Yeah basically

While I agree with Mr. Prachett that it is perhaps generally bad form or even repugnant to “punch down” in comedy- that we should generally use our power on those with more or similar power to ourselves- you are correct in that nothing about the definition of satire says it needs to “punch up,” and that satire is literally just pointing out folly (aka stupidity) or vices in a humorous way. Those with less power or lower position than us can certainly have folly or vice. What’s more- satire as a tool- a way to point out dumb choices or bad behavior in a light humorous way that can show a problem and lead to changes, well- sometimes someone with more power kinda does need to step in. I mean- in much of history many people have lacked the ability to read and even today the “common man” has little patience or comprehension for long dry technical explanations- so satirists often are more educated or socially mobile and can expose problems with those “lower” in society that their actions…

.. or behaviors can perhaps correct or mitigate, without seeming like they are sermonizing. That’s a fine line of course- but come on now- while Jeff Foxworthy was making trailer jokes and such- while he may have come from some of that experience- do you think that at his height he was living a life as equals with much of his target audience? Larry the Cable Guy? We can make a long list of people who have satires or made careers of satire of people “below them” and in modern society a successful satirist may likely find that even if they start out in a group that their careers carry them into a higher socioeconomic status. Do most multi platinum rap artists have to or perhaps even still do live a life of poverty and crime in the “mean streets” and “hoods” a few “keep it real” to various degrees but their money and status generally allows them to choose whichever path they like. So wether it is satire or parable or whatever else- success at it may likely bring you to a different

position or status of lifestyle than people you speak on. I’m not gonna cover it all- I’m just going to say that generally problems come from the top down. The people with the power to make the biggest decisions and with the most influence make choices that can shape the lives of thousands or millions or billions. If you are using satire as a constructive tool to attempt to bring change or bring attention to problems, it is probably most potentially helpful, most responsible, and perhaps most kind to make the targets of your satire people with power and influence and not the people caught in the churn of those who shape the world most directly.