Why did George Orwell base his novel nineteen eighty-four on the future?

George Orwell set "Nineteen Eighty-Four" in the future to explore the potential consequences of totalitarianism and the erosion of individual freedoms. By projecting his vision into a dystopian future, he highlighted the dangers of oppressive governments, surveillance, and Propaganda, making the themes more impactful and relevant. This temporal distance allowed readers to reflect on contemporary political issues while considering the alarming possibilities that could arise if such trends continued unchecked.