Transhumanists Disavow Zoltan Istvan Candidacy for US Presidency

Zoltan's behavior has damaged the image of the Transhumanist movement.

There doesn't need to be a Transhumanist political party unless it can bring up all issues of diverse Transhumanists.

It worries me that people like Istvan will tarnish the public image of Transhumanism to the point that people will avoid learning about it.

Don't care who or what he is; all the same someone egoistic enough to run for POTUS without qualifications has got to have his ego cut down to size. I want a woman for president anyway, noW that gay marriage and marijuana are mainstreamed- my theory a woman can almost certainly be elected. Besides, with a name such as his, he will turn any small number of the electorate who pay attention off. A name such as Zoltan Istvan is not going to be acceptable. It would not be considered normative.. any more than Futureman 2100, or Futurist fruitcake. I know nothing of the guy, because the minutiae of who he is and his outlook are-- since has no chance at being president-- uninteresting. Want to examine every splinter candidate? Waste your time, not others.

I oppose simulacra and cargo cult initiatives. Anything worth doing is worth doing well. Doing something doomed to failure (not just in not winning the Presidency, but also in failing to attract positive attention, build the organization, etc.) should generally be avoided. It was clear to me from day 1 (after reading Zoltan's semi-autobiographical book) that he is unrealistic and believes in too many miracles for an atheist. Deus Ex is a good topic for a transhumanist computer game, but deus ex machine is a bad political or business strategy tool. The Russian Transhumsnist Movement has always tried to avoid wasting efforts and resources on dead ends and the results are very encouraging. Anyone who promises shortcuts and quick results should be treated critically. And in case those shortcuts are obvious and naïve ideas then outright disavowed. Hence I sign this petition happily that the community have started to realize the situation after a brief honeymoon with Zoltan is over. :) About me: One of the co-founders of the Russian Transhumanist Movement and the first Director of KrioRus cryonics company.

I have been VERY vocal of my disapproval of this blatant highjacking of transhumanism for no other purpose than self aggrandizement. Transhumanism is perhaps the last opportunity for our species to overcome our fragile morality or lack thereof. Transhumanism is not and never should be a political party. It is an ideal. This is not to say that as a 'movement' we cannot influence political agenda through our vote...big difference that will make a difference... .

Transhumanism isn't a brand name a la Scientology. It can not be co-opted and monopolized by some far right wing techno-libertarian.

I value the history of our shared values and the highly informative and eloquent values of Transhumanist Thinking. Transhumanism is the only worldview that offers both critical thinking and visionary insights into the future of humankind. Our aim is to be inclusive - to foster the knowledge and experience of our peers, to question our own assumptions, and strive to be more humane in the coming years as we merge more and more with technological devices and begin to reverse aging and redefine the meaning of life and death.

And I went heard his ideological book Transhumanist Wanger and I notice most simliaries to my Favorite Video game BioShock Infinite (Both take place sky, Some plot are simliar to one other put yea is reverse instead Reactionaries/Theocrats controlling floating city put Control goverment of USA there the story said?, And Its theme of Transhumanism is treated that Egoist "Cyberhumans"/Cyborgs are Smarter 'Non-biological' beings while BioShock Infinite have some problems to control their Powers (Unofficially "Vigor Junkies") and their insanity (Vigor Junkies and Handyman = Ironic Steampunk Cyborg), And rather the stories released in same year (2013) as Few Major examples)?

This Istvan crank has no business labeling this online club he pretends is a political party after transhumanism, to feed his egomaniacal pipe dreams of grandeur. Transhumanism cannot fit under a stilted political party platform, and Istvan has done a great disservice to the cause be pretends to support by attempting to coopt it for his selfish means.

I don't believe his political views, nor the manner of his engagement are an accurate representation of the aspirations and sensibility of what I understand to be Transhumanism. Hijacking the Transhumanism name/brand for what increasing looks like a personal PR move is unconscionable—but not at all surprising considering how diffused and diluted the 'cause' & how incredibly primitive and egocentric most of our societal interactions are. The Yippies during the Vietnam War nominated a pig named Pegasus for President—no matter your view on the Yippies—it was undeniably a luminous PR move. Today I would have liked to see a compassionate, eco-centric yet ambitiously Transhumanist algorithm on the ballot.

I oppose Istvan's candidacy for the reasons previously stated in my widely published June 13 2015 article: A vote for The U.S. Transhumanist Party Presidential candidate Is a Vote For Tyranny : http://www.christopherbenek.com/?p=4417 Transhumanism can be (and is) better than the bigotry that Zoltan is advocating. People must not confuse Zoltan's personal charm and the publicity that he offers with ethical behavior. To not acknowledge the severity of the mistreatment by Zoltan Istvan towards others is to further dehumanize those he is mistreating. It is time for a better kind of transhumanism - a transhumanism that is truly H+ - a transhumanism that is for the betterment of all of humanity.

I support freedom for all people. Capital, all people. Zoltan seems to place preference upon people without any sort of belief system. Therefore, I cannot support someone who does not advocate for all belief systems. If he wishes to advocate for all people, he has to represent all people. He has not. He has determined that atheists are the highest order, and that the lack of belief should rule. I do not agree. Such a perspective is totalitarian at best, and fascist at its worst.

He some kind of Ego Liberartian/Anarcho-Transhumanist that almost insulting Transhumanism (I dont know he never heard Biohacking or Biopunk before) in general? Someone please to be an other Presidental Candidate for his Political Party what have Democratic Transhumanistic ideology!?!

I might add that, to the creator of this petition, please ensure that this does not become a case of "bad publicity is better than no publicity", or used for that purpose. Wouldn't be prudent. ;)

Zoltan Istvan is neither a libertarian or a Randian Objectivist, not even close, but rather a Machiavellian utilitarian whose main goals were apparently to sell books, make larger political and economic conditions, and do so at the expense of the Transhumanist movement by pitting groups against groups. My guess is, at best, he advocates H+ tech for a select few, not the many. Glad people are waking up and signing this petition. Lastly, I would appeal to his present major funders to reconsider their support, as he is counter-productive to their own H+ granted freedoms and futures, as well.

Zoltan is a dear friend, but he is also dearly mistaken in his approach to politics.

I'm in favor of a Transhuman Party, but Zoltan has got to be more inclusive as well. I was always wary of where Zoltan was taking the party after reading his book, but when Hank left the party and explained why that was enough for me to feel that Zoltan isn't a team player and not a good choice for the public face of Transhumanism. It's not good in a Transhuman candidate when so many of us are for peace and radical inclusion, including those who are religious even if I myself am against religion. If the greatest "sin" is death in Transhumanism, I can't stand behind someone who wrote about killing everyone who didn't agree with him (at least fictionally) in a positive light.

I tried to explain to Zoltan that a political party needs an organization that is open to those it claims to represent. He has ignored my advice and I am compelled to sign this petition.

Zoltan's "Ideals" are made plainly apparent by his author Avatar Jethro. He is an elitist who has no use for those who do not exclusively follow his ideology and accept his leadership as a given. If you want to support someone who ACTUALLY supports transhumanist ideals, instead of Randian Libertarianistic elitism, vote for Bernie. And Gennady, I will not, and NEVER WILL support someone who thinks it's okay to slaughter a massive amount of the human race in order for the "transhumanist wager" to be won.