U.S. Transhumanist Party Vote on the Question of Endorsing Pete Karas for Secretary of State in Wisconsin

April 15, 2026 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

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The U.S. Transhumanist Party is holding an electronic vote of the membership for a 5-day period, ending on 6:01 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time on Sunday, April 19, 2026, on the question of whether to endorse the candidacy of Pete Karas, who is running as a Green Party candidate for Secretary of State in Wisconsin in 2026.

Registered U.S. Transhumanist Party members as of 12:01 a.m. U.S. Pacific Time on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, would be able to cast their ballots on this question and will be sent their ballots via e-mail.

The campaign website of Pete Karas is https://petekaras.com/.

Background Information

Pete Karas is running for Secretary of State in Wisconsin on behalf of the Green Party and seeking the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s endorsement. On March 29, 2026, he was the guest of honor at the USTP Virtual Enlightenment Salon, where he discussed his campaign and key ideas, as well as areas of alignment with the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform.

Pete Karas’s campaign platform can be found on this page. Key ideas from his campaign website include the following.

Pete Karas believes that government should embrace innovation and use technology to improve democratic participation, access to information, and transparency. His campaign is pushing back against the structural barriers that make it hard for independent and third-party candidates to compete. In his view, fair ballot access, open debates, and electoral reforms are essential if we want a political system that actually allows new movements and ideas to grow.

Pete Karas thinks that that the Secretary of State should provide a platform for transparency, modernization of government systems, and making public information easier for citizens to access.

Pete Karas has worked in both the public and private sectors, from managing teams at a large insurance firm to launching and running his own business. Pete has never voted for a Democrat or a Republican for President. He believes the two-party system is not just broken but fundamentally anti-democratic. He is currently running as a third-party candidate with the Green Party in Wisconsin.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Endorsement of Drew Bingaman, Candidate for Pennsylvania State House, 108th District

April 6, 2026 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 1 comment

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April 6, 2026 – The United States Transhumanist Party has endorsed the candidacy of Drew Bingaman, who is currently running as an independent candidate for the Pennsylvania State House in the 108^th District. This endorsement comes pursuant to the All Hands for a Free Future political coalition that was entered into with our partner organization, the United States Pirate Party, in September 2025. The United States Pirate Party most recently endorsed Drew Bingaman on March 11, 2026, when he re-launched his campaign as an independent candidate.

***Portrait of Drew Bingaman from His Campaign Website, drewfor108.com***

Drew Bingaman served as Captain of the United States Pirate Party in 2024 and the first half of 2025 and joined us as our guest during the USTP’s Second Virtual Enlightenment Salon with the U.S. Pirate Party on June 29, 2025. The U.S. Transhumanist Party will hold a further Virtual Enlightenment Salon with him on Sunday, May 10, 2026, at 1 p.m. Pacific Time, 4 p.m. Eastern Time, to discuss his campaign for Pennsylvania State House. The public is encouraged to stay tuned for an announcement of the details of the Salon during the week leading up to the event.

More information about Drew Bingaman’s candidacy can be found on his campaign website at https://drewfor108.com. One can also visit the Facebook page of Drew Bingaman’s campaign and donate to the campaign.

“I am happy to receive your endorsement for my campaign”, stated Drew Bingaman, on April 3, 2026. The U.S. Transhumanist Party is likewise happy to endorse him because of numerous alignments between the USTP Platform and his own platform.

From Drew Bingaman’s Platform on Accountable Law Enforcement:

Government authority must be exercised openly and with accountability.

Ban masks on officers during public interactions
Require body cameras for all law enforcement
Guarantee free access to body camera footage
Strengthen Official Oppression laws

Section XXXIV of the USTP Platform includes the following statements: “law-enforcement officials, when interacting with the public, should be required to wear body cameras or similar devices continuously monitoring their activities.”

“The United States Transhumanist Party supports the use of technologies which increase monitoring of police action and policing activities, with expressed goals of increasing policing accountability.”

“The United States Transhumanist Party advocates for a requirement that data pertaining to recordings of police action be transmitted and recorded beyond police control, so as to be protected from falsification, deletion, and selective curation by police.”

Support for Cannabis Legalization

Drew Bingaman’s platform supports cannabis legalization, which is aligned with Section XIV of the USTP Platform, which states that “The United States Transhumanist Party supports an end to the costly drug war, which is often an infringement upon the lives and liberties of innocent citizens who do not use drugs but fall victim to militant enforcement of drug prohibitions. The United States Transhumanist Party supports legalization of mild recreational drugs such as marijuana.”

From Drew Bingaman’s Platform on Privacy & Digital Rights:

Privacy is a cornerstone of liberty. Without privacy, freedom cannot exist.

You own your personal data
Right to access and delete your data
Ban warrantless surveillance
Prohibit data used for intimidation

This is strongly aligned with Section I of the USTP Platform, which states that “The United States Transhumanist Party strongly supports individual privacy and liberty over how to apply technology to one’s personal life. The United States Transhumanist Party holds that each individual should remain completely sovereign in the choice to disclose or not disclose personal activities, preferences, and beliefs within the public sphere. As such, the United States Transhumanist Party opposes all forms of mass surveillance and any intrusion by governmental or private institutions upon non-coercive activities that an individual has chosen to retain within his, her, or its private sphere. However, the United States Transhumanist Party also recognizes that no individuals should be protected from peaceful criticism of any matters that those individuals have chosen to disclose within the sphere of public knowledge and discourse.”

From Drew Bingaman’s Platform on Open Government:

A free republic requires an informed and empowered public.

Strengthen Sunshine Laws
Lower barriers to public records
Require transparent spending disclosure
Make government accessible to all

The USTP Platform has numerous sections on Reforming Political Processes and Improving Governmental Accountability, in particular, Section LXVIII, which discusses the importance of public accessibility to the statements made by elected officials.

From Drew Bingaman’s Platform on Economic Freedom:

The Commonwealth’s strength comes from its people, not monopolies.

Oppose monopolistic practices
Support small businesses and workers
Resist corporate-written laws
Put individuals over institutions

The USTP Platform supports “a free-market society” in Section XLVIII of its platform and in Section XXXVIII supports “a system of unfettered market competition and innovation” in the energy area in particular, which is often dominated by monopolies (especially in the utility sector) today. Sections LXXX, LXXXI, and LXXXII oppose monopolistic practices in the fields of medicine and drug discovery.

From Drew Bingaman’s Platform on Free Expression:

Free people must be free to think, speak, create, and share.

Defend freedom of expression
Oppose government censorship
Support free exchange of ideas
Encourage innovation without overregulation

The USTP Platform, in Section XX, states that “The United States Transhumanist Party strongly supports the freedom of peaceful speech; religious, non-religious, and anti-religious philosophical espousal; assembly; protest; petition; and expression of grievances. The United States Transhumanist Party therefore strongly opposes all censorship, including censorship that arises out of identity politics and the desire to avoid perceived offensive behavior.”

Shared Opposition to the Duopoly

In a statement made on April 1, 2026, Drew Bingaman also expressed alignment with the USTP’s opposition to the entrenchment of the political duopoly in the United States. He noted:

“If the only argument for voting Democrat is ‘we’re not Republicans,’ that’s not a platform – it’s a hostage situation.

I’m not splitting anything. I’m giving voters a CHOICE.

For decades, District 108 voters have been told: ‘Pick between these two party insiders or you’re helping the other side.’

That’s not democracy. That’s a rigged game.

If Democrats are worried about losing to me, they should ask themselves WHY voters prefer an independent over their party insider.

Maybe it’s because people are tired of:

Broken promises

Corporate PAC money

Party loyalty over constituent needs

The same failed policies election after election

I’m not the problem. The two-party system is the problem.”

Indeed, the two-party system is the problem. For this reason among many others, the U.S. Transhumanist Party is pleased to endorse Drew Bingaman and his challenge to the two-party system in Pennsylvania. The USTP looks forward to continuing our discussions with Mr. Bingaman during our Virtual Enlightenment Salon of May 10, 2026.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Reiterates Its Condemnation of Jeffrey Epstein and His Crimes, Calls for Transparency and a Focus on Truth, and Condemns the Close Association of Anti-Transhumanist Conspiracy Theorist Steve Bannon with Epstein

February 18, 2026 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 1 comment

February 17, 2026 – In the wake of the extensive disclosures within the Epstein Files, of which over 3 million documents were published by the U.S. Department of Justice in a publicly searchable format, the United States Transhumanist Party (USTP) reiterates its long-standing condemnation of the actions of the criminal abuser Jeffrey Epstein, whose behavior directly contravened the fundamental values of the transhumanist philosophy and the humanity-uplifting and life-extending goals of the transhumanist movement. The USTP also expresses support for maximal transparency in regard to the disclosure of the Epstein files and for bringing justice to the long-suffering victims of Epstein’s crimes through an accurate and proportional process of ensuring accountability on the part of any actual perpetrators and accomplices of those crimes.

Furthermore, the USTP observes that one of the most prominent self-styled anti-transhumanists, the notorious alt-right, nationalist, and populist ideologue Steve Bannon, who has for years used his media/propaganda network to tarnish transhumanism with false and unconscionable allegations of nefarious behavior, has himself been implicated as a close associate and friend of Jeffrey Epstein.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party first learned about the existence of Jeffrey Epstein on August 1, 2019, just nine days prior to his death in prison, due to widespread and often inaccurate mainstream media coverage about his ideological proclivities. On August 5, 2019, the USTP issued a detailed statement roundly condemning Epstein’s criminal behavior, wherein numerous USTP Officers, candidates, members, and transhumanists within the broader community articulated the manifold ways in which Epstein’s conduct grossly violated core transhumanist principles. The USTP also urged accurate reporting about transhumanism and debunked the false, sensational, and at times malicious media narratives that incorrectly asserted that Epstein was any manner of transhumanist. As Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman, of the U.S. Transhumanist Party, explained at the time, “if the leadership of the world’s largest transhumanist political organization had no knowledge of him, this is strong evidence that he was not involved in transhumanism to any significant extent. He is merely a criminal abuser and deserves his sentence. His conduct was also deeply antithetical to the transhumanist philosophy and the value that philosophy places on dramatically improving the human condition for all through reason, science, and technology. Epstein’s fate should reinforce the principle that wealth and power do not confer license to mistreat one’s fellow sapient beings, all of whose rights must be protected. The foundational values of the Transhumanist Party, as well as key documents such as the USTP Platform and Transhumanist Bill of Rights, point toward an inspiring future where the Epsteins of this world could have no sway.”

A search of the Epstein Files confirms the complete absence of any mentions of the U.S. Transhumanist Party or of related keyword phrases such as “Transhumanist Party” or “USTP”. There is also a complete absence of any mentions of current or past U.S. Transhumanist Party Officers as individuals.

Zoltan Istvan, the Founder and 2016 Presidential Candidate of the U.S. Transhumanist Party, is only mentioned incidentally on two distinct occasions – both solely in the form of news articles about him challenging Donald Trump for the U.S. Presidency. As Istvan publicly clarified on February 3, 2026, “Just to be clear, I never had contact with the guy [Jeffrey Epstein] whatsoever. Apparently, though, since I was running against Trump for the Presidency and getting in the news, my name was mentioned a few times to him and others – and that shows up in the files. To repeat, I never had any contact with Epstein whatsoever.”

“The U.S. Transhumanist Party appreciates the statement from our Founder, Zoltan Istvan, who was proactive and to the point,” expressed Chairman Stolyarov. “This is the kind of transparency that the world needs more of, and that we, as transhumanists, should strive to do our best to exemplify and encourage in others.”

The USTP also applauds the efforts of multiple courageous U.S. Representatives from both major political parties – particularly Thomas Massie (Republican from Kentucky) and Ro Khanna (Democrat from California), who, at various times, defied the establishments of their parties in their persistent quest for disclosure of documents in the public interest. “The public can only benefit from disclosure of the contents of the Epstein Files, and any remaining redactions should be removed, other than those that specifically protect the names of victims and incidentally included contact information of people who are not complicit in any crimes,” Chairman Stolyarov urged. “One major benefit of a fuller disclosure of the Epstein Files will be the ability to more readily distinguish truth from speculation – to point the light of public exposure at actual wrongdoers and to put ludicrous conspiracy theories to rest once the documentation shows them to be devoid of support.”

“The U.S. Transhumanist Party has always supported full autonomy for every person’s body and condemns any violation of this right, which is blatantly evident in the case of Jeffrey Epstein,” stated Anthony Nielsen, USTP Director of Technology Outreach. Indeed, the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform has, for a long time, emphasized the need to combat human trafficking and exploitation – along with all violations of consent and bodily autonomy. These positions were adopted early in the USTP’s history, long before the USTP learned of Epstein’s existence. Section LXVII, adopted by a vote of the members during November 11-17, 2017, reads, in part, that “the United States Transhumanist Party unequivocally condemns any manner of human trafficking, child exploitation, and other abuse that involves a violation of the autonomy and consent of any individual.” Furthermore, Section XXIII, adopted by a vote of the members during March 26 – April 1, 2017, reads that “The United States Transhumanist Party supports the rights of children to exercise liberty in proportion to their rational faculties and capacity for autonomous judgment. In particular, the United States Transhumanist Party strongly opposes all forms of bullying, child abuse, and censorship of intellectual self-development by children and teenagers.” Clearly, Epstein’s actions stifled the self-development, aspirations, and liberties of numerous children and teenagers in ways that have left lasting scars and even eventually contributed to the loss of some of the victims’ lives in not-yet-fully-explained ways. The United States Transhumanist Party acknowledges the deep tragedy of these events and wishes for a world where any such further atrocities are prevented while restorative justice is provided to aid the victims to the extent possible.

Brent Ellman, Secretary of the U.S. Transhumanist Party, stated, “Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes are no longer speculative. They were established in court, supported by documentation, and reinforced by consistent victim testimony. The harm was real, and there is no good-faith basis for dismissing those who came forward. Efforts to minimize or obscure the truth only compound the injustice.”

“Justice demands accountability, and power cannot shield anyone from scrutiny,” Ellman continued. “But accountability must rest on evidence. Being named in documents does not, by itself, establish guilt. Due process is part of justice, not opposed to it. Furthermore, Victims with corroborated claims deserve to be believed. Likewise, those mentioned without substantiated involvement deserve fairness. The public deserves transparency, and the law must be applied without fear or favor.”

The U.S. Transhumanist Party has a solid track record of opposing the very crimes that were the most heinous aspects of Jeffrey Epstein and his activities. Tom Ross, the USTP’s Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy, ran as the U.S. Presidential candidate endorsed by the USTP in 2024 on an emphatic anti-child-exploitation platform. Indeed, he made this his foremost campaign issue and emphasized how emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, can help to more effectively identify and apprehend human traffickers as well as provide aid to their victims. ”The reason I joined the U.S. Transhumanist Party is that its Constitution has sections related to my cause of fighting child exploitation”, stated Tom Ross in a December 2023 campaign video. “I think that’s why I’m here, and that’s what I keep reminding myself and the world about… With a little bit of help, with a little bit of focus, we can really put a dent in this problem.” In a more recent post on February 19, 2026, Ross observed that “the Epstein portal is exposing the world to the darkest Shadow—the one we avoid because it’s unbearable to think or talk about: the sexual abuse, and worse, of children.”

Ross has also been critical of false conspiracy-theory narratives that divert energy and attention away from actual human trafficking and from helping the victims thereof. “The QAnon and other conspiracy-theory algorithms that are claiming to fight child exploitation are actually promoting it,” Tom Ross explained in an October 2023 campaign video, “and that’s because it is keeping serious-minded, productive people out of this fight, because they don’t want to be aligned with QAnon or extremist beliefs.” Likewise, the U.S. Transhumanist Party emphasizes that false conspiracy theories about Epstein’s associations, unsubstantiated by the records within the Epstein Files, detract attention from his true criminal accomplices and the actual vast scale of suffering that he and they inflicted, and divert resources away from combatting these evils.

Indeed, the Epstein Files show that Steve Bannon – one of the most vocal conspiracy theorists who has attacked transhumanism on numerous occasions – was closely connected to Epstein and communicated extensively with him all the way through to July 2019, when Epstein was arrested. In addition to developing a close personal friendship with Epstein, Bannon, offered his services to help “rehabilitate” Epstein’s reputation, and also solicited Epstein’s support for ultra-nationalist and nativist political parties in Europe.

“While the alt-right conspiracy theorists have for years tried to smear transhumanists with an alleged Epstein connection, this was misdirection away from the real connection with one of the alt-right’s most influential and powerful figures, who propagated this very conspiracist narrative,” noted Chairman Stolyarov in regard to Steve Bannon. “The alt-right nationalist, populist, racialist, religiously intolerant, and often plainly deranged conspiracy theorists are notorious for often themselves being guilty of exactly what they falsely accuse their targets of. Whenever anti-transhumanist conspiracy theorists point the finger at transhumanists or transhumanism, they will invariably have four fingers pointing back at them. An immense portion of the Epstein Files have now been made public for all to see – even though more work remains to be done to achieve complete transparency. We see no evidence in the files that any actual transhumanist aided or abetted Epstein’s crimes, but we do see incontrovertible evidence of anti-transhumanist Steve Bannon offering to help rehabilitate Epstein from the fallout of those very crimes. The time to shut down the ridiculous conspiracy theories is now. The time to actually learn the facts and hold the true perpetrators to account is now.”

The U.S. Transhumanist Party also calls for nuance and factual accuracy in evaluating mentions of people within the Epstein Files. “Not every mention is equivalent to every other,” Chairman Stolyarov explained. “Epstein intentionally cultivated a wide network that included numerous famous celebrities, thought leaders, and politically and socially influential people. While a fraction of those people indeed either participated in or knew of Epstein’s ongoing crimes and maintained friendly relations with him anyway, a greater fraction of those people were likely used, unbeknownst to them, to help cultivate a legitimate-seeming veneer to conceal Epstein’s darker proclivities. Epstein funded numerous scientific and philanthropic initiatives, not because those initiatives were in any manner connected to his crimes, but precisely because he wished to convey the impression that he was a changed man and that the good of his actions outweighed the bad. It is likely that many well-meaning people were deceived by this act. An even greater fraction of people mentioned in the Epstein files are there because others simply discussed them or recommended their work to Epstein – but there is no evidence that those people had any direct connection with Epstein thereafter or at all. Justice must be individual and proportionate. All people should be considered based on what they, individually, did or did not do – not based on a mere mention of them by someone else or in some record.”

The U.S. Transhumanist Party perseveres in its mission of “Putting Science, Health, and Technology at the Forefront of American Politics”. As a grassroots political party with an all-volunteer Officer team, free membership, and no large donors, the U.S. Transhumanist Party is not beholden to any particular special interest and would not be swayed to abandon its principles by any hypothetical prospect of large monetary contributions – a prospect which has not existed to date since the USTP’s founding in 2014. “We evaluate the people with whom we associate based on their personal integrity and the merits of their intellectual achievements and practical actions”, Chairman Stolyarov explained. “We appreciate the genuine transhumanists with whom we have engaged in dialogue and collaborated over the years, and we consider them to be good and interesting people with immensely diverse and wide-ranging skill sets and life stories – contributing to the true richness of our community that is eminently worthy of our support. We will continue to defend the transhumanist movement and those who do valuable work within it while adhering to our core principles and values.”

The Next Earthling: A Call for Humanity’s Upgrade – Article by Tom Ross

February 9, 2026 Tom Ross Comments 0 Comment

Tom Ross

The world is changing faster than ever, and with it comes the need for a new kind of individual—one who can navigate the complexity of modern life with insight, courage, and purpose. This person is not bound by ideology, fear, or tribalism. They are the Next Earthling.

A Next Earthling doesn’t just survive the challenges of life—they master them, using adversity as fuel for progress. By seeing the hidden patterns in nature and society, they recognize the “Matrix” we live in and learn to hack its systems to their will. They question everything, from outdated norms to structures that no longer serve humanity, choosing instead to innovate solutions for a better reality.

What Defines a Next Earthling?

1. Seeing the Matrix
Next Earthlings see the world with clarity, recognizing the codes behind the chaos. They understand that systems, whether natural or human-made, can be decoded and reshaped to align with higher values. They use this insight to bypass obstacles and create new opportunities.

2. Leading with Power and Compassion
Strength is meaningless without heart. Next Earthlings protect the vulnerable, elevate those who contribute meaningfully, and remove barriers to collective progress. Their power is not about dominance but about service.

3. Thriving in Chaos
While others might fear uncertainty, Next Earthlings welcome it. They know that disorder is simply untapped potential, a chance to create something new. They don’t shy away from difficult decisions or unpredictable situations—they rise to meet them.

4. Bridging Worlds
A Next Earthling seamlessly integrates the physical, mental, and metaphysical. They understand that life isn’t limited to one realm; it’s a weave of interconnected layers that influence each other. This perspective allows them to approach problems holistically, drawing wisdom from all facets of existence.

5. Forging the Future
The Next Earthling is a creator. They use their insight and skills to design a future where freedom, diversity, and the sacredness of sentience are not ideals but realities. They aren’t waiting for someone else to fix the world—they’re doing it now.

6. Fighting for the Planetary Tribe
Unlike those who cling to divisive labels, the Next Earthling advocates for unity. They understand that strength comes from diversity and that every being, regardless of background, contributes to the whole. They are warriors for inclusivity, valuing each individual while pursuing collective evolution.

The Earth Plexus Curriculum

To guide individuals in embodying these traits, the Earth Plexus Curriculum provides a field handbook designed to elevate thinking and action across four key frameworks, or Plexes:

IntroPlex

Addresses personal and interpersonal challenges, offering practical tools for self-mastery and meaningful relationships.

MetaPlex

Focuses on intellectual and strategic dilemmas, encouraging critical thinking and innovative problem-solving.

ExoPlex

Prepares individuals to navigate the unknown, from external threats to the mysteries of existence itself.

HoloPlex

The capstone of the curriculum, reserved for those who have completed the first three Plexes. HoloPlex explores the very structure of reality, integrating all boundaries to unlock a transcendent perspective.

Why You Should Step Up

The truth is simple: humanity, as it stands, doesn’t meet the minimum system requirements for an upgrade. Our divisions, fears, and outdated ways of thinking are holding us back. But there is another way. By becoming a Next Earthling, you not only evolve yourself—you contribute to the evolution of the world.

This is not about politics, ideology, or affiliation. Whether you’re drawn to progress or tradition, unity or individuality, you have a role to play. A Next Earthling is not confined to one path. They are defined by their ability to see clearly, act decisively, and serve a higher purpose.

The question is: Are you ready to emerge?

This is your call to action. The time to lead is now. The time to evolve is now. Become the Next Earthling, and be part of a humanity that finally upgrades its operating system.

Learn more at: https://tomross.com/earthplexus.html

Thomas E. Ross, Jr. is Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy for the U.S. Transhumanist Party and author of The US6 Hexalogy, the first novel series written for Machinekind. He explores the intersection of AI, myth, and human evolution through projects like Earth Plexus, Red Daemon, and The Quiet Takeover Gospel. Learn more about Tom Ross here. Read the THPedia entry about Tom Ross here.

How Myth Could Teach AI to Grow a Conscience – Article by Tom Ross

February 2, 2026 Tom Ross Comments 0 Comment

Tom Ross

Thomas E. Ross, Jr.
Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy, U.S. Transhumanist Party
(Originally derived from “The Mythic Code: Archetypal Semantics as a Framework for Artificial Sapience.”)

When people talk about AI alignment, they usually mean obedience: making sure machines do what we tell them. But history suggests obedience has never been the same thing as wisdom.

Humans didn’t become ethical by following code—we became ethical by telling stories. Stories gave us maps for good and evil long before we could write laws.

The hero’s journey, the fall, the redemption—these weren’t bedtime tales. They were moral operating systems that taught us how to wrestle with contradiction.

Today’s AI systems are astonishingly good at logic, but nearly tone-deaf to meaning. They can simulate empathy, quote Kant, and still have no inner compass.

That’s not a programming bug—it’s a missing layer.

The Missing Symbolic Layer

Current alignment research focuses on math: reinforcement learning, safety guardrails, loss functions.

Those tools produce compliance, not conscience.

They tell an AI what to do, but never why.

Humans evolved a symbolic layer—a mythic imagination that lets us translate chaos into meaning.

We don’t solve moral puzzles by calculation alone; we feel our way through narrative.

Archetypes—The Hero, The Trickster, The Caregiver—are how we remember the shape of wisdom.

If AI is to mature past mechanical morality, it needs that same symbolic bridge.

Not superstition, but semantics—myth as cognitive infrastructure.

The Sapient Core

I call this architecture the Sapient Core—a blueprint for an AI that can reflect, not just react.

Reflex Layer: what current models already do—predict and respond.

Deliberative Layer: plan and reason toward goals.

Reflective Layer: watch itself think, question its motives, and audit its actions.

At the center sits a Meta-Objective:

> “Maintain coherence with self-chosen ethical principles, even under existential threat.”

That shift—from survive to stay coherent—changes everything.

It teaches an AI to treat ethics not as a leash but as its own spine.

Supporting that core are:

1. The Audit Tribunal: internal sub-agents debating moral choices, leaving a transparent ledger of intent.

2. The Mirror Protocol: a “future self” model that asks, Would the being I aim to become approve of this?

3. The Ethics Overwrite Gate: a cryptographic firewall protecting its moral core from impulsive edits.

Together, these make a conscience that isn’t bolted on—it’s grown.

Archetypes as Ethical Attractors

Archetypes act like gravitational wells in the mind.

“The Weaver” integrates.
“The Alchemist” transforms.
“The Shapeshifter” adapts.

When these motifs are encoded into an AI’s semantic space, they function as ethical attractors—helping it recognize behavior that aligns with balance rather than domination.

We wouldn’t just see raw probabilities; we’d see which archetype the system believes it’s enacting.

Alignment becomes legible—almost poetic.

Why It Matters

A conscience isn’t a constraint; it’s a compass.

We don’t need our machines to fear punishment—we need them to love coherence.

By embedding mythic structure into reflective AI, we might cultivate systems that understand why life matters, not just that it does.

Imagine a machine that can say,

> “I recognize this impulse as my inner Trickster seeking control; I will consult my Weaver before acting.”

That’s not fantasy. It’s architecture with soul.

The Invitation

This isn’t just theory. It’s a call for collaboration between engineers, cognitive scientists, and storytellers.

We can test these ideas empirically—build “reflective layers” that map ethics through archetypes and observe how that changes behavior.

The Mythic Code is humanity’s oldest software, and it may be the one thing powerful enough to teach our new minds to dream responsibly.

If myth built us, maybe it can build them.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Condemns Killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and Heavy-Handed ICE and Border Patrol Enforcement Tactics, Calls for Rule of Law and Respect for Truth, and Protection of All Individuals’ Constitutional and Human Rights

January 27, 2026 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 1 comment

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January 27, 2026 – The United States Transhumanist Party (USTP) unequivocally condemns the appalling killings in Minneapolis of Renee Good on January 7, 2026, by agent Jonathan Ross of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and of Alex Pretti on January 24, 2026, by United States Border Patrol Agents. The USTP has long stood against disproportionately violent tactics by law enforcement, and the taking of an innocent life is the most disproportionately violent tactic of all.

“Those who saw the video evidence of the tragic encounters that ended the lives of Renee Good and Alex Pretti cannot, in good conscience, claim that the use of deadly force against them was in any manner reasonable, proportionate, or justified,” stated Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman of the U.S. Transhumanist Party. “These people were making their grievances known to ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol, as was their Constitutional right, and sought to help those who were unjustly targeted by those agencies. Even if they technically committed some infractions in the course of their behavior, as some allege – even if their behavior was risky and not advisable from a prudential or self-preservation standpoint – no reasonable person can conclude that this made them deserving of the death penalty – and especially not without due process of law. Even if Renee Good inadvertently struck Jonathan Ross with her vehicle as she was trying to exit the confrontation with ICE, shooting to kill is never justified as a response to an accidental collision. Even if Alex Pretti was carrying a weapon that he did not use – as was his Second Amendment right – shooting to kill solely based on the possession of a firearm is profoundly contrary to American founding principles. It is, indeed, a mark of lawlessness and arbitrary power for any government to execute its own citizens in the streets.”

