of the benefits gained from the existence of the Jedi come from them dealing with Dark Siders. If 1% of the Jedi turn to the Dark Side, that probably balances out the good. Without meaning to, the Jedi have used the old trick of creating a problem so that you're needed even more.
Considering all the innocent people he killed (Alderan), I wouldn't call Anakin a hero, but he does fulfill his prophecy and unwittingly has positive effects. And yes, I believe the Galaxy will be better off post-Empire than it was pre-Empire.

I wouldn't count Sifo-Dyas...The best explanation I've found is this:

"It appears to me that it went down like this. Palp lost Maul, seduced Dooku (who was disatisfied with the Republic and craved power (see Obi-Wan discussion with Librarian in AOTC)). Dooku killed Sifo-Dyas and either Palp or Dooku posed as Sifo-Dyas to the Kamino's. From Jango's comment it appears Dooku was posing as Sifo-Dyas."

http://www.nightly.net/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=70;t=002579;p=0

I don't get the backwards induction reference. When does Palpatine use it?

In the Timothy Zahn novels set 5 years after Episode VI (Heir to the Empire et al. -- the only SW novels worth reading), much is made of the difficulties involved in cutting the head off of a beast like the Empire. Princess Leia's full-time job is traveling around the galaxy (a) persuading worlds that the New Republic is for real and the Empire isn't about to return and punish them for their disloyalty, and (b) persuading Imperial holdovers that their best deal is to lay down their Star Destroyers and join the NR. Public choice abounds!

Backwards induction fits quite nicely. I was looking for a way to describe the nefariousness of Palpatine, and now I have it. The way I see it: Palpatine needs to get the Senate to declare him Emperor so he won't be seen as a dictatorial usurper. To do this, he needs two things - a threat to the Republic and a way to eliminate the Jedi, who will oppose the Empire and the Emperor. The proverbial 2 birds with 1 stone is to declare the Jedi themselves to be the threat to the Republic. Getting the Jedi to rise against him is fairly simple - just have the Jedi vanquish a couple of Sith threats and then reveal yourself to be the Sith lord behind it all. But how to defeat the Jedi, given that there's only two Sith? For that you need an army that will turn on the Jedi at the appropriate time. So create a clone army. But to create the clone army you need a threat, so Palpatine manufactures one in the form of the Trade Federation, separatists, droids, etc. It's all done for the sole purpose of getting the Jedi to rise against the Chancellor (and by extension, the Senate and the Republic) and providing a means of eliminating the Jedi.

It's also the reaason that I believe Episode III redeems Episodes I and II to some degree (without excusing abominations like Jar-Jar). The mechinations in those movies seemed dull and a little bit pointless compared to the rebellion of IV-VI, but in context it makes more sense.

Tyler never asks the great public choice question: Compared to what?

Compared to the much maligned and often ridiculed Ewoks.

As I understand him, Tyler is arguing that the Senate is neo-fascist, the Jedi Council is crypto-fascist, the Galactic Empire is super-fascist, and the Rebels are proto-fascist. Compared to that rogue's gallery, the Ewoks look mighty impressive.

Cowen is not a "Sith Lord". He's an Ewok groupie.

Think of Star Wars as a taoist anti-fascist parable.