I love these movies, except the ones I don't love, and in the end I think they create a healthy skepticism of authority. I also think this latest one seems to be trying to be harshly partisan.
But kids don't learn these lessons the way their creators seem to think. In the end, these movies promote loyalty to friends, adventure, and fighting evil, all good stuff. And the visuals are without equal.
I agree wholeheartedly with your comments, and I have to think that Lucas intended that partisan crap to be an appeal to the Hollywood overlords for a special Oscar for the series. I really do believe that was his suckup intention. Not that he's not a leftist, but he's never been noisy about it until recently.
And I like movies that seem bent to make kids reflexively question concentration of power. It's certainly better than propagandizing them to applaud it.