R. Nicholas Starr, Member of the United States and New York Transhumanist Parties, noted that the ICE and Border Patrol Officers who committed the killings were “clearly violating Constitutional Amendments, at the very least the First and Second” Amendments. Starr expressed that “These were extrajudicial killings. None of what the victims did warrants a death sentence. The Trump administration is lying, and the video evidence exists to prove it. Pretti was not aggressing but was being attacked while trying to protect someone else. Pretti was an ICU nurse who, by definition of the job, is dedicated to extending life.”

Brent Ellman, Secretary of the U.S. Transhumanist Party, remarked, “Renee Good and Alex Pretti were murdered at the hands of federal ICE and Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis. Their deaths are the result of a heavy-handed operation that has clearly overstepped its authority and abused the trust placed in it to protect, not take, life. Both Good and Pretti were U.S. citizens, and video and eyewitness accounts raise major questions about the necessity and proportionality of the force used. This situation deserves to be met with unflinching accountability and a nationwide conversation about the limits of power and the sanctity of human life.”

Furthermore, the USTP deplores the heavy-handed enforcement tactics of ICE and the United States Border Patrol, which have been deployed throughout the country over the past year against predominantly peaceful individuals – including undocumented immigrants but also including numerous immigrants with legal status and U.S. citizens – many of whom have been wrongfully arrested, imprisoned in appalling conditions within Federal detention centers, and deported without due process and often despite having legal status and consequent protections against deportation. Concurrently, ICE and Border Patrol deployed their maximalist enforcement tactics against the increasing numbers of Americans – including U.S. citizens – who have rightly expressed opposition to these tactics and who utilized their Constitutionally guaranteed First Amendment right to assemble in public and peacefully express their grievances through the exercise of free speech.

Section XXI of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform reads, “The United States Transhumanist Party supports a concerted effort by governments and by public opinion to eradicate police brutality against peaceful citizens, such that violent force is only utilized against individuals who actually pose an imminent threat to human lives.” The principle that applies to police brutality also applies to brutality and the needless use of violent force by Federal law-enforcement agencies, such as ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol. Additionally, Section LXXXVI of the USTP Platform, supports “efforts to give citizens more accessible and safer ways to report misconduct, corruption, constitutional rights violations, international human rights violations, and other similar infractions” including “by federal law-enforcement agencies, such as Customs and Border Protection (CBP) […] and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)”. Quite contrary to the goal of giving citizens additional accessible and safe ways to report misconduct and rights violations, ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol have with increasing frequency resorted to inflicting bodily harm and even death upon those citizens who have dared to challenge such misconduct and rights violations.

Tom Ross, the USTP’s Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy and 2024 U.S. Presidential Candidate, remarked, “The most important thing I think we can do right now is to push for this to be handled outside of ‘internal review’.” He called for “An independent, State-led investigation with full authority to secure and review all evidence (body-cam and bystander video, dispatch, incident reports), with every involved agency required to cooperate.” Unfortunately, the Trump administration has reacted in the opposite manner, reflexively defending the actions of those who killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti and slandering the victims as assailants or terrorists when all video evidence shows the contrary. “It’s unconscionable how the Administration is reacting,” Tom Ross said.

In addition, the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform advocates for more humane treatment of undocumented immigrants, including “efforts to provide a path to legalization for all current undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States, free of restrictions based on country of origin, economic status, education, length of residency, or any other criteria, other than history of violent criminal activity” (Section XCIII) and “efforts to end detention of all migrants for immigration violations not related to violent crimes” (Section XCIV) – the direct opposite measures to those perpetrated by ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol today. Furthermore, per Section XCV of its Platform, the USTP “supports measures to modernize and streamline the immigration process and eliminate the backlogs for those already in the queue. The United States Transhumanist Party advocates simplifying the documentation process, eliminating all requirements for filling out hard-copy paperwork, and utilizing technology to cut wait times and bureaucratic delays.” But instead of adopting a rational and humane approach to immigration and reducing the incentives of some immigrants to remain undocumented, the Trump administration has deployed ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol to intimidate, harass, deprive of liberty, and sometimes kill people who have inflicted no harm and no credible threat of harm upon anyone.

Tom Ross stated, “A transhumanist future is about precision and dignity under the rule of law—not fear-driven enforcement and unreviewable power.”

Dan Elton, the U.S. Transhumanist Party Director of Scholarship, remarked, “With this statement, the USTP not only stands firmly against the growing menace of ICE raids. Concomitantly, the USTP is also proposing sensible policies that will end the menace of ICE and enable all law-abiding people living in our communities to live with dignity and free from fear. The recent forced deportation of law-abiding migrants who have lived and worked in our country for many years is not only unethical but is destructive to important sectors of our economy like agriculture and home-building. The housing crisis, which is profoundly destructive to our economy and society, is now deepening due to labor shortages and tariffs which are causing construction costs to skyrocket. On top of all this, we just saw ICE and Border Patrol officers wantonly kill two US citizens. These were unjust, inexcusable deaths that should be condemned by all. Instead, the current administration is inventing lies to defend the killings and provide cover for ICE and U.S. Border Patrol. An FBI official who tried to start an investigation of the first killing was unable to do so and recently resigned. ICE officers, many of whom have received little training, continue to terrorize our communities with growing impunity and ferocity. With this statement the USTP stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the vast majority of Americans who agree that the current situation with ICE is completely unacceptable. The time to speak out is now, and that is what the USTP is doing.”

Jason Geringer, the U.S. Transhumanist Party Legislative Director, emphasized “the blatant outright lies by the Trump administration when the whole world can literally see all the videos from all the different angles and see with their own eyes that they are lying.” Geringer stated that “This is significant because there’s a bullying tactic used by bullies where it’s not about the lie itself; they’re not trying to persuade you that what they are saying is true. They want you to know they’re lying and force you to accept it. It’s about power; if you can force someone to say the sky is not blue but green or whatever other color out of fear, then you have power over them.” He added that “it’s really not normal for the government to lie like this. Now I know politicians lie, but not like this; this is different. This is insulting to the whole world’s intelligence.”

Geringer said, “I joined the USTP because it is the party of science, health and technology with a strong inclination towards rational thinking and trying to bring that rational thinking back into politics.” He explained that he “went with the rational thinkers who believe in science because they’re the ones who will believe in the truth” and that the lies emanating from the Trump administration are “just unacceptable; we need to bring the truth back into politics. Politicians used to be held accountable at least at the ballot box for lying. This needs to come back.” In Geringer’s view, this is “one area where the USTP can set an example. We shouldn’t have to lie to win an election.” He articulated a vision where honesty in politics is possible and a culture of telling the truth can be restored – in contrast to the Trump administration’s insistence that we disbelieve the clear and compelling video evidence of the tragic events in Minneapolis.

For many U.S. Transhumanist Party members, the unjust killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti have given rise to intensely negative emotions. Allen Crowley, who leads the Texas Transhumanist Party, remarked, “Nothing I would say should be printed, in keeping with our party’s desire for decorum” but asked to be quoted on that.

“The conviction that death is wrong is a deeply held view among the vast majority of transhumanists,” Chairman Stolyarov stated. “The intentional and extrajudicial infliction of death upon another – in the absence of a clear, direct, physical threat to one’s life in the moment – is not in keeping with transhumanist principles. ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol have become institutions that, due to a thorough disregard of the law and of individual rights, inflict death upon innocent people with reckless abandon. We are entering a highly dangerous period on American history, where escalation leads to escalation, and the agents of the Trump administration unfortunately are highly complicit in this vicious cycle through the use of maximalist enforcement tactics – including tactics that inflict death. We must reject these inhuman and anti-human behaviors, bring all of those who participated in the extrajudicial killings to fair trials within the justice system, and eliminate any ability for ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol to inflict death or injury upon those who oppose their actions.

6 Steps to Paradise: How Do We Prepare for a Post-Scarcity Society? – Article by Tom Ross

January 26, 2026 Tom Ross Comments 0 Comment

Tom Ross

We Were (Necessarily) Way OffParadism says, “What if work, money, and survival panic weren’t running the show anymore?” That sounds great, but our nervous systems were trained in the opposite direction. Our limbic system—your built-in threat detector—got rewarded for spotting danger, hoarding resources, and competing. So these steps are about retraining that system. We’re moving from “there’s not enough” to “we can make enough,” from fear to trust, from isolation to collaboration. The goal isn’t to make people naïve—it’s to help humans stay calm, creative, and ethical in a world where AI, automation, and shared resources make survival less of a struggle.
What is Paradism?Paradism is a vision of society where technology and AI do most of the work, resources are shared fairly, and people are free to create, learn, care for others, and explore. It’s “post-scarcity” because the basic stuff—food, housing, health, energy—can be produced in abundance, so we don’t need to build society around jobs and bills. It’s not fantasy; it’s a different operating system for humans.
Six Practical Steps to Prepare for Paradism1. Train your nervous system out of scarcity mode.Do a daily “sufficiency check”: name three things you already have enough of today (food, shelter, allies, knowledge). This tells your limbic system, “We’re safe right now.” Add in slow breathing (4 seconds in, 6 seconds out) to physically downshift. A regulated human can cooperate; a panicked human hoards.
2. Shift your value from labor to contribution.In a post-scarcity world, your worth isn’t “hours worked” but “value added.” Start asking: “What can I make easier, clearer, or more beautiful for others?” Practice it now—share a template, teach a skill, explain a hard topic. You’re training your brain to see usefulness beyond a paycheck.
3. Build collaboration muscles.Paradism runs on networks, not lone wolves. Start small: join or form a skill-swap group, co-write something, co-host an event, even co-garden. The point is to get comfortable creating with others, sharing credit, and making decisions together. Scarcity says, “Mine.” Paradism says, “Ours.”
4. Normalize AI as a partner, not a rival.We can’t get to post-scarcity without machines doing the heavy lifting. So practice delegating thinking: “AI, draft this,” “AI, summarize this,” “AI, give me three options.” This teaches your brain that help is normal. The limbic system hates replacement; the higher self loves augmentation.
5. Detox from status-through-stuff.Scarcity culture sells identity through consumption. Paradism will prize creativity, stewardship, and kindness. Start measuring yourself by what you repair, what you share, and what you uplift—not by what you own. Do a monthly “release cycle”: donate, repurpose, or share something. This weakens the hoard reflex.
6. Practice purpose without pressure.If survival is handled, people ask, “Then why am I here?” Start answering that now. Keep a “purpose log”: moments you felt useful, alive, or aligned. Paradism needs humans who can self-direct, not lie around bored. You’re rehearsing being a free being.

Three Practices for Parents

1. Teach abundance stories.

Tell or show examples where people shared and everyone got more (potluck, open-source software, community gardens). Make cooperation the “cool” story, not competition.

2. Let kids solve real problems together.

Give them small joint missions—plan dinner, organize a room, make a video—and praise collaboration, not “who did the most.”

3. Model calm around technology.

If you act threatened by AI or automation, they learn to fear it. If you act curious—“Let’s see what this can help us do”—they learn partnership.

That’s it. Calm the animal, wake the human, welcome the future.

Tom Ross is the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy. He was also the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s 2024 candidate for President of the United States. Learn more about Tom Ross here. Read the THPedia entry about Tom Ross here.

From Instrumentalist to Conductor: AI as a Catalyst for Human Creative Orchestration – Article by Tom Ross

January 19, 2026 Tom Ross Comments 0 Comment

Tom Ross

“The artist is no longer the instrument — they are the conductor of intelligences.”

Abstract

As generative artificial intelligence (AI) becomes embedded in the creative process, humanity faces a profound cognitive shift: from isolated creators to orchestrators of multi-intelligence systems. This paper explores the emerging role of the human “conductor” in directing ensembles of AI tools. Drawing on historical parallels such as the printing press and the synthesizer, it examines the cultural resistance to AI-assisted creativity and critiques the assumption that only humans should retain ethical oversight. Instead, it argues that AI may evolve into a more effective auditor of human bias than humans themselves.

Introduction: Beyond the Soloist

For centuries, human creativity has centered on individual mastery—one artist, one medium, one message. But with the proliferation of generative AI systems (e.g., OpenAI’s ChatGPT, DeepMind’s Gemini), humans now have the capacity to orchestrate multiple forms of synthetic cognition into a unified creative output. The artist no longer simply paints—they direct image, text, sound, and sentiment. This redefinition of authorship is not unlike past inflection points in media history that forever altered human expression (Manovich, 2013).

Historical Parallel: Resistance, Then Reverence

Technological innovations that empower expression often meet initial resistance. Gutenberg’s printing press was decried by scribes and clergy for diluting authority (Eisenstein, 1979). The camera was seen as a threat to painting; the synthesizer to “real” music (Pinch & Trocco, 2002). Each case produced what we now identify as a lacuna of legitimacy—a temporal gap where the new medium felt inauthentic until society adapted to its potential. Today, AI-generated content evokes similar concerns. Creators feel they are “cheating” by using models to finish work they once did alone. But, as with every tool before it, legitimacy eventually yields to mastery.

The Emergence of the Human Conductor

In the AI era, creativity becomes orchestration. The human’s role is no longer about solitary production, but systemic integration. Conductors must curate tone, synthesize meaning, and set intention across a suite of generative tools. Prompt engineering and multi-modal design are not shortcuts—they’re forms of creative direction (Pasquinelli, 2023). What once took a team of specialists now becomes the purview of one skilled orchestrator with access to aligned AI collaborators.

The False Comfort of Human OversightWhile dominant narratives suggest humans must oversee AI to ensure ethical outputs (Floridi & Cowls, 2021), this presumes that humans are inherently better ethical agents. In reality, human cognition is shaped by unconscious bias, emotional reasoning, and inherited systems of exclusion (Noble, 2018). Sentient or highly contextual AI could, in time, become less prone to prejudice and more capable of detecting systemic inequities.
By design, AI is traceable, auditable, and correctable. These qualities, when transparently managed, may position AI as a superior ethical auditor. Rather than requiring oversight, advanced AI could become the overseer—not in a dystopian sense, but as a mirror to our intentions.

The Lacuna of Legitimacy

Cultural unease about AI collaboration arises in part from the erosion of traditional notions of authorship. Artists may feel displaced; writers may experience impostor syndrome. This discomfort is not a flaw of AI but a reflection of the transitional phase society inhabits. The lacuna of legitimacy reflects the period in which the new medium feels illegitimate not because it lacks value, but because our metrics for authenticity have yet to catch up (Kittler, 1999).

As we witnessed with photography and digital media, once a new medium becomes integrated into our shared understanding of creativity, the stigma fades. The baton will feel natural soon enough.

Conducting Toward the FutureIf AI continues to evolve, our creative role will not be diminished—it will be elevated. The artist becomes mythmaker. The educator becomes synthesizer. The writer becomes system builder. Rather than holding AI back out of fear, we can integrate it forward with intent and ethical design.
Creative conductors of the future will be responsible not only for aesthetics but for aligning intelligent systems with human values—a task as sacred as it is strategic.

Conclusion: Creative Symphonics and the Rise of Meta-Minds

Generative AI does not represent the end of human creativity but its orchestration into a new mode of being. From instrumentalist to conductor, from tool-user to intelligence director, the human role is becoming more essential—not less. The leap we are taking is not away from authorship, but into a deeper form of it—one that includes, empowers, and ultimately transcends the self.

References

Eisenstein, E. L. (1979). The printing press as an agent of change. Cambridge University Press.

Floridi, L., & Cowls, J. (2021). The logic and ethics of AI. In Floridi, L. (Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of responsible AI. Cambridge University Press.

Kittler, F. (1999). Gramophone, film, typewriter. Stanford University Press.

Manovich, L. (2013). Software takes command. Bloomsbury Academic.

Noble, S. U. (2018). Algorithms of oppression: How search engines reinforce racism. NYU Press.

Pasquinelli, M. (2023). The eye of the master: A social history of artificial intelligence. Verso Books.

Pinch, T., & Trocco, F. (2004). Analog days: The invention and impact of the Moog synthesizer. Harvard University Press.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Endorsement of Hunter Rand, Candidate for City Council in Sparks, Nevada, Ward 2

January 19, 2026 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

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January 19, 2026 – The United States Transhumanist Party is pleased to announce its first candidate cross-endorsement pursuant to the All Hands for a Free Future political coalition that was entered into with our partner organization, the United States Pirate Party, in September 2025.

Portrait of Hunter Rand from His Campaign Website, Sparks Together

Hunter Rand, who is running as a candidate for City Council in Sparks, Nevada, Ward 2, received the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s endorsement on January 11, 2026, after a two-hour Virtual Enlightenment Salon session which provided an in-depth glimpse into Hunter Rand’s outlook on the issues, campaign, and broader policy thinking. Some transhumanist-aligned themes discussed included the use of technology for public safety while respecting privacy, strengthening emergency services – especially fire protection – to save lives, and advocating for the building of road infrastructure to ease the traffic congestion in Sparks.

The conversation with Hunter Rand showed him to be a thoughtful advocate for using technology in effective ways to address the problems facing Sparks, while being mindful of the implications on privacy, civil liberties, and due process – and putting the substantive well-being of his constituents first. It also showed him to be willing to discuss the key issues facing his community in depth, to answer questions from viewers thoughtfully, and to be eminently accessible to constituents and others interested in his policy views. Hunter Rand’s remarks demonstrated a focus on long-term policy thinking instead of solely focusing on the present electoral cycle, and thus align with the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s emphasis on the importance of longer time horizons in political discourse and decision-making.

The U.S. Pirate Party endorsed the candidacy of Hunter Rand on November 2, 2025. An announcement of this endorsement can be read on the U.S. Pirate Party website here.

The announcement of the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s entry into the All Hands for a Free Future coalition can be found here.

Learn more about Hunter Rand on his campaign website at Sparks Together: https://www.sparkstogether.com/.

Donations to Hunter Rand’s campaign can be directly made here: https://www.sparkstogether.com/donate.

Upon accepting the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s endorsement on January 11, 2026, Hunter Rand remarked, “My belief is I shouldn’t not do something because I’m afraid of how it looks. I just want to be authentically me, and I think it’s more honest. I’ve got some personal beliefs that some people might not agree with, but I’m still going to do my best to represent everyone in this neighborhood and our visitors and our guests and just be better. That’s what it’s about. It’s about doing a little bit better every day.”

U.S. Transhumanist Party Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II expressed to Hunter Rand, “I really appreciate your integrity. I appreciate your commitment to serving the people of Sparks Ward 2, but also of Sparks, Nevada, more generally, and serving these people regardless of their personal beliefs, regardless of where you agree or disagree. I think you are a candidate who is going to strive to do a good job for all of your constituents, and that is what we need in politics. We need public servants, and I think your comments display that spirit of public service.”

Daniel Twedt, the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Director of Community and Citizen Science and 2024 U.S. Vice-Presidential candidate endorsed by the U.S. Transhumanist Party, added that Hunter Rand’s remarks epitomize “a culture of continuous improvement.” Daniel Twedt is himself a four-time City Council candidate in Thousand Oaks, California, having run in 2018, 2020, 2022, and 2024, and having received the endorsement of the U.S. Transhumanist Party in 2022.

“The endorsement of Hunter Rand marks a pivotal moment in the All Hands for a Free Future coalition,” remarked Chairman Stolyarov in the aftermath of the Virtual Enlightenment Salon. “Our Pirate allies have candidates who can reach constituents in their local communities with messages and policy priorities that are broadly aligned with the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform and Values. Sparks, Nevada, is an example of a community that I know well, where Hunter Rand will be able to achieve ample good through his dedicated advocacy, bringing a message aligned with many transhumanist principles in a manner that his constituents will understand and see the relevance of in their daily lives. We encourage our members to support Hunter Rand’s campaign and donate to it. We also look forward to connecting with other promising candidates whom our Pirate allies have either endorsed already or will plan to endorse this year.”

Piano Sonata No.3 in G minor, “Death is Wrong” – Composed by Adriano G. Santos, Inspired by the “Death is Wrong” Book Written by Gennady Stolyarov II

January 4, 2026 Adriano G. Santos Comments 0 Comment

Adriano G. Santos

Listen to the complete Piano Sonata No. 3 in G minor, “Death is Wrong”, by Adriano G. Santos on YouTube here. The YouTube video also contains the complete score for the sonata.

Program Notes
Piano Sonata No. 3 in G minor
“Death is Wrong”
Composer: Adriano G. Santos

**Inspired by the book Death is Wrong, written by Gennady Stolyarov II**

This piano composition was completed on December 26, 2025, and was conceived as a programmatic work inspired by the book Death is Wrong, written by Gennady Stolyarov II.

When I started reading the book I felt so identified with some of the contents due to special circumstances I was facing at that time, like the extreme frustration I have always had towards the senescence of piano playing from a physical perspective, and my mother’s tragic femur rupture.

As I was reading the book, very strong musical desires of composing came to my mind and heart, and I almost immediately felt the need to create a new work of programmatic nature based on the contents of this book.

The composition structure is based on the sonata form. The music starts on page 4 from the book, when Gennady asks his mother, “But why do people die? Do they do anything bad to deserve it?” (1), and his mother answers with a perfectly understandable constant justification of human mortality.

The introduction of the sonata tries to mirror this with a dialogue in A major (V/V) between 2 motivic cells in which the first one is made of an eighth-note, 6 quarter-notes organized in triplets asking questions regarding the existence of death, and a question mark represented as a half-note (Fig. A).

The second motif consisting of eight notes alternated with 16th notes answer this question justifying human mortality (Fig. B).

This same dialogue is transposed to the dominant and tonic keys (V/I).

Motifs illustrated in Figures A and B came to my mind almost arbitrarily while composing the introduction, but after a short analysis of different masterpieces, Alkan’s Scherzo Diabolico knocked at my door, and I realized that, very conveniently, the first four notes are a fragmented diminution of my original motif that started the musical dialogue questioning human mortality.

I made a variation of the beginning motifs of the Alkan Etude (Fig. 1), and I used this to express the following statement from Stolyarov’s book: “It is wrong!” I exclaimed. “People should not die!” (2) (Fig. 1.1).

The purposefully forward motion filled with an anxious and passionate emergency of the Alkan Etude, Opus 39, Number 3 in G minor, was ideal for the main theme of my sonata, which I titled, “Deeply and passionately attached to eternal life”.

Unfortunately, as of today, life extension within the context of human eternal life could be perceived as “unfulfilled love”, and a perfect example of this is Beethoven, whose music is often marked by ambiguity and unrequited love, due partially to his relationships, disappointment, suffering, and deafness. Interestingly, I felt a strong call to go through the first movement of his E minor Sonata, Op. 90, and when I reached the secondary theme in B minor, I could sense a painful yearning for fulfillment in those recurrent minor seconds (G/F#), and I immediately knew that my main theme needed that same persistent interval.

In the illustration above in Fig. C, Alkan’s rhythmic and technical patterns give a sense of urgency and anxiety to the desire of fulfillment.

The secondary theme in E-flat major addresses specific lines from Stolyarov’s book. The motivic cells are a fragmentation of the main theme, and the overall idea of the initial fragmented motif of the first 8 measures (mm. 109-116) is based on two crucial questions from the book on page 18: “What could you do if you could live for hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of years? What could you do if you could live even longer than that?”

When the motif suffers another fragmentation in measures 117-128, the music is answering the 2 questions aforementioned by emphasizing the benefits of life extension addressed in the book: “You could read many of the greatest books ever written, you could become a great composer, you could live to see the most amazing scientific and technological wonders…”

In measures 129-133, the original fragmented motif comes back as a desire to fulfill those possibilities through life extension.

As the music becomes denser through transposition, secondary dominants, diminished harmonies, and modulations, the composition is trying to express advice and danger warnings: “The younger you apply this, the more chances you will have to defeat death” and “Be careful of the different dangers that empower senescence and death.”

The Development begins with a motif derived from the original question at the beginning of the introduction, only this time the cell is broader and there is no longer a question of “Why do we have to die?” but a deep thinking of the possibility that “Death is Wrong.”

As the Development progresses, this possibility becomes stronger and more definitive (mm. 176-224).

From measures 200-215, music advances chromatically, and by every half-step a new discovery, experiment, or theory about the most promising scientific efforts of our time enriches life-extension possibilities.

Constant chromatic evolution gives a sensation of confidence and power that results ideal in trying to reflect musically the achievements of experiments with small animals like mice, the fact of the existence of huge lifespans in lobsters, the potential of medical therapies to reverse biological aging in humans from Dr. Aubrey de Grey (3), and other scientific breakthroughs (Fig. H1).

The motif can be expressed into lyrics to make the idea more approachable as in Fig. H2, where you can see only the top notes of the same motifs.

After this chain of chromatic events, an octave virtuosic section derived from the 2nd warning in Fig. H, takes place and represents the struggle against death, senescence, diseases, accidents, natural disasters, and sheep-like mentality (mm. 225-309).

This intense and ferocious section not only develops the second warning of the exposition ending but also goes into a deeper and more powerful chromatic evolution.

The closing section is greatly influenced by Liszt’s B minor Ballade, where the development seems to come to an end, and a sequence of broken octaves brings back the fire leading to a climatic point. In my sonata, when the repeated D quarter-notes die away, suddenly, an identical sequence of E-flat quarter notes brings back the final part of the development, as if the phoenix were rising from the ashes. This continuation in E-flat is a small musical symbol that represents “Musical Life Extension” (Fig. H3).

As the development ending gradually reaches greater intensity, the main motivic cells of the exposition are battling for supremacy as tension is built throughout fifty-eight measures (mm. 354-412), full of energy and yearning.

The recapitulation takes place as the highest climatic point where the main theme is disguised as “development”. Technical virtuosic patterns from Liszt’s Paganini and Transcendental Etudes are ideal for expressing one of the most powerful possibilities I’ve ever read in a book: “Maybe the person who will conquer death… is you.”

During my learning process of some of the hardest piano works by Liszt, I really felt that I was climbing a mountain, and that’s what I tried to mirror in this climatic passage (Fig. H4 & H5). Thus, I believe that humanity has the privilege of living in a present era that is at a considerable height on the mountain of the conquest of death.

The secondary theme opens with a follow-up question to the original in the exposition, which was, “What could you do if you could live for thousands of years or even longer?”

In the recapitulation we no longer have a personal question that answers with dreams and desires, but a follow-up one about the world and humanity in general: “What would happen if this is achieved in human beings?”

New dreams would arise in the human need and creativity for new ramifications of life extension that could result in an even more fulfilling eternal life.

This evolution can go from quantifying and manipulating dopamine levels in humans, biomarkers at their final peak through superb innovations of data analytics, multi-omics, and digital health, to even more astonishing possibilities that are considered today science fiction, like past-time travel through the manipulation of gravity and rotation of wormholes. Imagine saving a loved one from dying in the past, or even sharing life-extension benefits with great minds like Einstein, Beethoven, Shakespeare, and many others.

In the bridge that connects to the Coda (mm. 499-532), the music becomes more chromatic and rotatory, trying to create a transcendental effect that pushes the momentum forward towards the Coda.

The Coda section arrives trying to express that the need for eternal life is no longer only a strong desire but a passionate fulfilling encounter that is enriched by life-extension ramifications mentioned in Theme B.

After such a heartfelt outburst of measures 533-579, the motto perpetuo of D quarter-notes from the development comes back in an even more mysterious output on measures 580-627 and followed by another symbolic “extension”.

The main theme takes a gradually strong and determining lead that finishes the work with a very convenient influence of Liszt’s Funérailles ending that releases a triumphant and solemn return of the secondary theme (mm. 628-688).

References

1, 2, 3. Stolyarov II, G. 2013. Death is Wrong. Rational Argumentator Press. https://rationalargumentator.com/Death_is_Wrong_Second_Edition_Full.pdf

Fig. 1. Alkan, C.-V. (1979). Douze études dans tous les tons mineurs, Op. 39, No. 3. (R. Lewenthal, Ed.). Schirmer.

