Ah, the Imperials, bless 'em. Just like that early 21st Century politician Nigel Farrage, they convince themselves that they're different and special and only hold their people's best interests at heart. Yet, their whole society revolves around pomp and privelege, seducing those of the Pilots Federation with their pretty ships and telling them that slavery is ok. "It's ok, my subjects, they CHOOSE to be enslaved."
Well my dear Imperials, an Empire that requires slavery to exist in order to support its master's gold houses and luxury ways is clearly rotten from the roots to the tip. As your Thatcherite Patreus waves his maligned fist around the galaxy, bullying the downtrodden you can all pat yourselves on the back, because you're alright, you have a ship, you got lucky and got out of the dirge. Heaven forbid you support your brothers and sisters who didn't have such a lucky esape.
The Federation isn't great, I don't support them either but the greater of all evils is the Empire and the most deluded are those who support them blind to the needs of those beneath them within their OWN society.