Banning of the gum

I don't think government should over- regulate people. The Singapore government was wrong to ban chewing gum.
Singapore is famous for being proud of its clean streets and clean public spaces. The problem was people were disposing of their gum by spitting it on public floors and streets and sticking it under tables and on seats. This was causing maintenance problems and costing lots of money to clean up. Also there was vandalism. People were sticking gum on mailboxes and elevator buttons. The rapid transit trains had problems because vandals were sticking gum on the door sensors which made the doors not close properly, which delayed trains and caused lots of expense and trouble. The government decided to ban chewing gum. Now people caught chewing gum receive large fines and in addition repeat offenders have to clean public spaces in bright colored jackets and sometimes are filmed by the media which causes further shame.
It should be the people's choice about whether to chew gum or not, people have the right to do what they want as long as they aren't hurting anybody. Laws are for preventing people from hurting themselves or others. In this case they did not need to make a law about gum chewing. Not everybody spits their gum in the street. It is a personal decision to chew gum, it does not involve other people unless they throw it on the street
I think they should have just put up posters about not spitting their gum everywhere, and given tickets for littering to people who spit out their gum in the street. They should just enforce their littering laws more. Maybe they should increase the penalty for littering. The media could advertise reasons for Singaporeans to get rid of gum correctly, and also why they shouldn't commit vandalism. Educating people might help them to realize what the benefit is of having clean streets.
Singapore should enforce the laws about littering and ruining public property rather than ban gum.


sources:
http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/chewing-gum-ban-in-singapore/
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-penalty-for-chewing-gum-in-singapore.htm
http://www.experiencefestival.com/chewing_gum_ban_in_singapore_-_international_attention
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chewing_gum_ban_in_Singapore
(image) http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Singapore/blog-291976.html