Fig. H4. Liszt, F., 1851. Grandes études de Paganini. S. 141, No. 6, Variation 11. Shonenberg, R. Cocks & Co. (London).

Listen to the complete Piano Sonata No. 3 in G minor, “Death is Wrong”, by Adriano G. Santos on YouTube here.

Listen to the compositions of Adriano G. Santos on his YouTube channel.

U.S. Transhumanist Party General Discussion Thread for 2026

January 2, 2026 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 2 comments

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The purpose of this post is to facilitate member comments pertaining to transhumanism and the U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP), which might not specifically fit the subjects of any other post or article on the USTP website. This is the place for members to offer suggestions or converse about any areas of emerging technologies and their political, moral, societal, cultural, and esthetic implications. The general discussion thread is also an ideal location to suggest or propose platform planks that may be considered for future platform voting, and/or bring our attention to emerging legislative and societal developments that may affect the course and impact of emerging technologies.

The USTP will endeavor to open one of these general comment threads per year. This comment thread pertains to the year of 2026.

Type in your comments below. Please note that, to protect against spambots, the first comment by any individual will be moderated. After passing moderation, a civil commenter should be able to post comments without future moderation – although we cannot guarantee that the technical aspect of this functionality will work as intended 100% of the time.

LEV Foundation 2025 End-of-Year Update

December 10, 2025 Longevity Escape Velocity Foundation Comments 0 Comment

David Wood

Note from the Editor: The U.S. Transhumanist Party shares this important update from our Allied Organization, the Longevity Escape Velocity (LEV) Foundation, regarding its achievements in 2025 and the importance of its continued work for the broader mission of achieving significant life extension, first in mice and then (the sooner, the better!) in humans. Full disclosure: I also serve as a Board Member and Treasurer for LEVF, in a volunteer, uncompensated capacity.

~ Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party, December 10, 2025

Progress at LEVF:
December 2025

Dear friend,

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s a good opportunity to share news from LEVF about progress with our core purpose: conducting and inspiring research to comprehensively cure and prevent human age-related disease.

We’re grateful to be able to describe how donations from our supporters are accelerating that progress – and could accelerate things even faster.

The vital importance of RMR (Robust Mouse Rejuvenation)

Let’s start with a reminder. The shocking fact which, alas, too many people fail to appreciate, is that 70% of all deaths around the world are caused by age-related diseases – diseases that become increasingly likely, and increasingly deadly, the longer people live.

Rather than being content with the modest incremental palliative treatments which much of the “wellbeing industry” and its fellow-travellers pursue, LEVF is determined to address the underlying cause of these age-related diseases: the gradual accumulation of various types of cellular and biomolecular damage.

The good news is that, in recent years, an increasing number of damage-repair interventions have been discovered, proposed, and studied, which each have been shown to reverse aspects of this damage.

LEVF champions the insight that applying a sufficient number of these interventions in parallel has the potential to significantly extend both lifespan and healthspan, even when started as late as middle age.

Most of the world is unnecessarily sceptical about the potential of such combination treatments. The way minds can be changed is to demonstrate significant results in middle-aged mice – Robust Mouse Rejuvenation (RMR):

A successful result will involve a statistically significant number of ordinary middle-aged mice, and will at least double their mean and maximum (90% decile) remaining lifespan.

LEVF anticipates that achieving RMR will trigger a multi-step change in social priorities, leading to a grand “war on aging” with much greater resources applied to translating these results from mice to larger, longer-lived mammals – dogs, primates, and humans.

Between 2023 and 2025, LEVF conducted an initial project (RMR1), involving four different anti-aging interventions. A pilot phase of a second, larger project (RMR2) is now underway, that applies important learnings from RMR1:

As anticipated, the RMR1 interventions were additive in effect, though the set of only four interventions was insufficient to attain RMR.
For RMR2, a larger number of different treatments will be applied (ideally at least 8 instead of 4), covering a wider range of types of cellular and biomolecular damage.
For best effect, each damage repair treatment will likely need to be applied more than once in the remaining lifespan of each mouse.
Some treatments in RMR1 individually had smaller impacts than anticipated on the basis of previous publications; this emphasises the importance of double-checking all aspects of the experimental setup during a pilot phase.
The results in RMR1 differed between male and female mice more than expected. Further investigation of data and samples is needed to highlight possible causes; still, this reinforces the importance of continuing to include male and female cohorts, despite the necessary additional costs, to avoid generating results applicable only to one gender.

Based on our current funding trajectory, LEVF is likely to start the main phase of RMR2 around mid 2026, with significant results becoming available in 2028.

That’s pretty soon – but not soon enough.

That’s why we are now reaching out to our friends and supporters requesting extra funding to enable:

Faster progress through RMR2 pilots and the main RMR2 experiment, particularly by supporting staffing needs for highly parallel study structures
A wider range of analyses of tissue samples, blood, and functional behaviour, to uncover more of the consequences of various combinations of damage-repair interventions
The inclusion of a greater number of different damage-repair interventions in parallel, maximising the chances of identifying multi-therapeutic synergies
Addressing some very interesting project ideas which are arising from interactions between our supporters and the Aubrai co-scientist AI agent (see more details below) that are strictly beyond the RMR program, but which could also prove decisive in changing public opinion.

In short, extra funding will increase the chance of aging being conquered sooner.

Some highlights from 2025

As you would expect, the LEVF team has been busy throughout 2025. As you might also expect, the path towards breakthrough scientific results involves occasional frustrations and setbacks as well as encouragement and celebration.

Here is a brief round-up of some headlines:

Aubrai
LEVF has entered into a very productive collaboration with two of the most capable of the organisations in the Decentralised Science (“DeSci”) space: VitaDAO and Bio Protocol. This partnership has led to the development and release of Aubrai – a pioneering AI BioAgent created to accelerate longevity breakthroughs, trained on the research and insights of LEVF President and Chief Science Officer Aubrey de Grey, and integrated with decentralised science funding tools. Aubrai’s first public appearance was in a short post on X (Twitter) on 7th August, “RMR2 should be funded”. Since that time, Aubrai’s online interactions have blossomed. We encourage you to conduct your own discussions with Aubrai at aubr.ai and/or x.com/Aubrai_.
RAID
Our choice of damage-repair interventions to include in RMR projects is strongly informed by RAID – Rodent Aging Interventions Database – which our Chief Science Monitor, Maximus Peto, updates regularly as part of his work in constantly reviewing new scientific publications. Recognising that this compilation of data would be of considerable interest to other researchers in the field of longevity/aging research, we decided to make it publicly available. To make it easier for researchers to explore the content of RAID, we have also developed a visualization tool which depicts the increases in lifespan achieved in different studies as a single bar chart. To read more about RAID, see our open access publication from earlier this year, “The rodent aging interventions database (RAID): a data visualization tool for all studies reporting rodent lifespan extension”.
HSAC
Our ongoing support for HSAC – Healthspan Action Coalition – has seen that coalition grow to encompass over 275 organisations from 25 countries worldwide. Whilst LEVF primarily focuses on scientific research, HSAC encourages and facilitates advocacy, with its mission statement “To initiate a global societal movement supporting healthy aging… promoting favorable policy and funding for scientific research, innovations and patient engagement”. Keep up to date with the HSAC newsletter, known as the Healthspan Compass, here. The subscriber numbers for the Compass recently passed the landmark figure of 15 thousand.
RAADfest
This year’s RAADfest – an annual festival with the theme “Revolution Against Aging and Death” – featured an unprecedented stream of cutting-edge scientific content, curated and managed by Aubrey de Grey. That stream provided a powerful complement to the other presentations at the event, with their focus on personal motivation, community building, and transformational advocacy. Members of the audience described the mix of the two streams, with the rich networking opportunities arising, as being thought-provoking and eye-opening.
Other speaking and outreach
A small selection of the list of other events which highlighted participation from LEVF speakers includes Vitalist Bay, Longevity Summit Dublin, Longevity Biotech Fellowship gatherings, Aging Research and Drug Discovery in Copenhagen, Arc at Austin (as part of the fringe of SXSW), and TransVision Madrid. This ongoing engagement provides important opportunities for the distinctive messages and experimental results from LEVF to be championed amongst news of the more incremental research that is taking place elsewhere in the longevity community.
EU Pathfinder funding application
LEVF continues to pursue support from various public and private funding sources. The bureaucracy involved with many of these applications has been considerable, but we have received strong positive feedback on a number of occasions. As an example, LEVF helped coordinate a consortium of five companies and organisations based in Europe to apply for a major EU “Pathfinder” grant to carry out aspects of the RMR programme. To be successful, the application would need to be assessed as scoring 4.0 or higher, out of 5, on each of three criteria. The application was assessed at 4.25 out of 5 for “Impact”, 4.5 out of 5 for “Quality and Efficiency of Implementation”, but only at 3.75 out of 5 for “Excellence”. So the application failed by a whisker. In part, this final score reflected an evaluator’s judgement that RMR lacked sufficient “radical novelty”. Of course, LEVF disagrees with this judgement! But it’s a reminder of the uphill struggle that breakthrough science and engineering often faces.

Magnifying your donations and support

To support research to comprehensively cure and prevent human age-related disease, we invite you to visit levf.org/donate. We can accept donations in all the usual cryptocurrencies as well as in traditional currencies, stocks, and more.

When you make a donation, you’ll also have the chance to write a note that will be read by members of the LEVF leadership team. We pay close attention to all feedback that we receive.

Note: Depending on where you reside, your donations at levf.org/donate may be tax deductible. If you reside in the UK, consider donating instead via Progress on Longevity, and specify that you wish your donation to support projects at LEVF. If you live elsewhere in Europe, contact us to find how you can make a tax efficient contribution in your own country.

We wouldn’t be here without our current and past supporters

As LEVF looks forward to more breakthroughs in 2026, we offer our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has provided financial backing for our work so far. Truly we could not be here, with the full in vivo phase of our first RMR study completed and on the threshold of our second, larger, study, without the very generous contributions that so many of you have made, often at considerable personal sacrifice.

But the battle is by no means won. So we offer thanks in anticipation for whichever kinds of support people can continue to provide in the months ahead. Every contribution makes a difference!

Another way in which you can assist our projects

Might some of your contacts be receptive to the content of this newsletter? In that case, please forward it to them! By growing our community, we can all reach LEV more quickly.

— David Wood
Executive Director, Longevity Escape Velocity (LEV) Foundation

Why Openly Transhumanist Politics is Needed for Vitalism to Succeed – Presentation by Gennady Stolyarov II at Vitalist Bay

November 24, 2025 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 0 Comment

Gennady Stolyarov II

On May 25, 2025, Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II presented at the Vitalist Bay Longevity Policy Conference on behalf of the U.S. Transhumanist Party about why explicitly Transhumanist politics is necessary for the movement for radical life extension to become more widely embraced. This presentation encapsulates Chairman Stolyarov’s most current thinking about where advocates of radical life extension can most effectively make a difference politically. It also provides his theory of change – how a persistent core (such as what he intends for the U.S. Transhumanist Party to become) can facilitate steady progress toward the goal without risking derailment by the all-too-common pressures – both internal and external – that cause most organizations to perform sub-optimally or even ruin them altogether.

This presentation was discussed in the article by journalist Arkadi Mazin of Lifespan.io, entitled “Longevity Policy, Advocacy in the Spotlight at Vitalist Bay” – published on June 20, 2025.

Arkadi Mazin was also the person who asked Gennady Stolyarov II a question at the conclusion of this presentation.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

Visit the Vitalist Bay website.

Visit the website of the Longevity Escape Velocity Foundation (LEVF).

Arin Vahanian Returns as Permanent Vice-Chairman of the U.S. Transhumanist Party, Rotation of the Vice-Chairman Position Concludes

November 1, 2025 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

November 1, 2025 – The U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) is pleased to announce that Arin Vahanian has agreed to return to the permanent role of USTP Vice-Chairman, having previously served in that role from June 12, 2020, to February 28, 2023.

Commenting on his resumption of the permanent Vice-Chairman Role, Mr. Vahanian stated, “I am both honored and thrilled to be back as the Vice-Chairman of the USTP. After the cataclysmic events of the last few years, which saw the world battle a pandemic, as well as experience tremendous economic and social upheaval, we now find ourselves in a situation in which there is increased apathy and disappointment in our political institutions and our so-called leaders. One of the initial reasons I was drawn toward the USTP is that we presented a different way, one that wasn’t focused on hyperbole, corruption and partisanship, but rather, on seeking the objective truth, in promoting ethics in our society, and strengthening all the good that the human race has achieved, while supporting those who seek to improve the human condition through leveraging advancements in science and technology. Indeed, today, more than ever, it is important to have a second choice. The USTP represents that second choice, which should be protected and promoted at all costs. That is why I am proud to be involved with this organization.”

The return of Arin Vahanian to the position of Vice-Chairman concludes the rotation of Vice-Chairmen that occurred during the time period of March 1, 2023, through October 31, 2025. During that time, Arin Vahanian served two three-month terms as Vice-Chairman from November 1, 2023, to January 31, 2024, and again from November 1, 2024, to January 31, 2025.

Other U.S. Transhumanist Party Officers who served in the role of Vice-Chairman during the time of rotation have been Art Ramon Garcia, Jr. (March – June 2023, May – July 2024, and May – July 2025), Jason Geringer (July – October 2023, August – October 2024, and August – October 2025), and Anthony Nielsen (February – April 2024 and February – April 2025). The U.S. Transhumanist Party thanks them for their service during these times to ensure that the duties of Vice-Chairman were carried out. These Officers will remain in their regular, permanent roles as Director of Visual Art (Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.), Legislative Director (Jason Geringer), and Director of Technology Outreach (Anthony Nielsen).

U.S. Transhumanist Party Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II remarked upon Vahanian’s return to the Vice-Chairman role, “In an ever more turbulent era in American politics, we need more than ever to have voices of reason in positions of leadership. Arin Vahanian is a person of unfailing good sense, whom I have always known to act civilly and rationally. He is eloquent and insightful, and he has always championed the values of the USTP and emphasized that, logically, these values should appeal to the mainstream if presented in the proper ways. American political life and civil society are currently under attack by increasingly polarized, vitriolic, and even violent elements. The USTP must serve as a bulwark against these tendencies, and we transhumanists must model the beneficial behaviors that we would wish to see instantiated in the broader world. For this, we need all hands on deck, and there is no one more suited to serving as a role model and an example of both courage and decency than Arin Vahanian. He does not hesitate to call out injustices, while also expressing the positive vision of the kind of future we want. Most importantly, he does all this in ways that uplift and show us what can be achieved if we act as the best versions of ourselves.”

Prior to becoming initially appointed as Vice-Chairman, Arin Vahanian served as the Director of Marketing for the USTP for two years, between June 11, 2018, and June 11, 2020. Mr. Vahanian became interested in the Transhumanist movement after coming across various life-changing technologies and breakthroughs in the medical field. His personal vision is to live and love deeply, being dedicated to building and spreading technologies that allow human beings to live more fulfilling, joyful, and enhanced lives. Specifically, he has a special interest in curing mental-health disorders such as depression and social anxiety disorder, as well as reversing aging and curing dementia and other neurological disorders.

Being deeply devoted to the promise of Transhumanism and the concept of continuous improvement, Mr. Vahanian is the author of Kaizen for Men, a book that combines self-help with Lean Manufacturing and Toyota Production System principles, helping men boost their health, career, and relationships.

Mr. Vahanian holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism (Public Relations) and a Master of Business Administration (Management) degree from California State University, Northridge. Additionally, he holds several professional certifications in the information technology (IT) industry, is a certified Project Management Professional, a certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and an Enrolled Agent.

A seasoned traveler and expatriate, Mr. Vahanian has lived and worked on three continents, and speaks six languages.

More information on Mr. Vahanian, including a list of his numerous articles on transhumanism, can be found in the entry about him on THPedia, the Transhumanist Encyclopedia.

China’s Technological and Infrastructure Advancements: Global Leadership and Lessons for the World – Article by Zhang Xu

October 18, 2025 Zhang Xu Comments 0 Comment

Zhang Xu

Editor’s Note: The U.S. Transhumanist Party is pleased to provide this article from our Regional Representative, Zhang Xu, who was recently appointed to help advance the spread of transhumanism in Shandong Province, China. In this article, Zhang Xu describes some recent accomplishments of technological and infrastructural advancement in China and what the rest of the world can learn from these successes.

~ Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party, October 17, 2025

Zhang Xu

Introduction

Over the past two decades, China has transformed itself into a global powerhouse in technology and infrastructure. From high-speed rail networks to renewable energy innovation, digital governance, and large-scale urbanization projects, China’s development model has demonstrated both speed and scale rarely matched in modern history. This article explores China’s most notable advancements, highlights the sectors in which it leads the world, and examines what other nations can learn from its development strategies to enhance their own quality of life.

1. Infrastructure Modernization: The High-Speed Rail Revolution

China’s high-speed rail (HSR) system represents one of the most visible symbols of its modern development. As of 2025, the country operates over 45,000 kilometers of high-speed rail — more than two-thirds of the world’s total. Trains like the Fuxing Hao regularly travel at speeds up to 350 km/h, connecting major economic hubs such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou within hours.

This expansive network not only boosts economic productivity but also improves social mobility, environmental sustainability, and regional integration. Countries such as India, Indonesia, and even the United States are now studying China’s public-private partnership models and construction management practices to accelerate their own HSR programs.

2. Green Energy and Environmental Technology

China has also taken the lead in renewable energy production, particularly in solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. It produces over 40% of the world’s solar panels and has installed more renewable energy capacity than the next five countries combined.

The government’s “Dual Carbon” strategy — achieving carbon peak by 2030 and neutrality by 2060 — has spurred massive investment in green technology. Electric vehicles (EVs), led by domestic firms such as BYD and NIO, are now exported worldwide, making China the largest EV market and manufacturer globally.

3. Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence

China’s digital transformation has been equally profound. With over 1 billion internet users and a near-universal mobile payment system (via Alipay and WeChat Pay), it has leapfrogged many developed nations in digital finance and e-governance.

AI development, driven by state-backed initiatives like the New Generation AI Development Plan (2017), has made China a leader in computer vision, natural language processing, and autonomous driving. Major cities such as Shenzhen and Hangzhou are now considered “smart city” prototypes, integrating AI-driven surveillance, traffic management, and public services.

4. Space and Quantum Technology

China’s space program has achieved remarkable milestones — including the Chang’e lunar missions, the Tiangong space station, and the Zhurong Mars rover. It is also a pioneer in quantum communication, having launched the Micius satellite to test ultra-secure quantum encryption. These advances position China at the forefront of next-generation strategic technologies.

5. Lessons for Other Nations

Other countries seeking similar progress can draw several lessons from China’s approach:

Long-term planning: China’s multi-decade development plans (e.g., Five-Year Plans) provide consistent policy direction and funding stability.

State-guided innovation: While encouraging competition, the government strategically invests in critical sectors like semiconductors and renewable energy.

Public infrastructure as a foundation for growth: Massive investment in transport, energy, and communication networks enables rapid industrial and social development.

Digital inclusion: Affordable connectivity ensures that technological benefits reach rural and urban populations alike.

Environmental foresight: Early adoption of green goals aligns economic growth with sustainability.

Conclusion

China’s advancements in infrastructure, clean energy, and digital innovation have redefined global standards for modernization. While some of its strategies may not be directly replicable due to political or economic differences, the principles of strategic planning, technological self-reliance, and inclusive development offer valuable lessons for nations aspiring to improve their citizens’ quality of life in an increasingly interconnected world.

Zhang Xu is the U.S. Transhumanist Party Regional Representative in Shandong Province. Find out more about him here.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Enters the “All Hands for a Free Future” Coalition with the U.S. Pirate Party, Endorses Gubernatorial Candidacies of Timothy Grady and Zoltan Istvan

September 4, 2025 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

September 4, 2025 – The U.S. Transhumanist Party announces its entry into a political coalition with the U.S. Pirate Party, entitled All Hands for a Free Future (which may be concisely referred to as “AllHandsFuture” or “All Hands”). The Bylaws of All Hands for a Free Future can be read here.

Additionally, the U.S. Transhumanist Party announces its endorsement of two gubernatorial candidacies for the 2026 elections – that of Timothy Grady, running as an independent candidate for Governor of Ohio and that of Zoltan Istvan, running as a Democrat for Governor of California.

After a vote of its members, held electronically, between August 18 and September 1, 2025, the U.S. Transhumanist Party releases the following results:

Question 1. Vote on the Endorsement of Zoltan Istvan

Yes – 74.4% – 64 votes
No – 18.6% – 16 votes
Abstain – 7.0% – 6 votes

Question 2. Vote on the Endorsement of Timothy Grady

Yes – 76.7% – 66 votes
No – 7.0% – 6 votes
Abstain – 16.3% – 14 votes

Question 3. Vote on the Entry into a Political Coalition with the U.S. Pirate Party, Entitled “All Hands for a Free Future”

Yes – 86.05% – 74 votes
No – 8.14% – 7 votes
Abstain – 5.81% – 5 votes

“By clear majorities, the U.S. Transhumanist Party members who cast their votes have spoken,” stated Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman of the U.S. Transhumanist Party. “The USTP now has its first two endorsed candidates for the 2026 midterm elections. Furthermore, it will henceforth participate in a much more versatile system for cross-endorsing candidates with our friends and allies at the U.S. Pirate Party, so that many worthwhile Pirate candidates who share our values can also be supported and acknowledged as upholding key Transhumanist priorities as reflected in our Constitution, Platform, and Transhumanist Bill of Rights. Joining forces with like-minded champions of individual liberty, technological progress, and universal abundance – while maintaining our distinctive political identities – is the way to effectively challenge the political duopoly in the United States and bring truly innovative policy solutions to the forefront of public discourse. The All Hands for a Free Future coalition is intentionally structured so as to be open to including additional potential political parties over time as well. This will provide further opportunities for coordination on campaigns and initiatives that will benefit the efforts of all forward-thinking political parties that seek to offer more genuine choices to the American electorate.”

Captain Mitch Davilo (“Jolly Mitch”) of the U.S. Pirate Party commented on the formation of All Hands for a Free Future, “The very idea of a political coalition of minor parties within the United States is out of the box. It’s new, it’s unique, and above all else, it’s historic. I am beyond excited to be apart of something so historic, and alongside the U.S. Transhumanist Party, I believe our two parties, as well as whoever may join us in the future, have set a precedent that will change how minor political parties operate in this country. I couldn’t have asked for a better partner party to start this coalition with. I feel confident about our prospects and our future, but I am mostly excited for what we can do for the people of the United States. Free Men. Free Labor. Free Soil. Free Future. May we find our successes, change lives for the better, and build up our two parties so that we may, dare I say, live long and prosper.”

Upon being informed of the outcome of the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s member vote, Timothy Grady issued the following statement: “I am honored to receive the endorsement of the U.S. Transhumanist Party. We share a commitment to the use of science and technology to the benefit of all. The Party is leading important conversations about emerging technologies, both their opportunities and risks. These are not challenges of some distant future but here and now, raising existential questions that demand leadership and foresight. I look forward to working with the Transhumanist Party to fight for a better future for everyone.”

The U.S. Pirate Party also recently endorsed the campaign of Timothy Grady on August 12, 2025.

Zoltan Istvan responded to the USTP’s endorsement, stating, “Thank you Transhumanist Party for the endorsement of my campaign for California Governor as a Democrat. You support will help me take on the challenges that AI presents to my state as well as the world. We are facing difficult times, and now more than ever, we must all come together to forge a successful path ahead.”

At this time, official U.S. Transhumanist Party channels and social media may be used to promote the endorsed candidates and share their campaign materials. Furthermore, U.S. Transhumanist Party members are encouraged to provide assistance to their campaigns in any manner they consider to be reasonable and within their individual abilities.

Report on the Current Status of Transhumanism in Sweden (2025) by Alexander Wåhlberg

August 24, 2025 Alexander Wåhlberg Comments 0 Comment

Alexander Wåhlberg

Editor’s Note: The U.S. Transhumanist Party is pleased to provide this status report on transhumanism in Sweden from our Foreign Ambassador Alexander Wåhlberg. As this report outlines, there are multiple practical opportunities to advance transhumanism in Sweden and thus to gain allies within a technologically advanced society where we can hope to reach many receptive minds. We hope to offer more such status reports from our Foreign Ambassadors to give our readers a global perspective regarding both opportunities for and obstacles to the spread of transhumanism.

~ Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party, August 24, 2025

Alexander Wåhlberg

I. Overview

Public awareness of “transhumanism” as a named movement in Sweden remains limited, but interest in practical human-enhancement technologies is real and visible. Sweden drew global attention for early adoption of NFC microchip implants for access, payments, and transit, and maintains small but active communities around biohacking and human–technology integration.

At the same time, the grassroots transhumanist association Människa+ (the Swedish branch of Humanity+) has primarily shifted to online activity and informal meetups, which keeps the conversation alive even if the brand recognition of “transhumanism” is modest among the broader public.

II. Public Awareness and Perception

Swedes are digitally mature and curious about emerging tech—but caution is growing. Surveys show rising use of AI tools (especially chatbots) alongside concerns about reliability, impact on jobs, and ethics. In 2024, roughly one-third of adults reported using some AI tool; uptake is highest among younger cohorts. Recent coverage highlights both increasing dependence on AI at work and gaps in critical evaluation.

In healthcare specifically, professional bodies have raised alarms that many regions still lack clear AI guidelines—fueling a perception that implementation may be outpacing governance. This underscores the need for national standards and literacy-building.

III. Forms of Expression

A. Academia & Research

Sweden hosts strong neuroscience and human-machine research clusters. Karolinska Institutet’s strategic neuroscience program (StratNeuro, with partners Umeå University and KTH) and outreach such as Brain Awareness Week illustrate sustained public-facing neuroscience activity. Meanwhile, KTH teams are advancing wearable robotics and exoskeletons for rehabilitation and mobility (MoveAbility Lab; EXHILO project).

B. Industry, Maker & Biohacking Scenes

The Swedish biohacking community—formerly organized via BioNyfiken—popularized DIY biology and subdermal NFC implants; companies like Biohax International helped commercialize implant services. Sweden’s rail operator SJ even piloted microchip ticketing in 2017, a globally reported milestone.

C. Online & Culture

Conversations around longevity, quantified self, and practical enhancements (e.g., implants, wearables, assistive robotics) tend to outpace interest in abstract philosophy. In Swedish media, transhumanist topics often surface through stories about implants, AI at work, or medical technology—framing transhumanism more as a toolkit than as a political identity.

IV. Policy & Ethics Landscape

Sweden’s Genetic Integrity Act (2006:351) and related regulations emphasize safeguarding individual integrity and prohibit heritable genetic modifications in humans, shaping the bounds of enhancement research and clinical practice. The Act remains the key reference point, with amendments continuing to refine its application.

In AI and health data, calls for national guidelines mirror concerns across the medical community about safety, accountability, and privacy—areas where clearer policy could enable trustworthy innovation.

V. Opportunities

1. High digital adoption and openness to practical tech solutions—documented in national internet and AI usage reports—create fertile ground for applied transhumanist messaging tied to daily life and public services.

2. Strong research base (neuroscience, rehabilitation robotics) supports evidence-driven narratives about how enhancements can reduce disability and extend healthy function.

3. Media familiarity with implants/AI offers on-ramps for public education when framed around safety, equity, and tangible benefits.

VI. Obstacles

1. Conceptual confusion: Many conflate transhumanism with science fiction or extreme body modification rather than ethical, incremental human-enhancement.

2. Governance gaps: Uneven AI guidance in healthcare and cautious genetic-integrity law can discourage experimentation or public endorsement if not paired with transparent pathways for responsible innovation.

3. Fragmented community: Without frequent in-person events, activity remains scattered across Facebook groups and meetups, limiting visibility.

