The Court Jester

The Jester or Fool had a very important role in the good old days. He pointed out the vagaries and absurdities of life, frequently very obvious to all but those in charge. Today that role has been taken over by the stand up comic.

Without any prop except wit and words he(she) takes on all the really foolish aspects of our grand, modern, progressive culture. The history of this job is liberally doted with great names, starting with an author, Mark Twain. His work is still used as a teaching tool in classrooms throughout the country.
Thomas Nast used political, satirical cartoons the way our modern comics use words. He may have invented the genre if not the concept. Political graffiti goes back to Rome.

W.C. Fields and Will Rogers led off the early 20th century with blistering droll, sardonic takes on our fearless leaders.  As we advanced into the 50's I was able to watch such comical geniuses as Mort Sahl, Shelley Berman, Red Skelton and the great Jonathan Winters. Winters could stand in front of an audience, ask a couple of questions and soar with it. His protegee, Robin Williams is equally capable. Because there is never a shortage of material (we elect new buffoons regularly), we always seem to have a list of truly wonderful, intelligent "Jesters" ready to make us laugh at their command. These dry, droll, sardonic wordsmiths are not elected. They exist and thrive by their intelligence, wit, delivery and talent...if only we could say the same about those we choose to lead us!