Singapore does provide basic welfare and I believe the degree that the PAP provides is just right. It's enough to prevent the destitute from starving to death but not enough to make it a lifestyle choice like it is in the west.
Try to live alone when you turn 18 & remain healthy as long as possible. Ok, I am not too harsh, how about living on your as soon as you got a job (after finish studying offcourse). If you could do that, then is the first step in your democratic step. If you could buy a flat of your choice without getting married is the second step towards democracy. If you got cancer, & if you loose your house which you purchase in the second step to safe your life in moving out of your democratic step. Assuming, you are healthy but you hate "Lee Kwan Yew" & you cannot say it loudly "I hate Lee Ho Chin" in public places, than you lost your democratic footsteps. There are many democratic footsteps are missing at present & the opposition are trying to build one step at a time.
If your basic right to speak is taken away from you, what makes you think; you are really the owner of your properties? When I say properties, I didn't mean physical things like house, I meant like the properties that are you.............made of?