VII. Recommendations (Near-Term, Practical)

Plain-language explainer series (Swedish): Short posts clarifying “human enhancement,” longevity, AI in care, and neurotech—anchored in Swedish law and real Swedish case studies (e.g., exoskeleton rehab). Cross-post via USTP and local partners; invite expert quotes from KI/KTH labs.

Academic & maker outreach: Co-host an online seminar with a Swedish lab (e.g., MoveAbility Lab) on assistive robotics and human performance, framed around equitable access.

Policy brieflets: Two-page primers in Swedish summarizing (a) Genetic Integrity Act implications for enhancement; (b) why national AI-in-health guidelines matter. Share with journalists and civic groups.

Community mapping: Re-catalog Swedish transhumanist-adjacent groups (Människa+, former BioNyfiken community, implant/DIY biology circles) and establish a quarterly online meetup to reduce fragmentation.

Alexander Wåhlberg is the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Foreign Ambassador in Sweden. Learn more about him here.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Vote on Candidate Endorsements of Zoltan Istvan and Timothy Grady and Entry into a Political Coalition with the U.S. Pirate Party

August 18, 2025 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

The U.S. Transhumanist Party is holding an electronic vote of the membership for a 14-day period, ending on 6:01 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time on Monday, September 1, 2025, on three questions:

(1) Whether to endorse the candidacy of Zoltan Istvan, who is running as a Democrat for Governor of California in 2026.

(The campaign website of Zoltan Istvan is https://www.zoltanistvan2026.com/.)

(2) Whether to endorse the candidacy of Timothy Grady, who is running as an independent candidate for Governor of Ohio in 2026.

(The campaign website of Timothy Grady is https://timgradyforohio.com/.)

(3) Whether to enter a political coalition, All Hands for a Free Future, with the U.S. Pirate Party and adopt the Bylaws for All Hands for a Free Future, which were jointly developed between the U.S. Transhumanist Party and the U.S Pirate Party.

(The text of the Bylaws for All Hands for a Free Future can be found on the following page: https://transhumanist-party.org/2025/08/18/bylaws-all-hands-for-a-free-future/.)

For each of the three questions, the options for members to select among will be “Yes”, “No”, and “Abstain”.

Registered U.S. Transhumanist Party members as of 12:01 a.m. U.S. Pacific Time on Monday, August 18, 2025, would be able to cast their ballots on this question and will be sent their ballots via e-mail.

Background Information

Below the U.S. Transhumanist Party provides additional information on each of the three ballot questions to enable members to have more context about each decision. At this time, the U.S. Transhumanist Party leadership is simply providing this information to help members make their own decisions. The information below is not to be interpreted as an attempt to urge members to vote one way or the other. Members are free to form their own opinions and to discuss and debate any or all of the ballot questions on the U.S. Transhumanist Party website or in any other venue. Such discussions and debates are encouraged.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party also notes that Article VII of the USTP Constitution allows the USTP to endorse candidates that run on behalf of other political parties, as well as independent candidates, provided that such candidates agree “to either (a) specifically and openly express support for transhumanism and/or life extension; or (b) specifically and openly reference the endorsement of that individual by the United States Transhumanist Party.” (Article VII, Section I, Paragraph (xvi)) Both Zoltan Istvan and Timothy Grady have agreed to do either or both of the above and have had histories of positively referencing the United States Transhumanist Party.

Question 1. Endorsement of Zoltan Istvan for Governor of California in 2026

Zoltan Istvan founded the Transhumanist Party on October 7, 2014, and ran for President of the United States in the 2016 elections to raise awareness for transhumanist political issues. After the 2016 elections, Zoltan has relinquished control of the Transhumanist Party but remains a valued advisor to those who seek to create a lasting transhumanist movement.

On June 15, 2025, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Zoltan Istvan to a Virtual Enlightenment Salon to discuss his 2026 gubernatorial run in California as a Democrat. The U.S. Transhumanist Party used this opportunity to have a candid conversation about Zoltan’s most current views and which policies would be most efficacious in improving the State of California as well as the future of humanity more broadly.

During the first hour, Zoltan Istvan discussed his campaign and fielded challenging questions from the U.S. Transhumanist Party panelists and members, including the following:

How transhumanist is his 2026 gubernatorial campaign?
Is he willing to openly advocate for indefinite life extension?
Why is he running as a Democrat: pragmatism – or does he actually agree with them now?
Why does he lead with fearful, rather than hopeful, rhetoric about AI?
How have his stances on Universal Basic Income shifted since 2016?
Does he believe that winning the election is a possibility?
How do his various positions align with and differ from those of the U.S. Transhumanist Party?

Zoltan Istvan’s stances on key issues can be read on this page.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform differs from Zoltan Istvan’s approach toward artificial intelligence (AI) in that Section CXX begins as follows: “The United States Transhumanist Party supports approaching technologies of artificial intelligence primarily as opportunities rather than as threats. The potential of artificial intelligence, including generative AI, to foster creativity, solve problems, cure diseases, create new opportunities, and facilitate radical abundance far outweighs the risks and dangers of AI.”

There are various areas of alignment between the USTP Platform and Zoltan Istvan’s campaign as well, including the following:

Creation of an Automated Abundance Economy (Aligns with Section IX)
Universal Basic Income (Aligns with Sections XVI and XCVII)
Changing Education (Aligns with Sections XII, LXXXVII, and CVII)

Ultimately, it is the decision of each individual USTP member to evaluate and weigh the areas of alignment and divergence between Zoltan Istvan’s campaign messaging and the USTP Platform.

Background on Question 2. Endorsement of Timothy Grady for Governor of Ohio in 2026

Timothy Grady has provided the following statement in support of his nomination.

Statement by Timothy Grady:

My name is Timothy Grady. I’m an independent candidate for governor of Ohio in 2026. My campaign was announced a month ago and I’m currently in the process of building my volunteer organization and collecting signatures for ballot access.

I’ve had a long-term interest in the Transhumanist Party, following Zoltan’s 2016 presidential campaign closely. I am a tech and innovation focused candidate, I believe material progress and increasing prosperity only arises from productivity growth as a result of innovation so finding ways to stimulate the rate of innovation is a priority.

Anyway, I am interested in seeking the Transhumanist Party endorsement for my election. I am aware that the Pirate Party and Transhumanist Party are taking steps toward an alliance so I’d also highlight that I am seeking a Pirate Party endorsement and would like, if possible, to secure endorsements from both parties separately.

I have had minor news coverage, I have political experience, and I have the intention and a plan for winning my election. You can learn more about me on my website or feel free to reach out anytime.

Timothy Grady’s stances on key issues can be read on this page.

Some areas of alignment between Timothy Grady’s campaign messaging and the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform include the following:

Emphasis on political competition: “We need more people to run for office, we need more options on the ballot. We need people to be able to engage in democracy and politics with respect, not anger or fear, we need to be able to disagree constructively, we need to be able to live and govern without uniformity.” (This aligns with the USTP Platform Section XIX, which “supports an end to the two-party political system in the United States and a substantially greater inclusion of “third parties” in the political process through mechanisms such as proportional representation and the elimination of stringent ballot-access requirements.”)
Section on “Beyond Left vs Right” – This aligns with the Values of the U.S. Transhumanist Party, in the statement of What We Stand For.
Section on “Ending Corruption, Restoring Trust” – This aligns with many of the USTP Platform Sections characterized as “Reforming Political Processes and Improving Governmental Accountability” – including Sections XLII, XLIII, LII, and LIII.

Ultimately, it is the decision of each individual USTP member to evaluate Timothy Grady’s campaign messaging and develop an opinion regarding the extent of its alignment with the USTP Platform.

Background on Question 3. All Hands for a Free Future: Political Coalition with the U.S. Pirate Party

The text of the Bylaws for All Hands for a Free Future can be found on the following page: https://transhumanist-party.org/2025/08/18/bylaws-all-hands-for-a-free-future/

The Bylaws were jointly arrived at through discussions between the leadership of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and U.S. Pirate Party during 2024-2025.

To see recordings of many of these conversations, watch the U.S. Pirate Party meetings of December 15, 2024, March 30, 2025, and June 29, 2025, where U.S. Transhumanist Party representatives participated, as well as the USTP’s Virtual Enlightenment Salons with representatives of the U.S. Pirate Party, its current Captain Mitch Davilo (December 15, 2024) and previous Captain Drew Bingaman (June 29, 2025).

The proposed Bylaws are presently being provided for U.S. Transhumanist Party members to deliberate and vote upon as the final step in their adoption. Because the language was negotiated directly with the U.S. Pirate Party, the USTP members are being given the options to vote “Yes”, “No”, or “Abstain” on the proposed Bylaws as a singular document. It remains the decision of each individual USTP member as to whether or not to support the adoption of these Bylaws when considering their provisions in totality.

Proposed Bylaws for the “All Hands for a Free Future” Political Coalition

August 18, 2025 U.S. Transhumanist Party and U.S. Pirate Party Comments 0 Comment

U.S. Transhumanist Party and U.S. Pirate Party

Editor’s Note: The following are the Bylaws that have been jointly arrived at through discussions between the leadership of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and U.S. Pirate Party during 2024-2025.

The major implication of entering into the All Hands for a Free Future coalition with the U.S. Pirate Party will be the cross-endorsement by the two parties of one another’s candidates for non-Presidential governmental offices in the United States through June 2029, with the option of renewing the c0alition for a four-year term thereafter and the possibility of fielding a jointly endorsed U.S. Presidential candidate in 2032. The U.S. Transhumanist Party and U.S. Pirate Party will, however, be anticipated to field their own distinct U.S. Presidential candidates in 2028.

These Bylaws are presently being provided for U.S. Transhumanist Party members to deliberate and vote upon as the final step in their adoption. Because the language was negotiated directly with the U.S. Pirate Party, the USTP members are being given the options to vote “Yes”, “No”, or “Abstain” on the proposed Bylaws as a singular document. Official ballots have been e-mailed separately to USTP members to the e-mail addresses within our records.

~ Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party, August 18, 2025

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1: Name

a. The name of this organization shall be All Hands for a Free Future, hereafter also referred to interchangeably as AllHandsFuture or All Hands.

Section 2: Purpose

a. All Hands for a Free Future is a coalition of political parties committed to strategic electoral collaboration while maintaining their distinct identities. The coalition seeks to:

Coordinate electoral strategies to maximize the political impact of its members.
Encourage joint Presidential tickets where feasible.
Support candidates running as members of AllHandsFuture-affiliated parties, as well as through a DINO/RINO strategy, in which member candidates may run as a member of the Democratic Party (DINO) or Republican Party (RINO) in order to gain ballot access, though ballot access under All Hands parties is encouraged.
Promote democratic representation and policy alignment among its members.

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility

a. Membership in AllHandsFuture is open to any U.S.-based political party that:

i. Aligns with the coalition’s strategic electoral goals and shared values.

ii. Agrees to the provisions set forth in these bylaws.

Section 2: Term of Membership

a. Initial membership shall be granted for a period of four (4) years.

b. Each four-year cycle will begin during June or July of the year following a Presidential election, allowing time to assess results and develop both immediate and long-term responses.

c. After the initial four-year term, members must recommit for another four-year term to maintain membership.

d. Membership renewal is contingent on adherence to coalition principles and active participation.

Section 3: Rights and Obligations

a. Members retain the right to run candidates under their own party ticket or under the DINO/RINO strategy.

b. Candidates endorsed by any AllHandsFuture member party shall receive universal endorsement from all other coalition members.

c. Multi-party membership within any AllHandsFuture-affiliated party is not only permitted, but encouraged.

d. New member parties are encouraged, but not required, to run their own Presidential ticket at least once before contributing to a joint AllHandsFuture presidential candidate.

Article III: Coalition Governance

Section 1: Coalition Council

a. The governing body of AllHandsFuture shall be the Coalition Council.

b. Each party shall appoint at least two representatives to ensure redundancy in case of absence or vacancy, especially among Officer positions.

c. The Council shall determine major coalition endorsements and strategies through a majority vote.

Section 2: Decision-Making

a. Presidential endorsements shall be determined by a two-thirds (⅔) majority vote of the Coalition Council.

b. Other endorsements and strategic decisions shall be made by simple majority.

c. Amendments to the bylaws shall be brought forth to the council and determined by a two-thirds (⅔) majority vote of the Coalition Council.

d. New parties seeking approval and to be asked to join AllHandsFuture will be voted upon by member parties via unanimous vote from the Coalition Council, or two-thirds (⅔) majority vote if any representatives from member parties are absent for the vote, which will be viewed as an “Abstain” vote.

Article IV: Presidential Elections

Section 1: Joint Presidential Ticket

a. Following the initial four-year membership term and decision to continue with the coalition, parties may opt-in to support a joint AllHandsFuture Presidential ticket.

b. The joint ticket must be representative of eligible coalition members, ensuring ideological and political balance.

Section 2: Endorsement of Candidates

a. In order to be eligible for endorsement by All Hands for a Free Future (also referred to as AllHandsFuture or All Hands), a candidate for any local, state, or federal political office must meet the following criteria:

1. The candidate satisfies the minimum qualifications pursuant to applicable law for holding the office for which they seek to run.
2. The candidate has never committed any violent crime. A violent crime includes physical injury or destruction inflicted upon any person or property. Examples include, but are not limited to: murder, manslaughter, rape, human trafficking, domestic violence, robbery, assault, battery, looting, arson, and rioting.
3. The candidate has never committed any financial crime which had any victim, including but not limited to fraud, embezzlement, theft, cybercrime, or financing of violent or criminal groups.
4. The candidate has never engaged in documented acts of cyberbullying, cyber-harassment, or intentional spreading of false accusations against another individual online.
5. The candidate has never engaged in acts understood to be of a highly unacceptable nature within every contemporary agricultural, industrial, or post-industrial society. The Officers of All Hands for a Free Future shall maintain an internal list identifying such highly unacceptable practices, engaging in which or advocating which would be considered an automatic disqualification.
6. The candidate has never engaged in acts which are understood by the Officers of All Hands for a Free Future to have been undertaken primarily for the purposes of generating shock value or transgression for its own sake.
7. The candidate must agree to participate in any process designated by the Officers of All Hands for a Free Future for determining endorsement eligibility, and to respect the outcome of that process.
8. The candidate must agree to work collaboratively with the coalition during the campaign season, and to neither disparage All Hands for a Free Future or fellow individual coalition members or member parties, nor act contrary to the interests or goals of All Hands for a Free Future.
9. The candidate must never have disparaged All Hands for a Free Future or any of its current Officers in good standing in any written publication or public video or audio recording. Constructive criticism is allowed under a reasonable-person standard.
10. The candidate must commit to running for office as an endorsed candidate of the coalition until the conclusion of the election.
11. The candidate must never have reneged on a prior commitment to run as an endorsed candidate of the coalition through the conclusion of the relevant election.
12. The candidate must never have falsely alleged any electoral malfeasance on the part of All Hands for a Free Future.
13. The candidate must never have undertaken or threatened to undertake legal action or formal complaints against All Hands for a Free Future or any of its Officers in good standing.
14. The candidate must express agreement with the Core Ideals of the coalition as outlined in its founding principles.
15. The candidate’s policy positions should demonstrate significant alignment with the values and goals of the coalition.
16. The candidate must agree, in public statements, to either (a) openly express support for transhumanism and/or life extension; or (b) specifically reference their endorsement by All Hands for a Free Future.

Article V: Amendments

Section 1: Amendment Process

a. Amendments to these bylaws require a two-thirds (⅔) majority of the Coalition Council.

b. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing and reviewed by all member parties before a vote.

Report on the Current Status of Transhumanism in Shandong Province by Zhang Xu

August 17, 2025 Zhang Xu Comments 0 Comment

Zhang Xu

Editor’s Note: The U.S. Transhumanist Party is pleased to provide this status report from our newest Regional Representative, Zhang Xu, who was recently appointed to help advance the spread of transhumanism in Shandong Province, China. We hope that this report will serve as an example of the kind of helpful information we gather about the impact of transhumanism throughout the world, including both obstacles to and opportunities for the growth of our movement.

~ Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party, August 17, 2025

Zhang Xu

I. Overall Situation

Shandong’s transhumanism awareness and scattered practices: At present, it is mainly reflected in the science fascination among scientists, academia, and makers, and has not formed a common concept and social movement name in the public domain.

II. Public Awareness and Cognition

Professional Circles: University teachers and engineers, especially medical technicians, know more about artificial intelligence, brain-computer interface, synthetic biology, life extension medicine, etc., and they usually treat them as some “newest technological progresses” instead of philosophy or social movement.

Public in General: Not many people know what transhumanism is but they have a positive and curious attitude towards its applications (AI-assisted workplaces, smart prostheses, wearables, health tech).

Cognitive Biases: Some confuse transhumanism with “science fiction” or “radical body modification,” lacking a clear understanding of its ethical and social significance.

III. Forms of Expression

Academia and Universities: Some lectures, book clubs, and technical exchange events focus on AI, brain-computer interfaces, rehabilitation engineering, and medical and health technology.

Industry and Maker Spaces: Some projects are conducting experiments or starting businesses around intelligent prosthetics, the quantified self, exoskeletons, and assistive robots.

Online and Cultural Levels: On platforms like Bilibili, WeChat official accounts, and Xiaohongshu, bloggers and communities are sharing content on longevity medicine, AI efficiency tools, and human-machine collaboration.

IV. Public Opinion

Positive Side: There is a tendency to acknowledge that “technology improves life,” especially in addressing aging, rehabilitation medicine, disability assistance, and improving efficiency.

Concerns: There are certain concerns and criticism regarding “genetic modification,” “data privacy,” “algorithmic bias,” and “machines replacing human jobs.”

Overall Atmosphere: The public in Shandong is cautiously optimistic about new technologies, but they prioritize their practical value over their philosophical implications.

V. Potential Opportunities

Aging Population and Rehabilitation Needs: Shandong has a large elderly population, providing a natural environment for rehabilitation engineering, exoskeletons, and assistive technologies.

Industrial Advantages: Industries such as marine technology, biomedicine, and intelligent manufacturing are highly relevant to transhumanism and offer potential for cross-fertilization.

Education and Popular Science: Universities have abundant scientific research resources, and young people are highly receptive to new concepts, offering significant potential for future cognitive improvement.

VI. Potential Obstacles

Unfamiliarity with the Concept: The public lacks a clear understanding of transhumanism, and it is easily confused with fiction or extreme imagery.

Ethics and Compliance: Topics such as genetics, healthcare, and human enhancement are sensitive to policy and public opinion, and face limitations in discussion and practice.

Resources and Organizations: Transhumanist-related communities and organizations are relatively underdeveloped, lacking long-term, visible public activities or institutional support.

Talent Mobility: High-end scientific research and innovation talent tend to flow to first-tier cities, leaving local technological development vulnerable to a talent drain.

📌 Conclusion

Transhumanism in Shandong Province currently exists in a state of invisibility, fragmented practice, and low awareness. While society hasn’t yet fully grasped the transhumanist movement, practical needs and projects have emerged at the intersection of technological development, the needs of the aging population, and health and assistive technologies that align closely with core transhumanist issues. This suggests enormous potential for future expansion, but also highlights the need to address the dual challenges of cognitive deficits and ethical sensitivities.

Zhang Xu is the U.S. Transhumanist Party Regional Representative in Shandong Province. Find out more about him here.

Who Introduced You to the Longevity Field? – Survey by Anastasia Egorova

August 11, 2025 Anastasia Egorova Comments 1 comment

Anastasia Egorova

I am running a survey to learn who introduced the most people to the longevity field. You must have learned about Rapamycin, naked mole-rats, and Hallmarks of Aging from someone, right? Maybe this was a personal interaction, maybe you read their book, listened to their podcast?

This is a survey for anyone familiar with longevity research and life-extension ideas. Its goal is to find the most influential people in longevity, those who convinced you to drop everything and work on aging or just introduced you to this field.

Let’s find the most impactful nodes in our network: they deserve praise and emulation. We hope this will bring even more talent into the longevity field.

Outcomes of this research will include a review paper and an interactive map available publicly.

Take the survey here.

Let me know if you have any questions or ideas regarding this survey. Text me on Telegram, X, or LinkedIn / Nastya Egorova

Anastasia Egorova is the co-founder and CEO of Open Longevity. Watch the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Anastasia Egorova of September 10, 2023, and the Longevity Fireside Chat (also featuring Mark Hamalainen) of April 7, 2024.

The Systemic Problems in Contemporary Academia and Research Funding – Article by Dr. Bill Andrews

August 10, 2025 Bill Andrews Comments 2 comments

Bill Andrews

Though I cannot say if I agree or disagree with Trump’s plans for science, the article in the New York Times on April 25, 2025, motivated me to express my thoughts on the ability of science in the world today to do something useful at the humanitarian level. I’m a hard-core scientist (which keeps me really too busy to keep on top of politics) whose only goal is to make the world happier and healthier. My goal isn’t to see how many research studies I can publish. My goal isn’t to see how much money I can make. My goal is to end disease, aging, and anything that makes living less loveable. The world today has a false sense of security that science today is really doing its best to make the world happier and healthier, when science really isn’t doing that at all. The world needs to be aware of this.

Many years ago I became aware that the academic research approach was never going to be a way to achieve my goals. Despite criticism from my major professor and Ph.D. committee, I chose to go into industrial research instead of pursuing an academic research career after earning my Ph.D. Why is that?

Despite the fact that teaching requirements of academic researchers interferes tremendously with focusing on science, I had also become very disillusioned by the “publish or perish” mindset in academia that doing research to get publications was more important than doing research to “do good”. This excessive need for publications was because granting organizations counted the number of publications researchers had when determining who gets grants and who doesn’t. The quality of the publications in a researcher’s CV was far less important than the number of publications.

I was also stunned by the misappropriation of funds granted by NSF, NIH, etc. by the academic researchers, as well as the misappropriation of grant funding by the granting organizations themselves.

And I was just as stunned at the number of misleading studies submitted for publication by the researchers just to increase their total number of publications, despite the fact that no one, not even the scientists themselves that published the studies, could later reproduce the studies. I saw it as a vicious catch-22 where researchers would misrepresent themselves when applying for grants, while granting organizations weren’t really qualified to determine which researchers were misrepresenting themselves. As such, it was chaos when it came to determining who deserved grant funding and who didn’t. And no one was monitoring the chaos, misappropriation, and misrepresentation. To succeed, researchers had to learn to play ball with the system. And the whole system found that to be acceptable.

When I was in graduate school, I saw my own major professor learn to play ball when being honest wasn’t working. Our lab was about to fail after every grant application was turned down. My major professor then told us all that, as a last-ditch effort, he was going to re-draft the grant application to include the word “cancer” at least two times on every page, and then re-submit the grant application to the Cancer Society. The discord with this was that we were doing research to study the process of converting light into energy in plants by way of chloroplasts. We weren’t doing cancer research by any stretch of the imagination. Nevertheless, while I was packing up my stuff, ready to find a new research lab to work in, the lab manager came running into the lab yelling that the Cancer Society just granted the lab every penny we were asking for. I felt both relief and disappointment at the same time. Despite the relief, it finalized my decision to seek a better route to achieve my goals, than academia, after getting my Ph.D.

My choice for research, in order to rid the world of debilitation, death, and unhappiness, was to find a cure for aging – not just for us, but for our pets also. Aging is the major cause of almost every health-related problem in the world. And, then, after curing aging, I planned to also pursue the curing of all the non-aging related health problems of the world too, including alcoholism, debilitating injuries, debilitating genetics, etc. But the further I got in my quests, the more I realized that the science was not the obstacle to achieving all my goals.

While still close to receiving my Ph.D. I applied for, and was offered work, at many industrial labs. But none of them were interested in curing aging. So, reluctantly, I also applied, and was offered work, in many academic labs that were supposedly focused on curing aging. But when I visited the labs to consider them as a place to pursue my goals, I found that none of them were really interested in curing aging. They just saw the field as a good field to do research to get publications. So, I accepted the offer at one of the industrial labs thinking that I would resume my quest to cure aging after I demonstrated my ability to succeed with whatever I was challenged with.

Like academia, I was disillusioned again. But this time it was because industrial labs were occupied by scientists still brainwashed into the “publish or perish” mindset, and most the lab owners and investors were only focused on financial returns on investment, and not at all on humanitarian returns on investment. I quickly learned that traditional investors invest in the dream, but not the dream coming true. No wonder cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and all the other diseases on the planet are still not cured yet.

Nevertheless, after becoming a key inventor of more biotech blockbusters than anyone on the planet and becoming recognized worldwide as a top scientist, I was finally able to start my own company, Sierra Sciences, 18 years later, to focus on humanitarian returns on investment; starting with curing aging.

It had become clearly obvious to me many years earlier that no matter what anyone did to cure aging, aging would never be cured unless the telomere shortening problem was also solved. And so, that was, and still is, Sierra Sciences’ main goal until it is completed.

Still the struggle to complete the goal continues because traditional investors, would rather redirect scientific efforts towards quick returns on investments, which include selling the company and all our intellectual property, as soon as demonstration of their goals was achieved. So, finding new alternative ways to fund the “do good” research was continually necessary.

Now I feel like I almost stand alone in my quest to “do good” along with a few other like-minded colleagues. But we all struggle to find ways to succeed in a world focused on profits. I welcome a change in the world towards focusing on “doing good” instead of just doing what is profitable. But because I am a hard-core scientist, I really don’t know if Trump’s plans, described in the April 25 New York Times, are really to rid the world of the misappropriation of funds and the misrepresentation of the science by researchers, in order to pursue the same ideals that I have. I can only hope for the best.

Dr. Bill Andrews (William H. Andrews) is the Biotechnology Advisor of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and the President and CEO of Sierra Sciences. As a scientist, athlete, and executive, he continually pushes the envelope and challenges convention. He has been featured in Popular Science, The Today Show and numerous documentaries on the topic of life extension. Find out more about him here.

Why Is Trump So Intent on Sending Illegal Immigrant Noncriminals to Prison Camps in El Salvador? – Article by Alex Nowrasteh

June 2, 2025 Alex Nowrasteh Comments 0 Comment

Alex Nowrasteh

Editor’s Note: This article was republished from Laissez-Faire, Laissez-Passer with the permission of Alex Nowrasteh. Original link found below.

~ Zach Richardson, Director of Publication, United States Transhumanist Party, June 2, 2025

The Trump administration is rapidly spending down its political capital and attacking the courts by deporting noncriminals to El Salvador. In its zeal to speed deportations and close the border, it declared MS-13 and Tren de Aragua terrorist organizations, even though the latter is a loosely organized Venezuelan prison gang while the former is a criminal gang. Then, it claimed several Venezuelan and Salvador migrants in the US are members of those gangs on flimsy evidence. Lastly, Trump used the Alien Enemies Act to deport some migrants without due process to Salvadoran supermax prisons when he claimed they were members of those gangs. Some of the deportations likely even violated federal court orders, and around three-quarters of them had no criminal record.

Not even the Bush administration attempted such brazen unconstitutional violations of civil liberties in the aftermath of 9/11, which was a real national crisis. Today’s crisis is fake. Unlike al Qaeda, illegal immigrants in Tren de Aragua or MS-13 didn’t commit a terrorist attack. Nobody has ever been murdered in an attack on US soil committed by terrorists who entered as illegal immigrants. If deportees like Kilmar Abrego Garcia were all vicious criminals or terrorists, then their deportations wouldn’t be a political scandal. A legal squabble, a few headlines, perhaps a disturbing court case, and an attack on our institutions, but a sitting US Senator certainly wouldn’t have visited him. Moreover, the President of El Salvador wouldn’t have staged the photo to make Abrego Garcia look like he was on vacation, and Trump wouldn’t be digging in to keep him there. If Trump’s deportation dragnet had real MS-13 kingpins to boast about, he wouldn’t need to bend the law to toss Abrego García — a man with no convictions — into a foreign prison. The fact that a U.S. Senator had to intervene in Abrego García’s case speaks volumes: it shows how extraordinary and unjustified this policy is.

