Comedians have, throughout history been the acceptable dissidents of society. This can be seen from ancient Greece, through Shakespeare and through to people like Bill Hicks and George Carlin.

They have the unique position of being able to say what they think, and then let the audience decide if it was satirical or serious.

I think "the state of a society when only comedians can tell the truth" is known as "normal". I've never seen any evidence of some fabulous bygone age where the people in charge were cool with political dissidents who didn't frame things in terms of comedy.