You’re absolutely right with regard to the federal individual income tax, and so is Gibbons. Whatever the “middle class” is, it certainly isn’t paying its fair share if the median American is paying no income tax at all.
However, while Medicare and Social Security taxes are not the taxes he was referring to, let’s call it what is is: Medicare and Social Security are welfare schemes funded by taxes, not “insurance plans.” And the taxes are plainly a form of income tax.
If your employer takes money out of your paycheck and sets it aside for your retirement, that’s a retirement plan. If they take money out for your company medical plan, that’s medical insurance.
The government on a very basic level simply does the same. Call is welfare if you want, but the fact is billionaires qualify for social security also, along with medicare if they so choose.
It’s really a shame that we can’t discuss an issue like this because everyone talking defines things differently.