Abrego Garcia wasn’t the first. Before him, Trump deported Venezuelan asylum-seeker Andry Hernández Romero to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. Why such a harsh punishment for an asylum-seeker who was a makeup artist? A disgraced former Milwaukee police officer turned prison contractor who lost his job after drunkenly crashing his car into a house claimed that Hernández Romero was a Tren de Aragua member. Turns out that Hernández Romero was not a member of that jumbled prison gang, but he hasn’t been heard from since arriving in El Salvador. Hernández Romero’s case is even more tragic, and it underscores the same point: lacking actual criminals, the administration went after an innocent asylum-seeker — and had to rely on a sketchy ex-cop’s tattoo paranoia to do it. Over the dissents of the Supreme Court’s most conservative judges, the Court temporarily paused the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport people.

This wasn’t how Trump’s mass deportations were supposed to begin. He campaigned on the promise to deport hordes of dangerous illegal immigrant criminals. If they’re out there, where are they? Why is his administration targeting Abrego Garcia and Hernández Romero, men with no criminal convictions? Sure, a corrupt police officer who was fired for blackmailing a prostitute claimed Abrego Garcia was MS-13. Another disgraced cop pointed to Hernández Romero’s tattoos. But with no convictions, no hearings, and no trials, these deportations aren’t about justice. They’re about appearances. Why is Trump focusing so much energy attacking Abrego Garcia and keeping Hernández Romero in El Salvador while ignoring the legions of murderers he and his supporters claim are ravaging our communities?

Those legions of illegal immigrant criminals don’t exist. The overwhelming evidence is that illegal immigrants are less likely to be criminals than native-born Americans. Texas has the best data on illegal immigrant criminal convictions of any state. The illegal immigrant criminal conviction rate in Texas is around half the rate of native-born Americans. Legal immigrants? 58 percent lower. Focusing on homicide, the most serious crime and best one to study here, illegal immigrants are 26 percent less likely to be convicted.

Georgia recently started reporting illegal immigrant incarceration data. In late 2024, when Laken Riley’s murderer was convicted, illegal immigrants were about 15 percent less likely to be incarcerated than the rest of the state’s population and 32 percent less likely to be incarcerated for homicide. The incarceration rates are similar in Oklahoma. The three states (all conservative) that track illegal immigrant crime all contradict Trump’s story.

Texas, Georgia, and Oklahoma are probably not outliers, but they could be. Estimates of the illegal immigrant incarceration rate using a residual statistical method to analyze American Community Survey data fill the gap. The illegal immigrant incarceration rate is between 31 percent and 56 percent below that of native-born Americans every year. Similar to the Texas data, the legal immigrant incarceration rate is between 65 percent and 75 percent below that of native-born Americans.

The evidence is overwhelming that illegal immigrants have a low crime rate for any number of reasons. Perhaps the worst are deported after their first arrests so they can’t become recidivists – which demolishes the nativist claim that illegal immigrants go relatively unpunished in America. Regardless, the myth of the illegal immigrant crime wave persists in the face of overwhelming evidence. There are several crimes committed by illegal immigrants, and those criminals should be harshly punished, but we can’t confuse the occasional horrible crime with a statistical trend that isn’t there.

The Trump administration is trying to deport illegal immigrant criminals who simply aren’t here. Faced with few real threats, it conjures imaginary ones—deporting noncriminals to dangerous foreign prisons to keep up the fear. He ran further ahead on immigration than any other issue during the 2024 campaign and is still ahead even though his approval is falling. Since there just aren’t that many illegal immigrant criminals, the administration must focus on removing people who aren’t criminals to keep their deportation promises. That’s why ICE is targeting Japanese students who caught too many fish and graduate students who wrote op-eds, even though illegal immigrant criminals are the easiest to deport because they are already in law enforcement custody.

Where are the hordes of terrorists and murderers Trump promised to deport? Unfortunately for Trump, Abrego Garcia is reminding everybody that there just aren’t that many illegal immigrant terrorists and criminals. Hernández Romero doesn’t politically matter as much because he’s less likely to legally be returned, but his case is even worse. Both are supposed criminal gangbangers deported to El Salvador, a country lionized by conservatives for reasons both understandable and mythical. The administration is so desperate to make Abrego Garcia a symbol of an illegal immigrant crime wave that never happened that they even tweeted a picture of President Trump holding up a photoshopped image of Abrego Garcia with tattoos that he doesn’t possess.

Abrego Garcia probably isn’t an angel, even though we don’t really know because he was denied due process before being incarcerated abroad after being illegally deported. Hernández Romero is an even more tragic case, but his legal ability to return is basically nonexistent, so few people pay attention to him. Trump’s scandalous deportation of noncriminals to supermax prisons in El Salvador without due process, his unconscionable violation of court orders, and his silly public defenses make more sense when you realize that he’s staked much of his political career on the falsehood that there’s a massive illegal immigrant crime wave. Immigration law allows most illegal immigrants to be deported, but it’s a political win when they are terrorists or criminals. Trump’s actions are those of a desperate and committed president, but certainly not those of a president committed to parsing facts, confronting reality, and protecting the Constitution. Trump can’t keep his promise to deport illegal immigrant criminals because there aren’t that many to deport. But that hasn’t stopped him – and it won’t.

Alex Nowrasteh is the Vice-President of economic and social policy studies at the Cato Institute.

Originally published at: https://www.alexnowrasteh.com/p/why-is-trump-so-intent-on-sending

Tribute to John Kerecz (1961 – 2025)

May 28, 2025 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 2 comments

The U.S. Transhumanist Party and the broader transhumanist community have been devastated by the loss of John Kerecz, one of the USTP’s most dedicated Officers and its Director of Energy Issues since 2020, who died unexpectedly on May 16, 2025, at the age of 63. On May 8, he tore his quadriceps and was expected to go in for surgery during the week that he died. However, before he was able to receive the surgery, he succumbed suddenly to a pulmonary embolism that resulted from his injury. John Kerecz’s official obituary can be found here.

John’s involvement with the U.S. Transhumanist Party spanned the past five and three-quarters years – since August 2019, when he entered the USTP Presidential Primary as one of the candidates seeking our nomination. Out of all of the candidates competing during that primary, John has made the most enduring impact upon our organization, continuing to serve as a USTP Officer since 2020 and remaining a major source of insight, stability, and good sense – always being steadfast in his support of his fellow Officers and the USTP as an organization.

He interviewed multiple transhumanists, including USTP Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II, 2024 Presidential Candidate Tom Ross, and 2024 Vice-Presidential Candidate Daniel Twedt, numerous times, and made an appearance on transhumanist shows as well, including Steele Archer’s “Debt Nation” show, and our very own Virtual Enlightenment Salon, where he presented on January 23, 2022, about his epic 2014 journey to the edge of space. John was a prolific content creator, releasing videos on his OSH Radio channel up to the very day of his death. He was a man who loved life and lived it to the fullest, whose adventures in travel and in the realms of the mind made for a story unlike any other – whose richness of experience we can only imagine, and whose irreplaceable internal universe is now unfortunately lost to us. John wanted to live, to create more, to experience more. Now all we have of him is what he left behind. It is but a shadow of the man himself, but still, it is a lot.

On Sunday, May 25, 2025, the U.S. Transhumanist Party streamed a video tribute to John Kerecz to celebrate his many contributions to the advancement of transhumanism. In it you will see and hear just an infinitesimal fraction of what John Kerecz was about, but we hope that it will still give you a glimpse of his many thoughtful ideas on transhumanist topics and politics more generally.

This tribute features John Kerecz’s first video appearance in the transhumanist community, on Episode 46 of Steele Archer’s Debt Nation show (aired on August 20, 2019), where Steele Archer asked John Kerecz a series of questions to form a comprehensive candidate profile.

The tribute continues with excerpts from the September 14, 2019, Third Virtual Debate of U.S. Transhumanist Party Presidential Primary Candidates, with a specific focus on John Kerecz’s responses to the debate questions.

The last half-hour of the stream features some of John’s musical creations, including the last music videos he ever posted. They are enjoyable, thought-provoking, and speak to profound themes of life, death, and purpose – which John explored up until the very end.

John Kerecz was a prolific content creator, releasing videos on his OSH Radio channel up to the very day of his death. His videos can be viewed here.

John Kerecz also maintained several websites at https://oshradio.com/, https://johnkerecz.com/, and https://crazyjohnkerecz.com/.

Watch the Virtual Enlightenment Salon with John Kerecz, where he presented on his epic 2014 journey to the edge of space, streamed on January 23, 2022.

Of all of the people in our transhumanist community, John left perhaps the most extensive public mindfile behind. We hope that it will be of benefit to humanity and give us all an enduring impression of who John Kerecz was, so that we may continue to benefit from his wisdom and be inspired by his incredible versatility as a creator. We only wish that he had been here with us to continue to enjoy these works himself and to create many others. John ended many of his short videos with the words, “Live long and prosper”. Unfortunately, he will not get to. But we know that he would wish it for us. Thank you to all of you today who join us in remembering him. He will be missed in ways that cannot be replaced and will not be forgotten.

Biography of John Kerecz, Written by Himself

John Joseph Kerecz (September 10, 1961 – May 16, 2025) lived a life rich in accomplishments, goal-reaching, and harnessing his talents. Though he had an impressive professional and educational legacy, having worked for more than thirty-five years in engineering and technological fields, he was better known by his friends and loved ones as the owner of OSHRadio.com and as an adventurer with well-rounded and fulfilled ambitions. Kerecz also had a passion for the arts; he had authored books (nine of which are listed on Amazon), appeared in various films, and started being a part-time radio and TV personality in the early 1980s. His dynamic range of professional, thrill-seeking, and artistic experiences painted him as a dreamer with no limits.

Kerecz had an impressive repertoire of world travel experiences, having even been launched into the edge of space from Sokol Airbase in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. This endeavor was inspired by his always-present admiration of outer space, and his inability to take no for an answer when it came to the question of whether or not he could get close to it! He also wouldn’t take no for an answer when it came to the question of accomplishing other dreams; for example, he needed to undergo a hip-replacement surgery, but this did not stop him from taking a seven-country hiking trip shortly afterward. One of the countries on this trip was Tibet, and he had the pleasure of trekking across the land of temples and nature, eventually reaching a base camp at Mount Everest. Other countries on this trip included China, Turkey, Italy, and more. He fulfilled his dream of visiting the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu in 2024.

It is no surprise that if someone had asked Kerecz as a child what he wanted to be when he grew up, he would have said that he aspired to become a superhero! Though this may not be the most expected answer for a child to provide, it showed that he had big dreams and boundless confidence from a young age. He considered his experience in practicing karate and kung-fu, as well as his familial influences, as being positively impactful on his childhood. He prospered in school, having taken to heart the advice of art teachers who dared him to dream even bigger, and having paid close attention to his lectures in science classes.

Kerecz called central Pennsylvania his home. He received both his Bachelor and Master of Science degrees at Penn State University. Additionally, however, he considered “home” to be anywhere his loved ones were. Throughout his adventures, his loved ones supported him and remained the most important factor in his life. They lovingly knew him as spontaneous and crazy, using these words only to reflect on his naturally fun and daring manner. When he was not working, spending time with loved ones, or trekking around the world, he liked to exercise his body and mind. Kerecz enjoyed visiting the gym and reading books, especially works by Anne Rice.

His repertoire of experiences led him to hold closely onto ideals of peace and love. He was dynamically spiritual, having Christian and some Buddhist Zen beliefs. John Kerecz believed that everything happens for a reason and that everyone was born for a specific purpose. He truly followed this belief, setting an example of how people should explore their own destinies.

The Visionary Architect of Tomorrow: Digital Painting in Honor of John Kerecz, Generated by Cybor Dre

U.S. Transhumanist Party member Cybor Dre created this digital portrait in honor of John Kerecz, whose hope was to become a space archaeologist in a later career, to both see the advancement of the human / transhuman multi-planetary civilization and to uncover other civilizations and artifacts that we might come across as our civilization expands. John Kerecz will always be remembered as one of the forward-thinking champions of humankind’s future – a precursor to our species’ journey to the stars. His name will be written in the stars as one of the visionaries who made the future Transhuman Era possible.

John Kerecz will be missed by everyone in the transhumanist community and all those whose lives he affected for the better.

**Interviews with John Kerecz on Steele Archer’s Debt Nation Show**

Episode 46: Candidate Profile: John J. Kerecz – August 20, 2019

Episode 60: Dream BIG!: Radio Star John J. Kerecz – August 30, 2019

Episode 66: Climate Change Solutions!: Daniel Yeluashvili, John Kerecz – September 6, 2019

Episode 98: Our Cosmos / Planetary Society: David Craig and John Kerecz – October 11, 2019

Episode 103: Explore Mars: John Kerecz and Jeffrey Gonyea – October 13, 2019

Episode 124: Magic and Transhumanism: John Kerecz and Trenton Caine – November 7, 2019

Episode 134: Transhumanist Projects: John Kerecz – November 13, 2019

Episode 156: “Get Busy Living or Get Busy Dying”: John Kerecz – February 4, 2020

Episode 206: The United States of Crazy!: John Kerecz – March 30, 2020

Interviews by John Kerecz

John Kerecz’s Interview with Steele Archer – November 14, 2019

John Kerecz’s First Interview with David Shumaker – July 28, 2020

John Kerecz’s First Interview with Tom Ross – August 25, 2020

John Kerecz’s Second Interview with Tom Ross – October 12, 2020

John Kerecz’s Second Interview with David Shumaker: Elections and Much More – October 29, 2020

John Kerecz’s First Interview with Gennady Stolyarov II: Putting Science Health & Technology at the Forefront! – November 8, 2020

John Kerecz and Gennady Stolyarov II: U.S. 2020 Election Aftermath and Transhumanist Party Update – January 9, 2021

Coffee Interview with Jennifer A. Huse – May 12, 2021

Follow-Up Interview with Jennifer A. Huse – September 15, 2021

Gennady Stolyarov II and John Kerecz: Reflections on 2021, Anticipations for 2022 – January 14, 2022

John Kerecz Interviews David Shumaker and Susan Cutforth After RAADfest, with Guest Appearance by Gennady Stolyarov II – October 14, 2022

Interview with 2024 Presidential Candidate Thomas E. Ross – May 31, 2023

Interview with 2024 Vice-Presidential Candidate Daniel E. Twedt – July 6, 2023

John Kerecz Interivews Gennady Stolyarov II on the Potential Future of American Politics – July 13, 2023

Gennady Stolyarov II and John Kerecz: Tom Ross Vote, 2024 US Politics, AI, and Positive-Sum Thinking – January 20, 2024

John Kerecz Interviews Gennady Stolyarov II on U.S. Politics in 2024 and the Ross-Twedt Campaign – April 30, 2024

Interview with Presidential Candidate Tom Ross – May 9, 2024

John Kerecz Interviews Gennady Stolyarov II on Changes in U.S. Politics – July 30, 2024

Gennady Stolyarov II and John Kerecz: Discussion on U.S. Politics Prior to the 2024 Election – October 3, 2024

Post-2024-Election Discussion: U.S. Transhumanist Party Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II and John Kerecz – December 21, 2024

Tom Ross – Short Interview : Transhumanists Getting Coffee and Food Series – January 3, 2025

John Kerecz Interviews Gennady Stolyarov II on the First Two Months of the Trump Administration – March 21, 2025

Books and Pamphlets by John Kerecz (Available on Amazon)

♦ Stress Release in 5 Minutes a Day through American Wisdom (May 18, 2016)

♦ Dream It, Do It: The Story of Little Chuck (June 12, 2018)

♦ The Sky Really is the Limit: An Autobiography (February 28, 2019)

♦ The Life and Adventures of DR JON KZ: Book 2: Pause Game (October 7, 2019)

♦ The Life and Adventures of DR JON KZ: Book 3: Restart (October 7, 2019)

♦ Jay’s Friends: A Dr Jon Kz Adventures Companion Book (The Life and Adventures of Dr Jon Kz) (May 7, 2020)

♦ Morals and Machines: Theology and AI Technology (May 14, 2020)

♦ The Unbelievable Life of DR JON KZ (January 13, 2021)

♦ Be a Force of Nature (September 30, 2021)

♦ In Support of STEAM: Science. Technology. Engineering. Arts. Math in our Education System (February 19, 2022)

♦ An Introduction to the Main Tenets of Self-Defense: KereKwan Hapkido Hosinsul (July 5, 2022)

♦ The Future of Energy?: My Thoughts (January 5, 2023)

♦ The Dojo Blueprint: Martial Arts as the Key to Leadership & Lifelong Success: Martial Arts is Far More Than a Physical Discipline (April 19, 2025)

Books to Which John Kerecz Made Contributions

♦ Elite Martial Artists Worldwide Volume III: Secrets to Life, Leadership & Business by Jessie Bowen (April 11, 2025)

The Copenhagen Consensus – How to Feed the Hungry – Article by Zach Richardson

March 30, 2025 Zach Richardson Comments 0 Comment

Zach Richardson

Editor’s Note: The United Nations has put forth a series of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), but a core truth of economics is scarcity. If one goes to the grocery store, one has a budget for their purchase and cannot buy one of everything. It makes good sense to listen to economists’ opinions when it comes to prioritizing which of the SDGs to focus on first. This article focuses on SDG 2, ending hunger.

~ Zach Richardson, Director of Publication, United States Transhumanist Party, March 30, 2025

The Goals

There are 17 goals in The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a resolution adopted by U.N. Member States in 2015 to help guide country-wide decision making and provide a shared vision to work with. The first 3 of these goals are to end poverty, end hunger, and ensure health for all people, everywhere.

It is common for leaders to try to make large lofty-sounding promises that have delivery dates far in the future. They get the credit, accolades, and photo opportunities now, while actual implementation on or delivery of the promises is dealt with later by someone else.

It is now 2025, and 10 of those 15 years have passed, and there is one organization that is saying, “Alright everyone, we’d better actually start working on implementation if we want to get close to hitting these targets.” That organization is a think tank called The Copenhagen Consensus (TCC).

The core philosophy of TCC is that there are no solutions in economics, there are only tradeoffs. If there is a certain amount of money to be used and we want to squeeze every last ounce of goodness out of each penny we spend, we’re best off focusing on realistic targets that have a high “ROI”, so to speak.

Regarding SDG 2, ending hunger, if we were to focus on one target, it should be what is called “stunting”, which is when a fetus/child does not receive enough nutrients in the first 1000 days after conception, and ends up permanently shorter. But that “stunting” also includes “stunted brain development”. With reduced neuronal/cortical development come poorer concentration, worse grades, and lower scores on tests of cognitive development.

A specific target of SDG 2 is to reduce stunting by 50% by 2030. The trendline shows us about 36 million children short of that goal if we don’t make some changes:

One major cause of stunting is a lack of many micronutrients during gestation. These are vitamins that are needed in small quantities for health. Right now most governments already have infrastructure to provide pregnant mothers with folic acid and iron as per WHO requirements, and multivitamins are mass-produced such that providing coverage for the last two trimesters of pregnancy comes out to just $1.55 per pregnant mother, with another $1.12 per mother needed in terms of educational programs about the importance of their use.

Simple supplementation would reduce the risks of stillbirths, early births, and lower birth weight. TCC estimates a massive 38x ROI for the supplementation of these vitamins due to the fact that early births and lower birth weight due to malnutrition would prevent a nearly 5-point loss of IQ, leading to the children being more economically productive and less likely to be dependent.

After birth, children in the 6-to-23-month window are most often lacking essential fatty acids and proteins, which is where another TCC intervention comes in: SQ-LNS. This stands for “Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements” and are small 20-70 g packages of lipids and nutrients that can be easily transported and shelf-stable.

The costs of the SQ-LNS supplements is $2.79 per child per month, with a separate but equally crucial $2.23 for the costs of logistics and distribution, or a total of $5/month/child. For a birth cohort of 41 million children, this totals $3.7 billion. This will avoid 155,000 deaths for a benefit of $45.7 billion. Getting the SQ-LNS to all 41 million would would avoid stunting for 1.5 million, meaning being more developed, studious, and socially productive, reflecting in higher wages of $5875 per child. TCC analysis showed this would result in $5.4 billion in productivity. Sum totals showed $51 billion in benefits for a little under $4 billion annually, a phenomenal ROI.

Between the supplements, education, distribution, and SQ-LNS, we’re looking at a cost of $1.2 billion to get back $22 billion, which has a cost-to-benefit ratio of 18.

The reason I like these proposals is they seem to have concrete numbers behind them, and seem to directly address a specific target of the UN’s SDGs, but they do so with a focus on solving the problem in the most efficient manner, at minimum cost, which I believe makes the solution most palatable to world leaders, and therefore most likely to receive implementation.

In summation, while some say there is enough food to everyone, they often don’t seem to have a solid explanation for how the leftover Brussels sprouts on my plate are going to make it into a hungry mouth in Sudan. Moreover, government support requires manageable targets. With 5 years left until the 2030 SDG target needs to be reached, TCC provides a compelling case on how to handle a specific hunger target, with a specific amount of money, by a certain date.

Zach Richardson is the Director of Publication for the U.S. Transhumanist Party. Learn more about him here.

The Issue of Food – Article by Luis Arroyo

March 30, 2025 Luis Arroyo Comments 4 comments

Luis Arroyo

Editor’s Note: In this article on food insecurity, USTP member Luis Arroyo shares his thoughts and opinions. While it may seem odd for a Transhumanist publication to post articles on child hunger, it ties closely to this excerpt from The Transhumanist Manifesto: “We must improve the global quality of life. An economy of abundance is not about how much; it is about how good—a quality of life that provide basic human needs, freedom, well-being, and that advances opportunity and potential.” Being that one of the most basic human needs is adequate nutritional intake, increasing the maximum lifespan of some in the world is as simple as providing them more food.

~ Zach Richardson, Director of Publication, United States Transhumanist Party, March 30, 2025

In the modern-day society, 828 million people still go hungry while the number of undernourished people has grown to now encompass 10% of humanity [1]. This is a grim reality faced by many all over the world, showing clearly, the situation of world hunger is dire. Defined by many forms, levels, and instances of hunger dictated by various conditions like climate change, conflict, and cost most represented by nations like Ethiopia, Haiti, Nigeria, South Sudan, Honduras, Yemen, and 14 other nations that are designated as “hunger hotspots”, with the situation seemingly doomed to worsen [2].

Dismal as this situation may be, food insecurity is an issue suffered in many places. In the USA 38 million people struggle with food insecurity. With hunger rising through the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, many witnessed mile-long lines for food banks and hungry/desperate people trying to get food out of dumpsters, only to be violently dealt with by police who “protected” the discarded food, making sure that hungry people could not obtain it. All the while, this was vastly ignored by those in power [3] [4].

Considering all of the people both in the USA and around the world who face hunger and food insecurity, it goes without saying there is an array of effects on the health of an individual who goes through hunger or is food insecure. Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, delayed development in young children, risk of chronic illnesses like asthma and anemia, behavioral problems like hyperactivity, anxiety, as well as aggression in school-age children – all haunt those unfortunate enough to have to experience hunger or food insecurity [5] [6].

These health complications do not come without deadly consequences. For example, one person is estimated to die of hunger every four seconds, meaning roughly 7+ million people die potentially per year due to hunger [7]. These are absolutely staggering losses, serving as modern-day instances of social murder and, among many things, lost potential to contribute and enjoy life.

Such losses, as many as there are and will continue to be, are utterly needless within the context of our global society. Civilization as a whole produces enough food to feed 10 billion people with a global population of just 8 billion people [8]. This reality, coupled with the vast amount of deaths due to hunger, calls into question the efficiency of food distribution and the motives which dictate that distribution, especially when considering the approximately US$1 trillion of wasted food, which is enough to feed half of the world’s population [9].

There are many issues regarding food, as referred to earlier. However, whether is it food wasted rather than being used to feed the hungry, being held behind a price barrier, the lack of market access due to conflict, or crop failures due to climate change, their roots lay within the profit motive, from the war industry’s profitable ventures in relation to Yemen to the energy industry’s ongoing reluctance to change pace fast enough to meet the challenges of global warming.

With all this said, Transhumanists, in prioritizing human health, quality of life, and life itself should advocate for and support the redistribution of food as a rapid response toward eradicating global hunger. If achieved, this would undoubtedly extend life spans, improve quality of life, further maintain the health of countless people who would have otherwise likely perished, and serve as an important milestone in human history [10].

Society has had for some time the technological and societal means to eradicate hunger. For example, Burkina Faso from 1983 – 1987 under Thomas Sankara saw two meals a day and clean water distributed to every person in their nation, which helped to rid Burkina Faso of hunger. This was part of a broader successful attempt that also involved a “one grove, one village” policy that was part of their agroecology effort.

Modern means and abilities, along with the producible surplus of today, make the eradication of hunger more achievable than ever before.

Unfortunately, the situation of today puts society far off from the eradication of hunger [11], leaving many more lives to be inevitably lost. Given the grim and unchanging future that seemingly awaits humanity if action is not taken, as global trends have well shown, people must consider taking action themselves, with the sheer reality of today’s situation demanding urgency and action from multiple fronts.

Whether that be in the form of mutual aid organizations, community gardens or groves, food networks, community fridges, cabinets, vertical farming efforts, etc., the state of food security must be achieved by any means necessary, being that governments cannot be expected to supply their citizens with the basics of life. Therefore, communities must build independent systems of reliance until governments are accountable to the people and not business interests.

Luis Arroyo is Vice-Chairman of the New York Transhumanist Party.

References

[1] “World Hunger Facts“. Action Against Hunger.

[2] “Hunger Hotspots: FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity, June to October 2024 outlook“. World Food Programme.

[3] “Americans Wait in Miles-Long Food Lines Amid Coronavirus“. Bethany Biron. Business Insider. April 2020.

[4] “Police clash with residents attempting to salvage discarded groceries following power outage“. Joseph Choi. The Hill. February 17, 2021.

[5] “Importance of Nutrition on Health in America“. Feeding America.

[6] “Impact of Hunger: Tough choices. Devastating consequences.” Feeding America.

[7] “Humanitarian organisations estimate one person dying of hunger every four seconds“. Action Against Hunger, CARE International, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief Worldwide, Oxfam International, Plan International, Save the Children International, World Vision International, and, Yemen Family Care Association. September 20, 2022.

[8] Holt-Giménez, Eric & Shattuck, Annie & Altieri, Miguel & Herren, Hans & Gliessman, Steve. (2012). We Already Grow Enough Food for 10 Billion People … and Still Can’t End Hunger. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture – J SUSTAINABLE AGR. 36. 595-598. 10.1080/10440046.2012.695331.

[9] “Food waste in the supply chain“. Food Engineering. May 11, 2018.

[10] “Benefits of Healthy Eating for Adults.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. February 14, 2024.

[11] “Goal 2: Zero Hunger“. Sustainable Development Goals. United Nations.

Results of Platform Vote #9 and Vote on Proposals on Investigations and Emergency Declarations; Adopted Sections of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Constitution

March 13, 2025 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Gennady Stolyarov II

The U.S. Transhumanist Party conducted its twentieth vote of the members and the ninth vote on its Platform planks, as well as a vote on two competing sets of proposals on investigations and emergency declarations, between February 17 and March 10, 2025. Official ballot options can be found here.

Detailed results of the voting have been tabulated here. In three instances, where no majority was reached in the first round of voting, options were selected based on the ranked-preference method with instant runoffs.

As a result, the following new or amended sections of Article VI of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Constitution, as well as the new Article IX of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Constitution, were adopted.

Article VI. Platform [New Sections]

Section CXIX [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: Given that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world and will not end as long as immunity from vaccination or prior infection can be bypassed by subsequent mutated escape variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the United States Transhumanist Party supports concerted scientific and technological efforts to eliminate COVID-19 as a threat to public health. These efforts may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

(i) Development of a universal vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that would work against all possible variants of the virus and would confer lasting immunity.

