This is a fascinating question and there are basically two views. One is that satire is self-defeating as it presents an alternative but wants you to laugh at it, so the alternative is portrayed as ridiculous hence confirming the establishment. The other is that comedy can go beyond isn't-my-mother-in-law-ugly to address important issues and draw attention to them. Hmm.
Incidentally when I was a teen one of our major satirists was Ben Elton who now has his tongue wedged firmly up the posterior of the people he mocked. But that's another story. And Bob Monkhouse, a major talent but about as mainstream as they come, once quipped, 'I'm proud to be British, we're the healthiest nation on Earth... Of course we are, why else would they be closing down all the hospitals?'
He had his moments did ol' Bob.
