I read all of the classic scifi dystopian books as a yute in the late 50s/early 60s.
I saw no reason at the time why things couldn’t morph into those futures.
I had just ready the story for the first time, so it's more of an after-the-fact for me. Like I said, some of the words leapt straight out of the page like something from modern news headlines.
Of course, only ten years ago I would be scoffing at it just like you did. The moral of the story: never underestimate the insanity leftists will unleash upon society.