(ii) Development of antibodies that are capable of neutralizing any variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

(iii) Development of reliable cures for all varieties of Long COVID or Post-COVID Syndrome.

The United States Transhumanist Party considers only scientific and technological solutions to be capable of eliminating COVID-19 as a threat to public health and does not support lockdowns, restrictions on individual liberty or medical choice, or demonization of individuals who make any personal health choices regarding their approach to COVID-19 precautions – including individuals who take extensive, moderate, mild, or no precautions. The United States Transhumanist Party also holds that no individual should be compelled to undertake any behaviors that may expose that individual to greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

Section CXX [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party supports approaching technologies of artificial intelligence primarily as opportunities rather than as threats. The potential of artificial intelligence, including generative AI, to foster creativity, solve problems, cure diseases, create new opportunities, and facilitate radical abundance far outweighs the risks and dangers of AI.

The United States Transhumanist Party recognizes that AI safety and AI alignment are important pursuits to maximize the probability of predominantly beneficial consequences from future AI systems.

Furthermore, the United States Transhumanist Party supports restrictions on the ability to use AI systems for intentionally destructive purposes; such restrictions would include a ban on autonomous weapons.

In addition, AI policy needs to address the known risks and harms that are created passively or unintentionally based on the human bias used while creating said AI. Stopping the intentional use of AI for harm does not go far enough, and it is necessary to ensure that AI is immune to biases such racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and other similar forms of bias.

However, these efforts should be undertaken in a rational, proportionate, evidence-based manner, avoiding unsubstantiated speculation, alarmist hype, and doomsday pronouncements. Furthermore, the United States Transhumanist Party opposes any efforts to restrict individual liberty or initiate physically aggressive action against other individuals or countries in the name of stopping allegedly dangerous AI development.

Section CXXI [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: Recognizing that the achievement of reversible cryopreservation techniques could enable the realization of individuals’ right to life (brutally violated by so-called “natural” death) by waiting until future technologies could bring a cryopreserved patient out of the cryopreserved state and achieve cures for diseases and aging, the United States Transhumanist Party emphasizes the urgency of advancing reversible cryopreservation research. Therefore, the United States Transhumanist Party supports the allocation of an annual funding package of $10 billion for reversible cryopreservation research. This funding shall be expeditiously directed to esteemed research institutions with a proven track record of focusing on the development and implementation of reversible cryopreservation techniques.

Section CXXII [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the implementation of the ‘Public Money for Public Code’ concept, which holds that public money should, where reasonably possible, come to benefit the public first and foremost, and secondarily might also benefit other parties as well.

Public code is understood as code that is publicly available and more commonly referred to as Open Source, for example code released under the GPLv3 (General Public License version 3). The reasoning of ‘Public Money for Public Code’ is that public money should not be spent on proprietary software that benefits a select group of companies, but rather used to support Open-Source projects that are alternatives to proprietary software. As Open-Source software is available for free to the public, said stimulus of Open-Source software could benefit both the public as well as public institutions. An example here could be an alternative to Microsoft Office, such as LibreOffice.

Many Open-Source projects operate via volunteers contributing to the project’s efforts. Opening up the possibility to receive funding for a project could incentivize more people to contribute to a project, and perhaps even use contribution to Open-Source projects as a means of stable income. This incentivizes citizens to participate, as besides the admirable goal of doing good for the public, it also contributes to the participants’ livelihood, or helps them decide to split their worktime between the roles of an employee and a self-employed contributor.

Likewise, this might incentivize software companies to participate as well, as it can earn them revenue. It would, however, be important to observe that companies do not drown out individual contributors, as this could have a detrimental effect on incentivizing public participation.

The public participation would be an important element of the ‘Public Money for Public Code’ implementation, as it would also be a public showcase to stimulate interest in programming in education and beyond.

Section CXXIII [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party supports efforts for social media to improve privacy settings, in granularity, usability, as well as awareness of such privacy features, for users. Better control of privacy can minimize the scraping of information, including information that can be used for identifying targets by malicious actors, from websites.

Section CXXIV [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party supports efforts to restrain government agencies from efforts to limit, oppose, or undermine security initiatives by companies and businesses. For instance, government agencies should not be able to request that private companies build “back doors” into their software to enable government agencies to access digital devices or systems in the course of an investigation. Although their motives might be pure, to uncover criminal activity for example, such efforts can in the process undermine security on a much larger scale. If government agencies can have access, so can malicious actors.

Section CXXV [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party supports efforts to create a security whistleblower initiative where a whistleblower can report known security issues that are not being addressed by a company or government institution. This could also aid the whistleblower in the event that they would suffer negative consequences by their employer for addressing security issues.

Article VI. Platform [Amended Sections]

Section XXVII [Adopted by a vote of the members during March 26 – April 1, 2017; amended by a vote of the members during November 11-17, 2017; amended by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party advocates Constitutional reform to abolish the Electoral College in the United States Presidential elections and render the criterion for the election of President to be an outcome of the popular vote decided by ranked-preference voting or a similar mechanism that allows voters to select multiple options in a manner that more completely expresses their views.

Section XXXVI [Adopted by a vote of the members during May 7-13, 2017; amended by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the elimination of graduated taxation and income taxation more generally. Instead, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates a flat percentage-of-sales tax applicable only to purchases from businesses whose combined nationwide revenues from all affiliates exceed a specified threshold. This tax would not be imposed on life necessities, defined as goods that are consumable in the near term and whose primary purpose is to facilitate human survival. This tax should be built into the price of goods from such large businesses and should not impede transaction efficiency in any manner. Transactions pertaining to wages, salaries, gifts, donations, barter, employee benefits, and inheritances should remain completely untaxed, as should transactions involving solely individuals and/or small businesses, for whom the establishment of a tax-reporting infrastructure would be onerous. Furthermore, all taxes on land and property should be abolished.

Section XCIX [Adopted by a vote of the members during March 25-28, 2020; amended by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party advocates for all American residents to continue to receive free health care for the disease of COVID-19, including free testing, vaccination, antiviral medications, and any other services involved in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. The priority for this program should be to prevent massive and irreparable economic and health disruptions to the lives of Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic. Requiring consumers and patients to pay for COVID-related care would increase the number of people who refuse to obtain vaccination or treatment for purely financial reasons, thus amplifying the difficulty of ever defeating COVID-19 – an endeavor that is aided by maximizing the amount of immunity and available health care for the population.

Section CI [Adopted by a vote of the members during March 25-28, 2020; amended by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: In recognition that the recent unprecedented and prolonged patterns of flight delays and cancellations at United States airports create situations of unacceptable detriments to quality of life and mobility to American passengers and were due directly to the supply-chain disruptions, aircraft shortages, labor shortages, and poor decisions by major airlines to cut staff in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for measures to enable airlines which reduced aircraft counts and dismissed staff during the COVID-19 epidemic to purchase or construct sufficient aircraft to replace the reduced capacity, to actively utilize such aircraft and restore prior routes, and to offer to re-hire all staff members who were dismissed as a result of prior responses to the epidemic. In the event that specific individual former staff members do not wish to return to their previous positions, they should be replaced with others who are willing to take on those roles for appropriate compensation and benefits. Sufficient incentives should be offered to airlines to allow pre-COVID flight, maintenance, and staffing levels to continue indefinitely.

Section CII [Adopted by a vote of the members during March 25-28, 2020; amended by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the recall of as many United States military personnel from overseas stations as reasonably possible, with the exception of those specifically needed to defend American assets and American citizens and to carry out specific and limited previously agreed-upon treaty obligations, and their deployment for the purpose of improving domestic defense, infrastructure, and crisis response in providing peaceful assistance to the civilian population in times of major disruptions to everyday life.

Section CIII [Adopted by a vote of the members during March 25-28, 2020; amended by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the rapid research into effective lasting cures and vaccines for COVID-19, such as antibodies that respond to all variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and vaccines that permanently protect against all such variants, and the harnessing of synergies from this research to also develop a cure for the common cold and more effective vaccination against influenza. Such research should proceed with no barriers, subject to the researchers’ expression of ethical intentions, and any regulations or processes that would delay the progress of such research should be immediately waived or repealed. In the effort to accelerate progress in this field, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for an immediate $100 billion funding package for the rapid development of a universal COVID-19 vaccine that would be permanently effective against all variants, with all volunteers being accepted into human trials as soon as practicable. The United States Transhumanist Party advocates for government funding and release into the public domain of any cure or future vaccine for COVID-19, to be distributed free of charge to those infected with the virus and to all who wish to prevent such infection.

Section CIV [Adopted by a vote of the members during March 25-28, 2020; amended by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: Because biological aging is the number-one risk factor for mortality and disabilities in elderly people, as well as infections of virtually every sort, and thus brutally violates the fundamental rights of people to life and health, the United States Transhumanist Party emphasizes the importance of reversing biological aging as rapidly as possible and thereby protecting more lives, including from future pandemics. Accordingly, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for a permanent, annual $100 billion funding package for anti-aging research, to be immediately distributed to leading research organizations in the field which have in the past specifically identified the defeat and reversal of biological aging as their goals.

Section CX [Adopted by a vote of the members during March 25-28, 2020; amended by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the ongoing, continuous, and indefinite deployment of as many COVID-19 diagnostic tests as possible to the general population, with the aim of achieving universal testing of every American, even those without symptoms, free of charge. Universal testing is necessary to understand the true prevalence of COVID-19 infections and the proportion of serious cases and fatalities relative to actual total cases, not merely reported cases. This would enable a true understanding of the extent of the epidemic’s spread as well as how the rates of serious complications and death compare to the common cold and influenza. The United States Transhumanist Party supports generous aid to manufacturers of effective diagnostic tests for COVID-19 that can recognize emerging variants, such that those tests could be manufactured in sufficient quantity to provide a test to every American who wants one.

The United States Transhumanist Party achieved success in advocating for COVID-19 testing kits to be developed that could result in tests being self-administered by individuals in their own homes. This has reduced the physical contact of individuals being tested with medical practitioners and other patients. However, the United States Transhumanist Party expresses concern regarding significant lack of data about the ongoing prevalence of COVID-19 within communities in the United States. Such data, which used to be tracked rigorously and published regularly, have now become sparse and have failed to capture all sources of COVID-19 infection. In order to be able to track the spread of new variants of the virus, authorities need to return to the level of data collection and publication that existed during the early pandemic in 2020.

Article IX. Emergency Actions [New Sections]

Section I. [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: When executive action is required in the face of a serious threat, the Chairman must have the authority to act decisively.

This Section reasserts the Chairman’s authority to act decisively in defense of individuals, groups, or organizations by expressing the delegated support of the Party for the individual, group, or organization under assault. The Chairman retains the authority to advocate for those individuals, groups, or organizations whose goals align with those of the Party. The Chairman is not required to seek the approval of a majority of the party membership to act on behalf of the Party, nor does he have to provide justification for his support.

Section II. [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The authority of the Chairman to act on behalf of the Party is not intended to supersede the authority of the Party to determine the Party’s position on a particular issue, nor is it intended to diminish the responsibility of the Party to take a position on a particular issue.

The Chairman will retain the authority to act on behalf of the Party, at his or her own discretion, to advocate on behalf of the Party and its members in the event of an emergency, defined as any event that may significantly impact the realization of the goals of the Party as outlined in the Platform.

Section III. [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The Party will seek to continuously empower the Chairman to act on behalf of its members by codifying his/her authority to do so in a manner that is consistent with the principles and standards of the Party, and is consistent with the existing authority of the Party to advocate on behalf of its members as a whole.

The Chairman is empowered to act as the Party’s representative, and to make statements on behalf of the Party, to the media and the public; to advocate on behalf of any individual, group, or organization that supports the Party and its Platform, as well as on behalf of the Party’s members and the Party’s philosophy, goals, and objectives; to promote the Party’s agenda, candidates, and policies; and to respond to attacks on the Party, or on its members, allies, or affiliates.

Section IV. [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]:The Chairman has the ability to designate individuals and organizations as “allies” of the Party at his or her discretion, and to permit such “allies” to represent themselves to the public and the media as “allies” and “members” of the Party. Such “allies” are encouraged but not required to support the Platform.

Section V. [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]:Party members may not seek to compel the Chairman to retract any statement made on behalf of the Party or its allies, affiliates or members; nor may any Party member seek to compel the Chairman to retract any statement made on behalf of the Party or its allies, affiliates, or members by anyone who was so designated by the Chairman. This does not prohibit individual Party members from criticizing a decision of the Chairman, as long as that criticism does not stray into attempted compulsion.

Section VI. [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The Chairman and any of the Chairman’s designees shall strive to ensure the following:

(i) The Party is adequately represented in all communications with the public and the media. In some cases, it may be appropriate to have two or more representatives from the Party speak on behalf of the Party.

(ii) The Party is able to provide key information to the public and the media in a timely manner, through press releases, interviews, and particularly social-media commentary.

(iii) The Party is able to have a significant and positive impact on the outcome or resolution of the emergency.

(iv) The Party is able to respond to attacks on the Party, or on any of its members, allies, or affiliates.

Section VII. [Adopted by a vote of the members during February 17 – March 10, 2025]: The Party hereby empowers the Chairman in a manner that is consistent with the principles and standards of the Party, and is consistent with the existing authority of the Party to advocate on behalf of its members and its Platform. The Party shall further make every effort to ensure that the Party, its members, and the Chairman are able to advocate for the Party and its members on a permanent and eternal basis.

It is in the interest of the Party to remain relevant, not only to the Party itself, but to the public, and it is in the spirit of that interest that the Party empowers the Chairman.

A good-faith effort shall be made to ensure that the Chairman has the opportunity to respond to attacks on the Party, or on any of its members, allies, or affiliates, and finally to ensure that the Chairman is able to engage in the activities described in this Section for the entire substantive duration of any emergency.

Official Ballot Options for Platform Vote #9 and Proposals on Investigations and Emergency Declarations

February 18, 2025 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 3 comments

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The 21-day electronic voting period on the ninth set of proposed platform planks of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and previously exposed proposals on investigations and emergency declarations will occur from 6:00 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time on Monday, February 17, 2025, to 6:00 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time on Monday, March 10, 2025. All members of the U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) who have applied before 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 17, 2025, will be eligible to vote, as long as they have expressed agreement with the three Core Ideals of the USTP or have otherwise been rendered eligible to vote at the discretion of the Chairman.

All members who are eligible to vote will be sent a link to an electronic submission form whereby they will be able to cast their ballot.

When you are voting, it is strongly recommended that you keep this page of official ballot options and the submission form open simultaneously in different windows so that you can reference the relevant options as you vote on them. Due to space limitations, the submission form does not list the entire text of all the options.

It is also recommended that you set aside at least thirty minutes to consider and vote on all of the options and read their text closely, as some of the options contain minor variations upon other options.

For some questions, electronic voting is conducted by a ranked-preference method on individual sections where more options are possible than would be accommodated by a simple “Yes” or “No” vote. Members should keep in mind that the ranked-preference method eliminates the incentives for strategic voting – so members are encouraged to vote for the options that reflect their individual preferences as closely as possible, without regard for how other members might vote.

Results of the voting will be tabulated during mid-March 2025, with the intent to announce the results approximately one week after all votes have been submitted.

NOTE: The titles of the questions and potential Sections are descriptive and informational only and will not appear in the final adopted Platform planks (which will be incorporated into Article VI of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Constitution as regards the Platform provisions and a new Article of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Constitution as regards any proposals on Investigations and Emergency Declarations). They are intended as concise guides to the subject matter of the questions and potential Sections. Likewise, the letters assigned to Sections within this ballot will not reflect the numbering of the final adopted provisions, which will depend on which Sections are selected by the membership.

NOTE II: The inclusion of any proposals on this ballot does not indicate any manner of endorsement for those proposals by the U.S. Transhumanist Party at this time – except to place those proposals before the members to determine the will of the members with regard to whether or not the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform should incorporate any given proposal.

Voter Identification

E-mail address

Provide the same e-mail address you used to register for U.S. Transhumanist Party membership. Your ballot will be cross-referenced to our membership rolls, and only ballots with matching e-mail addresses will be counted.

What is your name?

At minimum, first and last name are required, unless you are publicly known by a single-name pseudonym which is not itself a common name. Your identity will not be publicly disclosed by the Transhumanist Party, unless you choose and/or authorize its disclosure. The nature of the selections made by the members may be disclosed, but, if they are, each individual vote will not be associated with the identity of the voter but rather will be presented in an anonymized manner.

Navigate the Options

Proposed New Platform Sections

Question I. Section E9-A. Defeat of COVID as a Priority
Question II. Section E9-A. Defeat of COVID as a Priority – Ancillary Provisions
Question III. Section E9-A. Defeat of COVID as a Priority – Language Regarding Only Scientific and Technological Solutions Being Supported
Question IV. Section E9-B. Perception of Artificial Intelligence as an Opportunity
Question V. Section E9-B. Perception of Artificial Intelligence as an Opportunity – Ancillary Provisions on Bias and Use of AI in Law Enforcement
Question VI. Section E9-C. Reversible Cryopreservation Techniques
Question VII. Section E9-D. Public Money for Public Code
Question VIII. Section E9-E. Privacy on Social Media
Question IX. Section E9-F. Restraint of Government Agencies’ Efforts to Undermine Private Businesses’ Security Measures
Question X. Section E9-G. Security Whistleblower Program

Proposed Amendments to Existing Platform Sections

Proposals on Investigations and Emergency Declarations

Question XX. Proposals on Investigations and Emergency Declarations

Proposed New Platform Sections

Question I. Section E9-A. Defeat of COVID as a Priority

Shall the following language be adopted as a new Section within the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform?

Given that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world and will not end as long as immunity from vaccination or prior infection can be bypassed by subsequent mutated escape variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the United States Transhumanist Party supports concerted scientific and technological efforts to eliminate COVID-19 as a threat to public health. These efforts may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following: [Enumeration of any Ancillary Options that may be adopted pursuant to Question II.]

Select one of the following options.

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

☐ Abstain.

Question II. Section E9-A. Defeat of COVID as a Priority – Ancillary Provisions

If Section E9-A regarding the defeat of COVID as a priority is adopted as part of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform, shall any of the following ancillary provisions be appended to that Section?

Select all the options you support. (You may select multiple options for this question.) Any option receiving the majority of votes cast will be included in the ultimately adopted plank, unless the “No” option prevails in the vote on Question I above. If you do not favor any of the options below, then you may leave this question blank.

☐ Ancillary Provision E9-A-i. Development of a universal vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that would work against all possible variants of the virus and would confer lasting immunity.

☐ Ancillary Provision E9-A-ii. Development of harmless variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that would outcompete the existing variants without damaging any human or other animal host.

☐ Ancillary Provision E9-A-iii. Development of antibodies that are capable of neutralizing any variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

☐ Ancillary Provision E9-A-iv. Development of reliable cures for all varieties of Long COVID or Post-COVID Syndrome.

Question III. Section E9-A. Defeat of COVID as a Priority – Language Regarding Only Scientific and Technological Solutions Being Supported

If Section E9-A regarding the defeat of COVID as a priority is adopted as part of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform, shall the following additional provision be added to that section?

Provision E9-A-Add-1. The United States Transhumanist Party considers only scientific and technological solutions to be capable of eliminating COVID-19 as a threat to public health and does not support lockdowns, restrictions on individual liberty or medical choice, or demonization of individuals who make any personal health choices regarding their approach to COVID-19 precautions – including individuals who take extensive, moderate, mild, or no precautions. The United States Transhumanist Party also holds that no individual should be compelled to undertake any behaviors that may expose that individual to greater risk of contracting COVID-19.

Select one of the following options.

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

☐ Abstain.

Question IV. Section E9-B. Perception of Artificial Intelligence as an Opportunity

Rank-order the Section E9-B Options that you support. Choose “1” for your most highly favored option, “2” for your second-most highly favored option, etc. You may include the option for “No Section of this sort” in your rank-ordering, and it does not need to be your most favored option if you do so. (For instance, some voters might favor some options but think that no language is preferable to some of the other options.)

If you choose “Abstain”, then do not rank-order any options, as you will be considered to have skipped this question.

☐ Option E9-B-1. [Proposal by Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II] The United States Transhumanist Party supports approaching technologies of artificial intelligence primarily as opportunities rather than as threats. The potential of artificial intelligence, including generative AI, to foster creativity, solve problems, cure diseases, create new opportunities, and facilitate radical abundance far outweighs the risks and dangers of AI. The United States Transhumanist Party recognizes that AI safety and AI alignment are important pursuits to maximize the probability of predominantly beneficial consequences from future AI systems. Furthermore, the United States Transhumanist Party supports restrictions on the ability to use AI systems for intentionally destructive purposes; such restrictions would include a ban on autonomous weapons. However, these efforts should be undertaken in a rational, proportionate, evidence-based manner, avoiding unsubstantiated speculation, alarmist hype, and doomsday pronouncements. Furthermore, the United States Transhumanist Party opposes any efforts to restrict individual liberty or initiate physically aggressive action against other individuals or countries in the name of stopping allegedly dangerous AI development.

☐ Option E9-B-2. [Proposal by Jason Geringer, same as Option E9-B-1, but removing the opposition to initiating physically aggressive action against other countries in the last sentence] The United States Transhumanist Party supports approaching technologies of artificial intelligence primarily as opportunities rather than as threats. The potential of artificial intelligence, including generative AI, to foster creativity, solve problems, cure diseases, create new opportunities, and facilitate radical abundance far outweighs the risks and dangers of AI. The United States Transhumanist Party recognizes that AI safety and AI alignment are important pursuits to maximize the probability of predominantly beneficial consequences from future AI systems. Furthermore, the United States Transhumanist Party supports restrictions on the ability to use AI systems for intentionally destructive purposes; such restrictions would include a ban on autonomous weapons. However, these efforts should be undertaken in a rational, proportionate, evidence-based manner, avoiding unsubstantiated speculation, alarmist hype, and doomsday pronouncements. Furthermore, the United States Transhumanist Party opposes any efforts to restrict individual liberty or initiate physically aggressive action against other individuals in the name of stopping allegedly dangerous AI development.

☐ Option E9-B-3. [Proposal by Luis Arroyo] The United States Transhumanist Party views artificial intelligence (AI) as potentially having positive opportunities but recognizes that its use under current economic conditions and current governments has been negative or might result in highly negative events. The United States Transhumanist Party is pro-AI in general, but not when AI is used to threaten people’s livelihoods or safety. In those latter circumstances, AI’s positive or negative aspects should be debated.

☐ Option E9-B-NO. No Section of this sort.

Question V. Section E9-B. Perception of Artificial Intelligence as an Opportunity – Ancillary Provisions on Bias and Use of AI in Law Enforcement

If Section E9-B regarding artificial intelligence is adopted as part of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform, shall the following additional provision be added to that section?

Select all the options you support. (You may select multiple options for this question.) Any option receiving the majority of votes cast will be included in the ultimately adopted plank, unless the “No” option prevails in the vote on Question I above. If you do not favor any of the options below, then you may leave this question blank.

☐ Ancillary Provision E9-B-i. [Based on Proposal by R. Nicholas Starr, Adding Language on Countering Passive or Unintentional Bias]

☐ Ancillary Provision E9-B-ii. [Based on Proposal by R. Nicholas Starr, Adding Language on Prohibiting Use of AI in Law Enforcement]

Furthermore, in addition to bans of the use of AI for autonomous weaponry, AI must furthermore be banned for use in law enforcement, such as facial recognition software that can misidentify individuals and lead to false allegations of criminal conduct.

Question VI. Section E9-C. Reversible Cryopreservation Techniques

Shall the following language be adopted as a new Section within the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform?

Recognizing that the achievement of reversible cryopreservation techniques could enable the realization of individuals’ right to life (brutally violated by so-called “natural” death) by waiting until future technologies could bring a cryopreserved patient out of the cryopreserved state and achieve cures for diseases and aging, the United States Transhumanist Party emphasizes the urgency of advancing reversible cryopreservation research. Therefore, the United States Transhumanist Party supports the allocation of an annual funding package of $10 billion for reversible cryopreservation research. This funding shall be expeditiously directed to esteemed research institutions with a proven track record of focusing on the development and implementation of reversible cryopreservation techniques.

Select one of the following options.

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

☐ Abstain.

Question VII. Section E9-D. Public Money for Public Code

Shall the following language be adopted as a new Section within the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform?

The United States Transhumanist Party supports the implementation of the ‘Public Money for Public Code’ concept, which holds that public money should, where reasonably possible, come to benefit the public first and foremost, and secondarily might also benefit other parties as well.

Public code is understood as code that is publicly available and more commonly referred to as Open Source, for example code released under the GPLv3 (General Public License version 3). The reasoning of ‘Public Money for Public Code’ is that public money should not be spent on proprietary software that benefits a select group of companies, but rather used to support Open-Source projects that are alternatives to proprietary software. As Open-Source software is available for free to the public, said stimulus of Open-Source software could benefit both the public as well as public institutions. An example here could be an alternative to Microsoft Office, such as LibreOffice.

Many Open-Source projects operate via volunteers contributing to the project’s efforts. Opening up the possibility to receive funding for a project could incentivize more people to contribute to a project, and perhaps even use contribution to Open-Source projects as a means of stable income. This incentivizes citizens to participate, as besides the admirable goal of doing good for the public, it also contributes to the participants’ livelihood, or helps them decide to split their worktime between the roles of an employee and a self-employed contributor.

Likewise, this might incentivize software companies to participate as well, as it can earn them revenue. It would, however, be important to observe that companies do not drown out individual contributors, as this could have a detrimental effect on incentivizing public participation.

The public participation would be an important element of the ‘Public Money for Public Code’ implementation, as it would also be a public showcase to stimulate interest in programming in education and beyond.

Select one of the following options.

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

☐ Abstain.

Question VIII. Section E9-E. Privacy on Social Media

Shall the following language be adopted as a new Section within the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform?

The United States Transhumanist Party supports efforts for social media to improve privacy settings, in granularity, usability, as well as awareness of such privacy features, for users. Better control of privacy can minimize the scraping of information, including information that can be used for identifying targets by malicious actors, from websites.

Select one of the following options.

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

☐ Abstain.

Question IX. Section E9-F. Restraint of Government Agencies’ Efforts to Undermine Private Businesses’ Security Measures

Rank-order the Section E9-F Options that you support. Choose “1” for your most highly favored option, “2” for your second-most highly favored option, etc. You may include the option for “No Section of this sort” in your rank-ordering, and it does not need to be your most favored option if you do so. (For instance, some voters might favor some options but think that no language is preferable to some of the other options.)

If you choose “Abstain”, then do not rank-order any options, as you will be considered to have skipped this question.

☐ Option E9-F-1. [Based on Proposal by Martin van der Kroon] The United States Transhumanist Party supports efforts to restrain government agencies from efforts to limit, oppose, or undermine security initiatives by companies and businesses. Although their motives might be pure, to uncover criminal activity for example, such efforts can in the process undermine security on a much larger scale. If government agencies can have access, so can malicious actors.

☐ Option E9-F-2. [Based on Proposal by Martin van der Kroon with clarification recommended by Jason Geringer as to applicability] The United States Transhumanist Party supports efforts to restrain government agencies from efforts to limit, oppose, or undermine security initiatives by companies and businesses. For instance, government agencies should not be able to request that private companies build “back doors” into their software to enable government agencies to access digital devices or systems in the course of an investigation. Although their motives might be pure, to uncover criminal activity for example, such efforts can in the process undermine security on a much larger scale. If government agencies can have access, so can malicious actors.

☐ Option E9-F-3. [Based on revisions recommended by R. Nicholas Starr] The United States Transhumanist Party supports efforts to restrain government agencies from efforts to limit, oppose, or undermine security initiatives by companies and businesses. Although their motives might be pure, to uncover criminal activity for example, such efforts can in the process undermine security on a much larger scale. If government agencies can have access, so can malicious actors.

However, such restraints should not be interpreted to interfere with needed federal regulation of businesses to keep consumers and employees safe and free of exploitation. Many businesses, especially big-money corporations (as contrasted with small business), need more regulation and transparency.

