Verhoeven's movie, like all good sci fi, is a commentary on the present disguised as a story about futury stuff.

That American's (including me but also I was twelve) were too dense to get it isn't Verhoeven's fault. If anything it just demonstrates the point he's hammering on in so many of his movies. Look at how many people unironically like Robocop, while disdaining Showgirls!