[fluxquanta]

The kid is a public figure, so I'm not sure what you mean there. Public figures are frequent subjects for comedians because of the shared experience between them and the audience. If it was some random disabled kid I doubt anyone would have found it funny, Mike Ward included.

And whether you like it or not, it is a job. HN seems to be pretty hip to letting the market dictate whether or not an enterprise should thrive or fail. Don't like what a comedian has to say? Don't support that comedian with your money. If you're at a comedy show and you're so terribly offended, get up quietly, find a manager, ask for your money back. If you're offended watching a comedian on TV, turn the channel. Tell your friends and family you don't like them. These are all ways you can "vote with your dollars".

But it's not your (or the government's) responsibility to punish and take away from them for saying something you find to be offensive. At least it shouldn't be, and I find a world where that's okay to be pretty terrifying.