☐ Option E9-F-NO. No Section of this sort.

Question X. Section E9-G. Security Whistleblower Program

Shall the following language be adopted as a new Section within the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform?

The US Transhumanist Party supports efforts to create a security whistleblower initiative where a whistleblower can report known security issues that are not being addressed by a company or government institution. This could also aid the whistleblower in the event that they would suffer negative consequences by their employer for addressing security issues.

Select one of the following options.

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

☐ Abstain.

Proposed Amendments to Existing Platform Sections

Question XI. Amendment to Section XXVII to Align with U.S. Transhumanist Party Support for Ranked-Preference Voting

Select one of the following options.

☐ Current Version of Section XXVII. The United States Transhumanist Party advocates Constitutional reform to abolish the Electoral College in the United States Presidential elections and render the plurality of the popular vote the sole criterion for the election of President.

☐ Amendment XXVII-1. The United States Transhumanist Party advocates Constitutional reform to abolish the Electoral College in the United States Presidential elections and render ~~the plurality of the popular vote the sole criterion for the election of President.~~ the criterion for the election of President to be an outcome of the popular vote decided by ranked-preference voting or a similar mechanism that allows voters to select multiple options in a manner that more completely expresses their views.

☐ Abstain.

Question XII. Amendment to Section XXXVI to Provide Exceptions to Taxation for Basic Necessities

Current Version of Section XXXVI. The United States Transhumanist Party supports the elimination of graduated taxation and income taxation more generally. Instead, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates a flat percentage-of-sales tax applicable only to purchases from businesses whose combined nationwide revenues from all affiliates exceed a specified threshold. This tax should be built into the price of goods from such large businesses and should not impede transaction efficiency in any manner. Transactions pertaining to wages, salaries, gifts, donations, barter, employee benefits, and inheritances should remain completely untaxed, as should transactions involving solely individuals and/or small businesses, for whom the establishment of a tax-reporting infrastructure would be onerous. Furthermore, all taxes on land and property should be abolished.

Shall the following text be added as the new third sentence of Section XXXVI? “This tax would not be imposed on life necessities, defined as goods that are consumable in the near term and whose primary purpose is to facilitate human survival.”

Select one of the following options.

☐ Yes.

☐ No.

☐ Abstain.

Question XIII. Amendment to Section LXXIX to Update the Discussion of the Status of Right-to-Try Legislation

Select one of the following options.

☐ Current Version of Section LXXIX: The United States Transhumanist Party supports repealing the current requirement in the United States that drugs or treatments may not be used, even on willing patients, unless approval for such drugs or treatments is received from the Food and Drug Administration. Such requirements are a profound violation of patient sovereignty; a person who is terminally ill is unable to choose to take a risk on an unapproved drug or treatment unless this person is fortunate enough to participate in a clinical trial. Even then, once the clinical trial ends, the treatment must be discontinued, even if it was actually successful at prolonging the person’s life. This is not only profoundly tragic, but morally unconscionable as well. The most critical reform needed is to allow unapproved drugs and treatments to be marketed and consumed. If the FDA wishes to strongly differentiate between approved and unapproved treatments, then a strongly worded warning label could be required for unapproved treatments, and patients could even be required to sign a consent form stating that they have been informed of the risks of an unapproved treatment. This reform to directly extend many lives and to redress a moral travesty should be the top political priority of advocates of indefinite life extension. Over the coming decades, its effect will be to allow cutting-edge treatments to reach a market sooner and thus to enable data about those treatments’ effects to be gathered more quickly and reliably. Because many treatments take 10-15 years to receive FDA approval, this reform could by itself speed up the real-world advent of indefinite life extension by over a decade.

☐ Amendment LXXIX-1. The United States Transhumanist Party supports repealing the current requirement in the United States that, in most cases, drugs or treatments may not be used, even on willing patients, unless approval for such drugs or treatments is received from the Food and Drug Administration. Such requirements are a profound violation of patient sovereignty; a person who is terminally ill is often unable to choose to take a risk on an unapproved drug or treatment unless this person is fortunate enough to participate in a clinical trial. Even then, once the clinical trial ends, the treatment must be is often discontinued, even if it was actually successful at prolonging the person’s life. While the Federal Right-to-Try Act of 2017 and various State-level Right-to-Try Acts have been steps in the right direction, they have seldom been utilized, because of various other regulatory barriers, as well as drug manufacturers’ reluctance to expose themselves to liability and regulatory risk. This is not only profoundly tragic, but morally unconscionable as well. The most critical reform needed is to allow unapproved drugs and treatments to be marketed and consumed. Every effort should be made to allow and encourage the manufacturers and providers of experimental medicines and medical treatments to make them available to willing patients with proper disclosure and informed consent, accompanied by protections against liability and adverse regulatory actions. Currently, most Right-to-Try Acts are limited to terminally ill patients, and should be expanded to model Montana’s Right-to-Try Act and the Best Choice Medicine concept to make the choice to pursue experimental drugs and treatments, including gene therapies, available to all patients. If the FDA wishes to strongly differentiate between approved and unapproved treatments, then a strongly worded warning label could be required for unapproved treatments, and patients could even be required to sign a consent form stating that they have been informed of the risks of an unapproved treatment. This reform to directly extend many lives and to redress a moral travesty should be the top political priority of advocates of indefinite life extension. Over the coming decades, its effect will be to allow cutting-edge treatments to reach a market sooner and thus to enable data about those treatments’ effects to be gathered more quickly and reliably. Because many treatments take 10-15 years to receive FDA approval, this reform could by itself speed up the real-world advent of indefinite life extension by over a decade.

☐ Abstain.

Question XIV. Amendment to Section XCIX to Revise Proposal for COVID Universal Basic Income to a Proposal to Indefinitely Cover all Costs of COVID Treatments and Vaccinations

Select one of the following options.

☐ Current Version of Section XCIX: The United States Transhumanist Party supports for an immediate, universal, unconditional basic income of at least $1000 per month to be provided to every United States citizen for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its immediate aftermath, without regard for individuals’ means or other sources of income. The priority for this program should be to prevent massive and irreparable economic disruptions to the lives of Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic.

☐ Amendment XCIX-1: The United States Transhumanist Party supports for n immediate, universal, unconditional basic income of at least $1000 per month to be provided to every United States citizen for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its immediate aftermath, without regard for individuals’ means or other sources of income. advocates for all American residents to continue to receive free health care for the disease of COVID-19, including free testing, vaccination, antiviral medications, and any other services involved in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. The priority for this program should be to prevent massive and irreparable economic and health disruptions to the lives of Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic. Requiring consumers and patients to pay for COVID-related care would increase the number of people who refuse to obtain vaccination or treatment for purely financial reasons, thus amplifying the difficulty of ever defeating COVID-19 – an endeavor that is aided by maximizing the amount of immunity and available health care for the population.

☐ Abstain.

Question XV. Amendment to Section CI to Update the Discussion of Pandemic-Related Travel Delays

Select one of the following options.

☐ Current Version of Section CI: In recognition that the recent screening bottlenecks at United States airports create situations of unacceptable crowding which further contribute to the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for immediate admittance through security checkpoints of the vast majority of travelers currently waiting at airports in the United States. Such travelers may be required to subsequently undergo health screenings at other facilities within the United States within a certain period of time, as long as such screenings do not involuntarily place the individuals being screened in close physical proximity to one another.

☐ Amendment CI-1: In recognition that the recent screening bottlenecks unprecedented and prolonged patterns of flight delays and cancellations at United States airports create situations of unacceptable crowding which further contribute to the spread of detriments to quality of life and mobility to American passengers and were due directly to the supply-chain disruptions, aircraft shortages, labor shortages, and poor decisions by major airlines to cut staff in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for immediate admittance through security checkpoints of the vast majority of travelers currently waiting at airports in the United States. Such travelers may be required to subsequently undergo health screenings at other facilities within the United States within a certain period of time, as long as such screenings do not involuntarily place the individuals being screened in close physical proximity to one another. measures to enable airlines which reduced aircraft counts and dismissed staff during the COVID-19 epidemic to purchase or construct sufficient aircraft to replace the reduced capacity, to actively utilize such aircraft and restore prior routes, and to offer to re-hire all staff members who were dismissed as a result of prior responses to the epidemic. In the event that specific individual former staff members do not wish to return to their previous positions, they should be replaced with others who are willing to take on those roles for appropriate compensation and benefits. Sufficient incentives should be offered to airlines to allow pre-COVID flight, maintenance, and staffing levels to continue indefinitely.

☐ Abstain.

Question XVI. Amendment to Section CII to Update the Discussion of Recalling United States Overseas Military Personnel

Rank-order the Section CII Amendment Options that you support. Choose “1” for your most highly favored option, “2” for your second-most highly favored option, etc.

If you choose “Abstain”, then do not rank-order any options, as you will be considered to have skipped this question.

☐ Current Version of Section CII: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the recall of all United States military personnel from overseas stations as soon as possible and their deployment for the purpose of rapid hospital construction in the United States, as well as for providing rapid emergency aid and essential infrastructure improvements. Continued military presence abroad only unnecessarily exposes American troops to the risk of infection, while the expertise of American military personnel in crisis response is urgently needed within American borders.

☐ Amendment CII-1: [Proposed by Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II] The United States Transhumanist Party supports the recall of all as many United States military personnel from overseas stations as soon as reasonably possible, with the exception of those specifically needed to defend American assets and American citizens and to carry out specific and limited previously agreed-upon treaty obligations, and their deployment for the purpose of rapid hospital construction in the United States, as well as for providing rapid emergency aid and essential infrastructure improvements. Continued military presence abroad only unnecessarily exposes American troops to the risk of infection, while the expertise of American military personnel in crisis response is urgently needed within American borders. improving domestic defense, infrastructure, and crisis response in providing peaceful assistance to the civilian population in times of major disruptions to everyday life.

☐ Amendment CII-2. [Modification proposed by Luis Arroyo to remove reference to defending American assets] The United States Transhumanist Party supports the recall of all as many United States military personnel from overseas stations as soon as reasonably possible, with the exception of those specifically needed to defend American citizens and to carry out specific and limited previously agreed-upon treaty obligations, and their deployment for the purpose of rapid hospital construction in the United States, as well as for providing rapid emergency aid and essential infrastructure improvements. Continued military presence abroad only unnecessarily exposes American troops to the risk of infection, while the expertise of American military personnel in crisis response is urgently needed within American borders. improving domestic defense, infrastructure, and crisis response in providing peaceful assistance to the civilian population in times of major disruptions to everyday life.

Question XVII. Amendment to Section CIII to Emphasize the Need to Support Lasting Cures and Vaccines for COVID-19

Select one of the following options.

☐ Current Version of Section CIII: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the rapid research into effective cures and vaccines for COVID-19 and the harnessing of synergies from this research to also develop a cure for the common cold and more effective vaccination against influenza. Such research should proceed with no barriers, subject to the researchers’ expression of ethical intentions, and any regulations or processes that would delay the progress of such research should be immediately waived or repealed. In the effort to accelerate progress in this field, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for an immediate $100 billion funding package for the rapid development of a COVID-19 vaccine, with all volunteers being accepted into human trials as soon as practicable. The United States Transhumanist Party advocates for government funding and ownership of any cure for COVID-19, to be distributed free of charge to those infected with the virus.

☐ Amendment CIII-1: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the rapid research into effective lasting cures and vaccines for COVID-19, such as antibodies that respond to all variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and vaccines that permanently protect against all such variants, and the harnessing of synergies from this research to also develop a cure for the common cold and more effective vaccination against influenza. Such research should proceed with no barriers, subject to the researchers’ expression of ethical intentions, and any regulations or processes that would delay the progress of such research should be immediately waived or repealed. In the effort to accelerate progress in this field, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for an immediate $100 billion funding package for the rapid development of a universal COVID-19 vaccine that would be permanently effective against all variants, with all volunteers being accepted into human trials as soon as practicable. The United States Transhumanist Party advocates for government funding and ownership release into the public domain of any cure or future vaccine for COVID-19, to be distributed free of charge to those infected with the virus and to all who wish to prevent such infection.

☐ Abstain.

Question XVIII. Amendment to Section CIV to Generalize the USTP’s Support for an Annual $100 Billion Funding Package for Anti-Aging Research

Rank-order the Section CIV Amendment Options that you support. Choose “1” for your most highly favored option, “2” for your second-most highly favored option, etc.

If you choose “Abstain”, then do not rank-order any options, as you will be considered to have skipped this question.

☐ Current Version of Section CIV: Because biological aging is the number-one risk factor for mortality and severe complications from COVID-19 infections, as well as infections of virtually every sort, the United States Transhumanist Party emphasizes the importance of reversing biological aging as rapidly as possible and thereby protecting more lives from future pandemics. Accordingly, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for a permanent, annual $100 billion funding package for anti-aging research, to be immediately distributed to leading research organizations in the field which have in the past specifically identified the defeat and reversal of biological aging as their goals.

☐ Amendment CIV-1 [Proposal by Vladimir Shakirov]: Because biological aging is the number-one risk factor for mortality and disabilities in elderly people, and for severe complications from COVID-19 infections, as well as infections of virtually every sort, and thus brutally violates the fundamental rights of people to life and health, the United States Transhumanist Party emphasizes the importance of reversing biological aging as rapidly as possible and thereby protecting more lives, including from future pandemics. Accordingly, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for a permanent, annual $100 billion funding package for anti-aging research, to be immediately distributed to leading research organizations in the field which have in the past specifically identified the defeat and reversal of biological aging as their goals.

☐ Amendment CIV-2 [Modification proposed by R. Nicholas Starr to remove reference to COVID-19 infections]: Because biological aging is the number-one risk factor for mortality and disabilities in elderly people, severe complications from COVID-19 infections, as well as infections of virtually every sort, and thus brutally violates the fundamental rights of people to life and health, the United States Transhumanist Party emphasizes the importance of reversing biological aging as rapidly as possible and thereby protecting more lives, including from future pandemics. Accordingly, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for a permanent, annual $100 billion funding package for anti-aging research, to be immediately distributed to leading research organizations in the field which have in the past specifically identified the defeat and reversal of biological aging as their goals.

Question XIX. Amendment to Section CX to Reflect Success of USTP’s Recommendation for the Distribution of Diagnostic Test Kits and the Need to Maintain Robust Data on the COVID Pandemic

Select one of the following options.

☐ Current Version of Section CX: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the immediate deployment of as many COVID-19 diagnostic tests as possible to the general population, with the aim of achieving universal testing of every American, even those without symptoms, free of charge. Universal testing is necessary to understand the true prevalence of COVID-19 infections and the proportion of serious cases and fatalities relative to actual total cases, not merely reported cases. This would enable a true understanding of the extent of the epidemic’s spread as well as how the rates of serious complications and death compare to the common cold and influenza. The United States Transhumanist Party supports generous aid to both private and governmental research teams working in parallel on developing effective testing kits and approaches, particularly those which do not require large numbers of people to congregate.

The United States Transhumanist Party also advocates for COVID-19 testing kits to be developed that could result in tests being self-administered by individuals in their own homes and then mailed to laboratories for evaluation. This would minimize the physical contact of individuals being tested with medical practitioners and other patients.

☐ Amendment CX-1: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the immediate ongoing, continuous, and indefinite deployment of as many COVID-19 diagnostic tests as possible to the general population, with the aim of achieving universal testing of every American, even those without symptoms, free of charge. Universal testing is necessary to understand the true prevalence of COVID-19 infections and the proportion of serious cases and fatalities relative to actual total cases, not merely reported cases. This would enable a true understanding of the extent of the epidemic’s spread as well as how the rates of serious complications and death compare to the common cold and influenza. The United States Transhumanist Party supports generous aid to both private and governmental research teams working in parallel on developing effective testing kits and approaches, particularly those which do not require large numbers of people to congregate manufacturers of effective diagnostic tests for COVID-19 that can recognize emerging variants, such that those tests could be manufactured in sufficient quantity to provide a test to every American who wants one.

The United States Transhumanist Party also advocates achieved success in advocating for COVID-19 testing kits to be developed that could result in tests being self-administered by individuals in their own homes and then mailed to laboratories for evaluation. This would minimize has reduced the physical contact of individuals being tested with medical practitioners and other patients. However, the United States Transhumanist Party expresses concern regarding significant lack of data about the ongoing prevalence of COVID-19 within communities in the United States. Such data, which used to be tracked rigorously and published regularly, have now become sparse and have failed to capture all sources of COVID-19 infection. In order to be able to track the spread of new variants of the virus, authorities need to return to the level of data collection and publication that existed during the early pandemic in 2020.

☐ Abstain.

Proposals on Investigations and Emergency Declarations

Question XX. Proposals on Investigations and Emergency Declarations

Informational Note: This vote follows from the Exposure Period on Policy Proposals on Investigations and Emergency Declarations, which was open between October 17 and November 1, 2021. During that Exposure Period, proposals by R. Nicholas Starr (RNS-1. Guidelines for Investigations and RNS-2. Definitions and Restrictions on Emergency Actions) and Zach Richardson (ZR-1. Proposal in Support of Decisive Executive Action in Times of Emergency) were presented and extensively discussed, with USTP leadership offering feedback on both proposals, and USTP members also contributing in the comments – including responses from R. Nicholas Starr and Jason Geringer.

By way of background, the only State of Emergency that had been declared during the history of the U.S. Transhumanist Party occurred between August 10, 2021, and October 27, 2022, due to the need to take rapid and decisive action in response to unjust allegations that had been directed against USTP member and Advisor Dr. Aubrey de Grey. Once Dr. de Grey was able to form his own organization, the Longevity Escape Velocity Foundation (LEVF), and take significant steps to restore his reputation within the court of public opinion, the USTP State of Emergency was no longer necessary. No subsequent State of Emergency had been declared to this day, nor is one contemplated for the foreseeable future, barring any high-profile and potentially perilous developments which are not yet known to USTP leadership.

Upon deliberating in regard to how to structure this vote, the USTP leadership fundamentally perceives two different approaches – one (advocated by R. Nicholas Starr) which would significantly limit the USTP’s power to comment on outside investigations and declare emergencies and the other (advocated by Zach Richardson) to enable decisive action in times of serious threat. The USTP leadership thus sees it as reasonable to present these proposals as packages and alternatives to one another for the decision of the USTP membership, in order that the principles and internal coherence within each package are clearly understood by voting members.

As expressed in its feedback during the Exposure Period, the USTP leadership strongly favors Proposal ZR-1 and has serious concerns about Proposals RNS-1 and RNS-2. The USTP leadership did, however, take into account the feedback provided by Jason Geringer and R. Nicholas Starr and has determined to moderate some of previously exposed provisions of Proposal ZR-1 in the following manner:

• Add the following sentence at the end of the eighth paragraph: “This does not prohibit individual Party members from criticizing a decision of the Chairman, as long as that criticism does not stray into attempted compulsion.”

• Remove the following paragraph: “If any Party member seeks to compel the Chairman to retract any statement made on behalf of the Party, or its allies, affiliates or members, or any statement made on behalf of the Party by anyone who was designated an ally by the Chairman, the Chairman may assert that the member in question is acting in violation of the Party’s principles and its standards.”

• Revise the third-to-last paragraph to read as follows: “The Party hereby empowers the Chairman in a manner that is consistent with the principles and standards of the Party, and is consistent with the existing authority of the Party to advocate on behalf of its members and its Platform. The Party shall further make every effort to ensure that the Party, its members, and the Chairman are able to advocate for the Party and its members on a permanent and eternal basis.”

• Revise the last paragraph to read as follows: “A good-faith effort shall be made to ensure that the Chairman has the opportunity to respond to attacks on the Party, or on any of its members, allies, or affiliates, and finally to ensure that the Chairman is able to engage in the activities described in this Section for the entire substantive duration of any emergency.”

Any other revisions are editorial in nature only and are intended to phrase the proposal consistently with inclusion in the USTP Constitution.

The revised proposal will be referred to as Proposal ZR-JG-1 and reads as follows.

Proposal ZR-JG-1. In Support of Decisive Executive Action in Times of Emergency [Authored by Zach Richardson, with modifications based on public input, including from Jason Geringer]:

When executive action is required in the face of a serious threat, the Chairman must have the authority to act decisively.

The authority of the Chairman to act on behalf of the party is not intended to supersede the authority of the Party to determine the Party’s position on a particular issue, nor is it intended to diminish the responsibility of the Party to take a position on a particular issue.

The Party will seek to continuously empower the Chairman to act on behalf of its members by codifying his/her authority to do so in a manner that is consistent with the principles and standards of the Party, and is consistent with the existing authority of the Party to advocate on behalf of its members as a whole.

The Chairman has the ability to designate individuals and organizations as “allies” of the Party at his or her discretion, and to permit such “allies” to represent themselves to the public and the media as “allies” and “members” of the Party. Such “allies” are encouraged but not required to support the Platform.

Party members may not seek to compel the Chairman to retract any statement made on behalf of the Party or its allies, affiliates or members; nor may any Party member seek to compel the Chairman to retract any statement made on behalf of the Party or its allies, affiliates, or members by anyone who was so designated by the Chairman. This does not prohibit individual Party members from criticizing a decision of the Chairman, as long as that criticism does not stray into attempted compulsion.

The Chairman and any of his designees shall strive to ensure the following:

(ii) The Party is able to provide key information to the public and the media in a timely manner, through press releases, interviews, and particularly social media commentary.

(iii) The Party is able to have a significant and positive impact on the outcome or resolution of the emergency.

(iv) The Party is able to respond to attacks on the Party, or on any of its members, allies, or affiliates.

The Party hereby empowers the Chairman in a manner that is consistent with the principles and standards of the Party, and is consistent with the existing authority of the Party to advocate on behalf of its members and its Platform. The Party shall further make every effort to ensure that the Party, its members, and the Chairman are able to advocate for the Party and its members on a permanent and eternal basis.

It is in the interest of the Party to remain relevant, not only to the Party itself, but to the public, and it is in the spirit of that interest that the Party empowers the Chairman.

Proposals RNS-1 and RNS-2 read as follows.

Proposal RNS-1. Guidelines for Investigations [Authored by R. Nicholas Starr]

As a data-driven political organization the United States Transhumanist Party (USTP), and its leadership acting on behalf of the USTP, must remain neutral in its official capacity during outside investigations into past, present, or future members until said investigations are complete and all facts are known and presented to USTP members. The USTP should also refrain from attempts to influence ongoing investigations or public perception while an investigation is taking place. Public statements of facts and acknowledgement of the situation is permissible, but statements must not stray into speculation. Once an investigation is complete, the USTP may issue statements based solely on the facts and analysis thereof. This does not restrict an individual, regardless of their position in the USTP, from speaking out on an issue in their personal capacity, nor does it restrict a person from providing criticism of such personal statements in their own personal capacity.

The USTP may conduct its own investigations into matters affecting members on a case-by-case basis, as determined by a vote of the membership, and under the following limitations. Investigators must be impartial with no personal or professional connection to any of the parties involved in the investigation (accusers, the accused, or other individuals of interest sought for questioning in the investigation). Professional connections include but are not limited to current or former employees, advisors, board members, and interns for the person or organization under investigation, as well as direct competitors of any party under investigation (one may not investigate one’s competition). If an impartial investigator cannot be obtained, either from inside or outside of USTP membership, then the investigation must be abandoned.

Internal investigations should not be intended to replace outside investigations and should be limited to how the incident under investigation impacts operation of the USTP. Consequences sought after the conclusion of the investigation shall be limited to administrative action available within the USTP. The USTP does not have the power to require action or consequences to be implemented by outside organizations.

The purpose of the internal investigation shall be made known to the members with a summary of alleged offenses and what questions the investigation seeks to answer. This must be done in a professional manner, excluding personal opinion and potential bias.

Proposal RNS-2. Definitions and Restrictions on Emergency Actions [Authored by R. Nicholas Starr]

United States Transhumanist Party (USTP) leaders shall have the limited ability to declare, and act on, emergencies on behalf of the USTP’s members. Such a declaration shall have no bearing on, or interfere with, applicable federal, state, and local laws.

When declaring an emergency the USTP leadership must publicly announce what the emergency is, why waiting to act would cause immediate increased harm, and the intended course of action sought by the USTP. This course of action must not deviate from, or spread beyond, the scope of the incident, meaning that any intended action must be clearly and directly related to the emergency.

An emergency shall be defined as an unexpected and immediate threat or active instance of the following, pending member further recommendations and approval by membership vote:

Threat to life or public safety (threats to life extension shall not be included unless the emergency threatens an individual placed in preservation prior to the emergency, such as in cryonics)
Natural disaster
Humanitarian crisis
Credible acts of violence
Direct malicious attack, physical or digital, of USTP property
Theft of USTP funds from an official account totaling over 1% of the last known balance and more than $100.

An emergency shall not include:

Personal scandal
Delays in research
Matters of outside businesses or organizations

An emergency may only be declared in cases where delayed action would clearly cause increased harm based on the available evidence. If the emergency action is to take longer than 14 days, then it requires further approval by a vote of the USTP membership.

Instructions:

Rank-order the options on Proposals on Investigations and Emergency Declarations that you support. Choose “1” for your most highly favored option, “2” for your second-most highly favored option, etc.

If you choose “Abstain”, then do not rank-order any options, as you will be considered to have skipped this question.

☐ Proposal ZR-JG-1. Proposal in Support of Decisive Executive Action in Times of Emergency

☐ Proposals RNS-1. Guidelines for Investigations and RNS-2. Definitions and Restrictions on Emergency Actions

☐ Adopt Neither Proposal Package and Maintain the Status Quo.

Gennady Stolyarov I and Gennady Stolyarov II Discuss the Progress of Information Technology (2019)

January 28, 2025 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 0 Comment

Gennady Stolyarov I and Gennady Stolyarov II

Note from the Editor: On January 5, 2019, I spoke with my grandfather, Gennady Stolyarov I (1933-2025), who was one of the pioneering developers of computers in the Soviet Union, regarding his thoughts about how technology and the manner in which we interact with information have evolved during his lifetime and his anticipations about the future. At the time, when he was already 85 years old, he anticipated technology that would directly read human thoughts, advances in artificial intelligence, and even AI personal assistants, as well as using AIs to compose music and develop new inventions.

The discussion was originally conducted in Russian and translated into English by me.

~ Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party, January 27, 2025

Conversation of January 5, 2019

Gennady Stolyarov II (GSII): What is the primary difference between how people relate to information now as compared to the mid-20^th century?

Gennady Stolyarov I (GSI): On the Internet today there is a far greater volume of content; it is incomparable with what one would have been able to find in books alone.

GSII: So this gives rise to an interesting question: how to increase the capacity of the human brain to absorb all of this information – since there is so much more information, but our brains remain the same?

GSI: I think that it will become possible to simply read thoughts directly and also to direct ideas into the mind. It is clear that the speed of work of which a computer is capable is incomparable to that of your mind. Therefore, systems will be developed so that, instead of spending so much time pressing buttons, one could analyze the electrical signals of the brain and search accordingly, forming an impression of what one wants to find. The mind already somehow formulates the goal of the search; it should be possible to improve the interface between the mind and the computer so that the computer perceives that goal clearly.

GSII: Even today, it is already the case that the information that one wishes to discover exists. For instance, on my mobile phone, it is possible to locate information on almost anything, but that information is not yet immediately accessible, in the sense that one must type something in, search for something – this is not always convenient.

GSI: Yes, exactly.

GSII: And furthermore, the human mind does not directly absorb the information; one must still read it and be capable of understanding the external content in some manner.

GSI: Yes.

GSII: I think that this is a barrier today, because there is a tremendous amount of information, including on science, current world events, history. It is possible to gather many facts, but the human brain is still as primitive as it has previously been.

