Gambling

On May 14, Delaware Gov. Jack Markell responded to his state's $600 million deficit by legalizing sports betting. Estimated to provide the state with $55 million in the first year alone, the legislation is the first of its kind on the East Coast. As Sen. Colin Bonini of Delaware noted, it will tap a "huge underground economy."

This doesn't just affect Delaware's coffers. Both New Jersey and Maryland have taken a keen interest in their neighbor's decision. Online sports betting has already become an issue in New Jersey's 2010 governor's race, and Maryland is considering expanding its gambling laws to keep its casinos from losing business to Delaware competitors.

Electronic bingo may not sound like much, but in the heart of the "Bible Belt", in a state that has yet to implement a lottery, this is a significant development in the face of previous resistance.

Alcohol

As reported in the USA Today, ending the Sunday ban on liquor sales, permitting beer in state parks, and legalizing the sale of alcohol even on Election Day are just a few ways state governments are seemingly backtracking morally in an effort to bolster their economies.

The "Free the Hops" movement in Alabama, which sought to raise the alcohol limit on beer from 6 percent to 13.9 percent, succeeded after years of failed attempts when Gov. Bob Riley signed it into law on May 22. This legislation ended the state's reign as the toughest regulator of the amount of alcohol in beer, and came a week after Riley allowed stronger wine in the state.

Some states, including New Jersey, seek to slacken the rules regarding the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores. There are an estimated 60 million reasons why this legislation might quench the financial thirst of other states.

Drugs

In the face of its epic financial downturn, California could enact revolutionary legislation if it decided to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Though nothing other than a failed bill in the state house has materialized as of yet, Gov. Schwarzenegger perked some ears when he stated he was open to a study on the subject.

The uproar over such a bill would be loud, but the economics involved might just soothe the heated debate. An estimated $13 billion would fit nicely in California's empty bank account, and the money saved on police raids and legal fees would wipe some ugly red ink from the state's budget.

When my home state of Alabama loosens beer laws, and its largest city, Birmingham, votes to allow electronic bingo in the same month, it doesn't take a CSI kit to figure out what's going on.

States and cities need money like Jason Statham's crew in "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels" and they are willing to shove moral views aside for financial reasons.

Talk of raising taxes in this recession is political suicide before midterm elections, so governments are looking to provide their constituencies with new, taxed freedoms. Gambling, alcohol, and drugs stood as pillars of immorality, but now they are three economic reservoirs waiting to be opened. Perhaps the Great Recession will be remembered for the desperate measures that helped America break down moral boundaries to lucrative, regulated recreational activity.

If dabbling into one of these issues is too much, politicians can always resort to fiddling with the traffic lights.