Aren't net winnings are taxed for gamblers? I'm usually calling out for a progressive tax system, however, the parent is right. Investment doesn't work the way

Aren't net winnings are taxed for gamblers? I'm usually calling out for a progressive tax system, however, the parent is right. Investment doesn't work the way you describe. You are asking people to risk capital in order to gain some reward. A particular investment may not pan out for years and then give a windfall. I'm going to go out on a limb and say this: typically, the longer term payoff kind of things benefit society more. As someone who has very little capital, I too get unhappy when I see regressive tax regimes. The increase in inequality is one of the great problems of our age. That said, we must take care not to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Our current standard of living would not be possible without investment. Your example about taking time off for the baby is an interesting one. Perhaps the tax system needs to take account of people taking sabbaticals and such.