Indeed, the only difference between gamblers, day-traders, traders, and fund managers is the amount of capital speculated. The venue does not truly matter, as all "investing" is but speculation. When the basis of monetary system encourages short-term exploitation and rape of the planet via debt-based interest bearing money, it is only logical that the entirety of social interaction from financial to cultural be reflective of that foundation.
The mark of a human, as opposed to animals, is his ability to overcome his base tendencies. Modern society has built a social edifice centered on men's base desires in the lunacy of "checks and balances" without any system of fostering development of humans. A system built around weaknesses will foster those very weaknesses in its members.
Is it any wonder that the modern West, having organized its social structure along the line of 18th century mechanical machine (the much lauded division of power among different components of government) will eventually be supplanted by 21st century electronic overlords?