That's the great part, by not participating you help the worst of them!

This country is a sham democracy and I refuse to participate.

This is how they want you to feel. Republicans win by making people like you feel hopeless. The wins last week in OH, VA, and KY happened because young people turned out more than expected, and young voters skew more progressively. Like you, I'm frustrated too, but the Overton window will continue to shift right unless you put Democrats in at the general and vote progressive in primaries. That goes for the entire election all the way down to the lowest local elected office because that's where people get their start. You're right, we're not getting ranked choice across the board within our lifetime, but some areas do use ranked choice and may help elect people who will push for it at the state level, and maybe one day federal. The same is true for enshrining abortion rights and legalizing marijuana, which pushed a little further last week. I know federal legalization won't be here any time soon, but the first step is rescheduling from I to II or maybe even III, and that could be here within a year as a nice poll bump right before elections.

A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit. By not voting, you're allowing poison ivy to take root instead of a peach tree because you'd rather have an apple tree.

If you really want to focus your time and energy into making a difference, check out Run For Something. If you don't want to run yourself, you can support progressive candidates by donating or volunteering.