To vote or not to vote?

People often say its our civic duty to vote but I totally disagree. I last voted labour in 97( the year of Blair) & having listened our government lie, cheat, & treat the british people like idiots of no consequence for the last 11 years I have become completely dissilusioned with the whole political system; and having spoken to friends from as far a field as the US, Oz, several european countries, India & China it seems that politics is just a veneal throughout the world. So, a few years back I made the concious decision not to vote by way of not wanting to participate in such a pointless, & I dare I say evil, game. You might say I tuned in, turned on, & dropped out. Happily now I feel no guilt for the crimes of the UK government..my hands are clean. Friends however disagree saying you have to participate to enact change but I believe they are naieve. Throught history good people have tried to enact change all to no avail. the best thing to do is walk away..what do you think?