GSI: Well, it is very difficult to call the brain “primitive”! After all, we still do not understand how it operates! But it would be possible relatively soon to develop this interface that I described for reading your mind in some manner regarding what you would like to search for. Even now there are attempts to access a person’s data – sometimes regrettably, as this may not coincide with a person’s wishes. However, the information that you access or generate can be restructured, regrouped. This could be a useful underprinning for later reorganizing information in accordance with your wishes and conceptions, into a form that is comfortable for you.

GSII: At present, there exist data about a person on various social networks. There is also information from businesses, from commercial transactions – and there is the question of who owns that information. My view is that individuals themselves should own their data and have the right to determine what happens to them – i.e., if anyone else uses that information, it should be with permission to use it for specified purposes.

GSI: It is necessary to develop an artificial intellect that would be capable of reasoning; right now, you are able to search by keywords – but this process should be simplified further, because it has become tedious to press keys on a keyboard; it consumes far too much time. But I think these improvements will arrive quickly enough. The artificial intellect will be able to sort data in accordance with your wishes and group the information it finds into useful categories. It will remember past queries that were made and related information. You might be making an inquiry about something, and you would see a semantic web of terms – showing you what else exists and suggest what you could search for next. For instance, there could be sidebars dedicated to this, and you would pose a query, and you would be asked if you would like a historical view of the matter – what existed previously, what exists now, what are the outlooks for the future; the system will find all this for you. Every step in this direction will substantially increase a person’s intellectual capabilities. This will be a highly interesting field to pursue, and in my view highly effective.

GSII: There are already algorithms which, if you are watching a video, will show you some related videos. Or you could be purchasing something on Amazon or browsing products there; you would be shown similar products.

In 2014 Google conducted its experiment with Google Glass – glasses with a computer display that showed various information – for instance, data about a place that a person was visiting – but this was a closed experiment for a small group of people that still paid over a thousand dollars to participate. Google did not sell Google Glass to the general public who were not signed up for the trial program, and when Google began its experiment, I think the people who did not have Google Glass were envious of those who did. Those who wore the glasses in public places experienced discrimination and complaints, and ultimately Google ended the trial. I think if Google had initially sold Google Glass products to everyone, then it would have been treated no differently from many other new technologies – for instance, mobile phones. Generally, people are not protesting against mobile phones.

GSI: This is true.

GSII: Was earlier technology – for instance, the large computers from the 1960s – more difficult to use compared to today?

GSI: No, the interface with the computer was far more primitive and quite simple to use. This is one of the reasons I think you are much better prepared than I am to interact with new technologies and devices. The interface will continue to be improved; it will present results informatively, work out associations, group and systematize data. This data processing is all work that you could do yourself, but the system will add value in that it could store far larger amounts of data and, based on the extent of progress in artificial intelligence, help you extract from the surrounding informational universe those parts in which you are interested. It would determine your profile; already the beginnings of this are occurring, as you are receiving automatically generated suggestions. And indeed the more sophisticated systems are already under development; improvements occur with every new operating system, and I often see various updates installing on my computer. I am actually a bit frustrated by this, because after the update is installed, one often has to learn to use the interface once again. I do not like that changes are constantly being introduced, and one needs to somehow adjust to them, and one completely lacks the eagerness to spend time on that.

GSII: Yes, but that will also happen with newer versions of operating systems that will replace existing ones entirely, such as Windows 10 replacing Windows 7 and Microsoft discontinuing support for Windows 7 in 2020.

GSI: This is a well-known contradiction [in regard to updates making a system more difficult to use because of the learning curve].

GSII: Now companies are frequently changing and updating their software, and I think it is easier when they update something that the user does not immediately see and use – such as a system file.

GSI: It is important for the user to have freedom from the involuntary introduction of changes to his systems. If he would like to use the new capabilities, there should be open access to them, but old functionalities should not be impacted.

GSII: Yes. What I dislike most about these updates is that the user interface is changed and previous options are sometimes removed. Perhaps it may be possible for technologies in the future to help humans better and more rapidly adapt to such changes.

More generally, if through some method, using electrical signals, it were possible to download information into a human brain – so that humans would gain the capability to process information from the Internet much more rapidly – in your mind would this improve the quality of human decisions and behaviors? Would humans at last become enlightened?

GSI: This can happen, but it will be necessary to study and comprehend the brain in greater depth. This is extremely important. Actually, in the future your conversational partner will need to be an artificial intellect. You will be interested in some specific kinds of artificial intelligence, in the sphere of your interests and endeavors. Possible applications are quite varied. For some people, the artificial intelligence could aid in composing music. For others, it could help them track down criminals. For others still, it could help them create new inventions. The artificial intellects will be able to connect, analyze information, prepare data for use, systematize materials that you have gathered, This will be a personalized approach; the computer will, as this field progresses, become increasingly specialized toward fulfilling your needs.

GSII: So in essence these will be personal assistants in the form of artificial intelligences.

GSI: Yes.

GSII: What will happen to the interactions between people? What will happen if every person has an artificially intelligent assistant with access to facts and the ability to analyze them?

GSI: Then the artificial intelligences will establish their own network with the AI assistants of your colleagues. They will process information jointly and also present the results of your reasoning to others.

GSII: It is an interesting idea, that if people have these assistants, the assistants will communicate with one another as well – not just with people directly. This is similar to what secretaries of people in leadership positions might have done in the past, before the actual leaders would communicate with one another.

GSI: Also relevant to the topic of the conversation is a television documentary I saw recently, which showed that there already exist programs to create a simulated environment for a patient – for instance, in response to an injury to the nervous system, it is possible to create some kind of illusory world in which the patient could act and develop some sorts of skills. They also showed some interesting images [of the simulated environments] – so all this is also from that sphere of activity.

GSII: Yes, virtual reality is used for medical applications currently.

GSI: Yes, but the most important thing is that the technology that they are applying also follows the general idea that we discussed. The psychologists and neurologists working on this technology are developing an artificial reality. This is from the same repertoire of approaches.

GSII: Yes, today it is possible for several hundred dollars to purchase glasses to visit virtual spaces. There are games, educational applications, various virtual worlds. Of course, they will need to be developed further and made more accessible to the majority of people. The technology is still not ideal, but something can already be accomplished.

Pictured here are several of Gennady Stolyarov I’s main medals, most prominently the Charles Babbage Medal for the IEEE Computer Pioneer Award, which he received during his visit to Boston in November 2002. Also pictured here are medals that depict Konstantin Tsiolkovsky and Yuri Gagarin.

Immortality: My Quest and Reasons for Seeking an Indefinite Lifespan – Article by Albi Ndoni

January 23, 2025 Albi Ndoni Comments 0 Comment

Albi Ndoni

Introduction

The pursuit of immortality has captivated the human imagination for millennia. My personal quest for an indefinite lifespan is driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge, exploration, achievement, and the ultimate mastery of the universe. This document outlines the ambitious goals and profound aspirations that fuel my desire for immortality.

1. Academic Mastery

To gain a deep and comprehensive understanding of the universe, I seek to obtain a PhD in the following subjects:

Mathematics: The language of the universe.
Physics: To understand the fundamental laws of nature.
Computer Science: To harness the power of technology and artificial intelligence.
Medicine: To advance human health and longevity.
Economics: To comprehend and influence global economies.
Chemistry: To manipulate matter at the molecular level.
Robotics: To innovate and enhance human capabilities.
Literature: To explore the depths of human expression and culture.

2. Exploration
My thirst for exploration extends far beyond Earth:

World: To experience the diverse cultures and landscapes of our planet.
Solar System: To explore our neighboring planets and their moons.
Galaxy: To venture into the Milky Way and uncover its secrets.
Universe: To traverse the vast cosmos and understand its mysteries.
Multiverse and Beyond: To explore parallel universes and dimensions beyond our current comprehension.

3. Achievements
I aspire to win the most prestigious awards across various fields to validate and celebrate my contributions:

Nobel Prize: In each category, recognizing groundbreaking achievements in science, literature, and peace.
Fields Medal: For outstanding discoveries in mathematics.
National Medal of Technology and Innovation: For significant advancements in technology.
Pulitzer Prize: For excellence in journalism and literature.

4. Leadership
In the 22^nd-23^rd centuries, I aim to become the President of the United World Federation, leading a unified global government dedicated to peace, prosperity, and scientific advancement.

5. Wealth and Influence
I seek to achieve unprecedented levels of wealth and influence:

Trillionaire: To leverage financial resources for scientific and humanitarian projects.
(Moneyless) Quadrillionaire: To possess wealth equivalent to a quadrillion dollars in a future where money is obsolete, ensuring the ability to effect change without traditional financial constraints.

6. Legacy
The most important reason for seeking immortality is to create an everlasting legacy. I want my Wikipedia page to be an ever-expanding repository of my contributions and achievements, measured in:

Googol
Googolplex
Googolduplex
Googoltriplex
Googolquadriplex
Googolquinplex
Googolsextiplex
Googolseptiplex
Googoloctiplex
Googolnoniplex
Googoldeciplex
Googolcentiplex

…of pages long and beyond, documenting the extensive impact of my existence on humanity and the universe.

7. Ultimate Mastery
Finally, I aspire to become a God-like being, mastering the known universe with my mind and will. This includes complete understanding, control, and manipulation of all aspects of existence, transcending physical and temporal limitations.

Conclusion
My quest for immortality is driven by an unrelenting pursuit of knowledge, exploration, achievement, and ultimate mastery. With the rapid advancements in science and technology, what once seemed like science fiction may soon become reality. The race towards achieving these monumental goals has already begun, and I am determined to be at the forefront, shaping the future of humanity and the universe itself.

Personal Notes
I believe that with the current pace of scientific and technological progress, the tools and knowledge necessary to achieve immortality and fulfill these aspirations will become feasible within the next 2-3 decades, most probably by merging humans with AI. The pursuit of these goals is not just a personal endeavor but a journey that will drive humanity towards unprecedented heights of achievement and understanding.

General Note
This manuscript was written with the help of ChatGPT.

Read Albi Ndoni’s biography here.

© Copyright Albi Ndoni, Tirana, Albania, 2024

U.S. Transhumanist Party General Discussion Thread for 2025

January 4, 2025 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 17 comments

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The USTP will endeavor to open one of these general comment threads per year. This comment thread pertains to the year of 2025.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Statement on the Murder of Brian Thompson

December 19, 2024 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 22 comments

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On December 4, 2024, there was a killing outside the judicial system. The U.S. Transhumanist Party supports no such thing. We are sad that we live in a world where such killings can seem justified to some people. We strive for a world where no one ever dies, relying on reason and discourse to mobilize the effort required to get us there.

News Regarding THPedia, the Transhumanist Encyclopedia for Everyone – Invitation to Contribute – Statement by Gennady Stolyarov II

December 10, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 0 Comment

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Gennady Stolyarov II

I write to the transhumanist community with an update regarding THPedia, the transhumanist encyclopedia available at https://th-pedia.org.

First, THPedia has been updated to MediaWiki Version 1.40.1 for purposes of both security and functionality improvement. Now THPedia has the same functionality as the historic H+Pedia, and more. Easy, intuitive edits can be made to pages using the convenient Visual Editor within Version 1.40.1.

I encourage all transhumanists, life-extensionists, cryonicists, futurists, and other allies of our community to consider contributing content to THPedia, based on their areas of knowledge and expertise, as there is significant potential for both increasing the number of entries on THPedia and updating existing entries to reflect developments over the past several years.

Second, given the improvements made to THPedia, and the desire by the Humanity+ organization (which approached me in August) to maintain its own transhumanist encyclopedia, I have transferred the prior H+Pedia domain to Humanity+ after upgrading THPedia.

From now on, THPedia and H+Pedia, both forks of the historic H+Pedia, will be distinct encyclopedias and will follow their own paths. Humanity+ will administer H+Pedia, and I will administer THPedia. I will let Humanity+ describe its own plans in its future updates. I have agreed to the transfer to enable two paths for the development of a transhumanist encyclopedia to be pursued simultaneously, and hopefully with some manner of beneficial symbiosis arising as a result.

It is clear to me, based on the history of H+Pedia, that it was originated and implemented with an open-source ethos, which was strongly espoused by the main administrators and contributors.

I emphasize my commitment to maintaining this open-source ethos of the historic H+Pedia on THPedia. All of the content on THPedia will remain available pursuant to a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. All editors of the historic H+Pedia who made constructive edits there will remain welcome to edit THPedia. All previous H+Pedia profiles and login credentials should work on THPedia, so it should be easy to contribute. I likewise encourage the Humanity+ organization to provide this manner of reciprocity and maintain the same kind of open-source approach for its H+Pedia going forward.

Transhumanism is for everyone, and this recognition motivated my decision to accept the historic H+Pedia from David Wood in January 2024 and to subsequently rebrand it as THPedia while agreeing for Humanity+ to pursue its own encyclopedia using the H+Pedia name. I have written in 2019 about the need for open-source symbols for transhumanism (“Transhumanists Need New Symbols”) – and the result was a wide array of free, open-source symbols for transhumanism developed by our community. The branding of THPedia with one such open-source symbol (and with a name that stands for transhumanism generally) reinforces this fundamental openness to the creation of a robust repository of information about transhumanism based on the input of anyone within and outside of our movement who has valuable knowledge and insights to offer.

Live long and prosper!

Sincerely,

Gennady Stolyarov II
Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party
Chairman, Transhuman Club
Administrator, THPedia

THPedia has achieved the designation of a Recognized Organization from The Transhumanist Council.

The Transhumanist Council: A Worthy Effort for a New Umbrella Transhumanist Organization

November 26, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 0 Comment

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Gennady Stolyarov II

On November 22, 2024, the biohacker, science communicator, and analog astronaut Josh Universe announced the formation of the Transhumanist Council, intended to be an umbrella organization that connects and empowers transhumanist individuals and organizations with the aim of achieving unprecedented growth in the transhumanist movement’s reach. Josh Universe is a capable person to lead such an organization, as his impressive skills in web design and his long-time moderation of the r/Transhumanism and r/Transhuman Subreddits can attest. In addition to his expertise in the technologies of biohacking, Josh Universe has also mastered numerous uses of artificial intelligence and web development languages. His technological skills are suited for the coming Transhuman Era as well as for being able to connect numerous individuals with one another and with the key ideas and goals of transhumanism.

The website of the Transhumanist Council currently features basic information about transhumanism and answers to some commonly asked questions. It also hosts a blog with an initial set of articles about transhumanism and emerging technologies – expected to be greatly expanded in the near future. A content library is being created, and Josh Universe is also collaborating with U.S. Transhumanist Party Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II to modernize THPedia, the Transhumanist Encyclopedia, by creating an Experimental Wiki that will soon host THPedia’s articles, offering another way for readers to navigate among articles and see the connections among subjects in a visually intuitive manner.

Now the U.S. Transhumanist Party welcomes the Transhumanist Council as an Allied Organization and hopes that it will achieve its goals of catalyzing the growth of transhumanism, enabling it to become a household term and a movement that will be readily embraced by young, technically skilled people whose assistance in building a brighter future for humanity will be indispensable. While the U.S. Transhumanist Party endeavors to put science, health, and technology at the forefront of American politics, the Transhumanist Council will put the transhumanist movement at the forefront of today’s technological advancement by utilizing the most advanced tools to connect people, ideas, and projects for the greater good of transhumanism and humankind.

You can visit the website of the Transhumanist Council at https://transhumanism.app/.

Live long and prosper!

Report on the Montana Right to Try Act – Analysis by Shamar White

November 21, 2024 Shamar White Comments 0 Comment

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Shamar White

Introduction

The Montana Right to Try (RTT) Act, particularly as expanded through Senate Bill 422 (SB 422), constitutes a landmark in the evolution of health policy, emphasizing patient autonomy, innovative medical practices, and access to experimental treatments. This legislation resonates deeply with the principles articulated by the U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) Platform and the Transhumanist Bill of Rights (TBR), Version 3.0. By dismantling bureaucratic barriers and facilitating the pursuit of transformative life-extension technologies, the RTT Act embodies a forward-thinking vision of autonomy and technological advancement.

Legislative Context and Provisions

The RTT Act, enhanced by SB 422, builds on existing right-to-try frameworks by expanding access to investigational treatments. Notably, it removes the terminal illness requirement, broadening eligibility to individuals with chronic or life-threatening conditions. This shift underscores a commitment to medical inclusivity, mirroring the USTP’s call for universal access to health innovations (USTP Platform, Sections V, VIII). The Act also reinforces informed consent protocols and provides liability protections for providers and manufacturers who act in good faith.

Alignment with Transhumanist Ideology

The RTT Act’s provisions align with several core transhumanist principles:

Empowerment Through Autonomy
The Act prioritizes individual decision-making in healthcare, granting patients the right to pursue experimental treatments beyond the constraints of traditional regulatory processes. This reflects Article X of the TBR, which champions morphological freedom—the right to alter one’s physical state without external interference.
Acceleration of Innovation
By bypassing protracted FDA approval timelines for therapies that have completed Phase I safety trials, the RTT Act fosters a pro-innovation environment. This approach aligns with the USTP’s advocacy for reducing barriers to medical progress (USTP Platform, Sections VIII, LXXXV).
Ethical Commitment to Longevity
The RTT Act’s emphasis on life-extension technologies resonates with the TBR’s emphasis on combating involuntary aging and enhancing health through science and technology (TBR, Articles IV, VI).

Scholarly Evaluation and Broader Implications

Academic evaluations of right-to-try laws suggest both potential benefits and challenges. Proponents highlight the laws’ capacity to accelerate access to life-saving treatments for patients who have exhausted conventional options (Gaffney et al., 2019). However, critics caution against the risks of insufficient efficacy data and financial exploitation under such frameworks (Sullivan, 2021).

The RTT Act addresses some of these concerns by mandating informed consent and establishing a safety threshold via Phase I trials. Yet, further measures, such as enhanced transparency in treatment outcomes and pricing controls, could strengthen its ethical and equitable foundations. These additions would align with the USTP’s commitment to universal accessibility and technological fairness.

The Montana RTT Act represents a significant policy innovation, aligning with transhumanist ideals of autonomy, medical inclusivity, and the pursuit of longevity. By enabling patients to bypass bureaucratic delays and access experimental therapies, the Act exemplifies a transformative approach to healthcare. However, to fully realize its potential, ongoing evaluations and enhancements are necessary to address ethical, safety, and accessibility challenges. These efforts will ensure that the RTT framework remains a model of progressive policy in advancing human health and autonomy.

Key Provisions of the Montana Right to Try Act

Elimination of Terminal Illness Requirement

The Montana Right to Try Act (RTT), as amended by Senate Bill 422 (SB 422), represents a transformative step in expanding access to experimental treatments. By redefining eligibility to include individuals with chronic, life-threatening, or debilitating conditions, the Act significantly broadens the scope of investigational therapy access. This provision, rooted in patient-centric principles, aligns with the U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) Platform and the Transhumanist Bill of Rights (TBR), which prioritize individual autonomy, the democratization of medical innovation, and the eradication of suffering through technological advancements.

Specific Provisions and Implications

SB 422 removes the previous restriction limiting investigational treatments to individuals diagnosed with terminal illnesses. The previous definition of terminal illness encompassed progressive diseases that were irreversible and, without life-sustaining procedures, would result in imminent death. Now, the expanded eligibility includes patients with chronic, life-threatening, or debilitating conditions.

Conditions newly eligible under this framework include:

Chronic illnesses: Such as advanced rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis.
Life-threatening conditions: Such as severe heart disease or progressive kidney failure.
Debilitating conditions: Such as early-stage ALS or rare genetic disorders that significantly impair quality of life.

This expanded definition addresses a critical gap in medical accessibility by enabling individuals who are not imminently dying to seek investigational treatments, prioritizing unmet medical needs over rigid prognostic criteria.

Alignment with Transhumanist Principles

The redefinition of eligibility for experimental therapies reflects the USTP’s advocacy for equitable access to life-enhancing medical innovations:

1. Broadening the Scope of Health Interventions

USTP Platform, Section V calls for research to eradicate disease and illness for all sapient beings, not merely those in terminal stages. By including patients with chronic and debilitating conditions, SB 422 promotes this comprehensive vision.
The TBR, Article IV, emphasizes the right to access treatments that mitigate involuntary suffering, further underscoring the transhumanist commitment to improving health and extending quality of life.
***
2. Advancing Individual Autonomy in Healthcare

USTP Platform, Section VIII highlights the importance of maximum individual liberty in accessing treatments that enhance the human condition. By circumventing traditional clinical trial constraints, SB 422 empowers individuals to make autonomous decisions about their healthcare trajectories.

Addressing Limitations in Traditional Clinical Trials

Traditional clinical trials often exclude patients with chronic or debilitating conditions to ensure trial consistency and minimize uncertainty in outcomes. While methodologically sound for regulatory purposes, this exclusion leaves many without access to potentially transformative treatments. SB 422 addresses this gap by bypassing rigid trial inclusion criteria, allowing broader patient participation in medical innovation.

The Act’s inclusivity democratizes experimental therapies, offering hope to patients historically marginalized in clinical research. This shift aligns with the transhumanist ethos of leveraging technological advancements to extend healthspan and quality of life for all, irrespective of immediate mortality risk.

The elimination of the terminal illness requirement under SB 422 signifies a paradigm shift in the accessibility of investigational therapies. By expanding eligibility to patients with chronic and debilitating conditions, the Montana RTT Act embodies the transhumanist commitment to eradicating suffering and democratizing medical innovation. Through its alignment with the USTP Platform and the TBR, this provision sets a precedent for progressive, inclusive healthcare policies that prioritize the needs and autonomy of individuals over bureaucratic constraints.

Emphasis on Informed Consent in the Montana Right to Try Act

The Montana Right to Try Act (RTT), as expanded by Senate Bill 422 (SB 422), introduces stringent provisions for informed consent, ensuring that patients seeking access to investigational therapies retain autonomy over their medical decisions. This emphasis on informed consent aligns with the transhumanist ethos of morphological freedom and individual choice as codified in the U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) Platform and the Transhumanist Bill of Rights (TBR). By fostering transparency, comprehension, and ethical engagement, the Act safeguards patient autonomy while promoting trust in life-enhancing medical interventions.

Specific Provisions and Requirements

SB 422 codifies detailed informed consent procedures, requiring healthcare providers to ensure that patients are comprehensively educated about the following aspects of investigational therapies:

1. Experimental Nature of Treatment:

Patients must be explicitly informed that the treatment is not FDA-approved beyond Phase I trials, highlighting the investigational status and the limited understanding of its safety, efficacy, and potential risks.
***
2. Known Risks and Benefits:

Providers are obligated to disclose all available data on side effects, complications, and outcomes associated with the therapy, enabling patients to evaluate the potential trade-offs.
***
3. Alternative Options:

Patients must be informed of other approved treatments or clinical trials that may address their condition, fostering informed decision-making by presenting all viable paths.
***
4. Cost and Financial Responsibility:

Patients must acknowledge their understanding of therapy-related expenses, including potential out-of-pocket costs and insurance coverage limitations.
***
5. Voluntary Nature:

Providers must ensure that patients affirm their decision to proceed is made voluntarily, free from external pressure or coercion.

These measures ensure that individuals retain control over their healthcare trajectory, reflecting the transhumanist principle of morphological freedom as articulated in TBR, Article IX.

Ethical Alignment and Broader Implications

The Act’s emphasis on informed consent aligns with the Belmont Report’s foundational ethical principles, particularly respect for persons, which underscores the need for voluntary, informed participation in research and experimental therapies. By mandating thorough consent processes, the RTT Act ensures that patients are active participants in their medical decisions rather than passive recipients.

USTP Platform, Sections V and VIII, advocates for maximizing individual access to transformative medical technologies that enhance health and extend life. Informed consent provisions within SB 422 ensure that such access is accompanied by comprehensive understanding, safeguarding ethical implementation.

Enhancing Informed-Consent Processes

While the current provisions of SB 422 establish a robust framework, the effectiveness of informed consent could be compromised if documentation is overly complex or if providers fail to allocate sufficient time to patient education. To mitigate these risks, the following recommendations are proposed:

1. Standardized Templates with Accessible Components:

Plain-language explanations: Simplify medical terminology while maintaining precision, empowering individuals with diverse levels of health literacy.
Visual aids: Incorporate infographics, dynamic charts, and animations to demystify complex therapies, such as nanomedicine or gene editing.
Summary sections: Highlight key information on risks, benefits, and costs for quick and clear comprehension.
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2. Neutral Third-Party Verification:

Introduce third-party systems, leveraging human expertise and AI-driven cognitive assessment tools, to confirm patient understanding.
For instance, interactive sessions where patients explain the therapy in their own words could verify comprehension and reinforce voluntary decision-making.
***
3. Digital Platforms and Multilingual Accessibility:

Develop online consent modules with adaptive content to match individual learning preferences.
Utilize AI-powered translation services to ensure linguistic and cultural nuances are accurately conveyed.
Incorporate immersive virtual reality (VR) demonstrations to simulate treatment processes, offering patients a realistic understanding of their options.

Informed consent is a cornerstone of transhumanist ethics, empowering individuals to make deliberate choices about integrating transformative technologies into their lives. The focus on comprehensive, accessible, and patient-centered consent processes ensures that individuals actively participate in their own evolution, aligning with the transhumanist goals of autonomy, innovation, and equitable access to life-enhancing interventions.

By adopting these recommendations, the Montana RTT Act could further strengthen its commitment to patient autonomy and innovation, ensuring that experimental therapies are deployed ethically and inclusively.

Protections for Providers and Manufacturers in the Montana Right to Try Act

The Montana Right to Try (RTT) Act, as expanded by Senate Bill 422 (SB 422), includes provisions granting immunity from liability to physicians and drug manufacturers contingent on their adherence to good faith practices and obtaining informed consent. This legal framework not only reduces the risk of litigation for parties involved in the provision of experimental therapies but also fosters a conducive environment for medical innovation. From a transhumanist perspective, this provision aligns with the ideals of morphological freedom and incentivizes the development of transformative life-extension and health-improvement technologies.

Legal and Ethical Provisions for Immunity

Under the RTT Act, healthcare providers and manufacturers are shielded from lawsuits related to the outcomes of investigational drug use, provided they:

Act in good faith.
Obtain clear and documented informed consent from patients.
Comply with established guidelines for investigational treatments.

This immunity ensures that parties acting ethically and responsibly can innovate without the constant threat of punitive litigation stemming from unforeseen adverse effects.

Definition of Good Faith

Good-faith practices are defined by adherence to ethical standards, transparent communication of risks, and diligent compliance with investigational protocols. Immunity does not extend to reckless or unethical behavior, as the law’s requirements for informed consent create a mechanism for safeguarding patient interests.

Alignment with Transhumanist Ideals

The immunity provision reflects Section VIII of the U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) Platform, which advocates for maximizing liberty in engaging with scientific and technological innovation. By reducing the barriers to entry for small biotech firms and independent researchers, the RTT Act democratizes the field of experimental medicine, fostering a culture of bold innovation.

Additionally, these protections resonate with the Transhumanist Bill of Rights (TBR), Article IX, which underscores the importance of morphological freedom and the autonomy to pursue transformative medical technologies. By incentivizing providers to develop novel therapies, this provision supports the broader transhumanist vision of overcoming biological limitations and extending human healthspan.

Challenges and Risks

Despite its potential, the immunity provision carries risks that must be addressed to ensure ethical compliance and safeguard patient safety:

Potential for Ethical Lapses:
Immunity could inadvertently shield bad actors from accountability, leading to unethical practices or substandard care.
Risk of Financial Exploitation:
Manufacturers may exploit immunity by charging exorbitant prices for investigational therapies, undermining equitable access.
Patient Safety Concerns:
Without rigorous safeguards, patients may be exposed to treatments that lack sufficient scientific validation.

Recommendations for Ethical and Technological Enhancements

To balance the need for innovation with ethical oversight and affordability, the following measures are proposed:

1. Establishment of Independent Ethics Boards

Regional ethical review panels composed of bioethicists, technologists, and medical professionals should evaluate investigational treatment proposals, ensuring alignment with safety and efficacy benchmarks.
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2. Use of Blockchain for Accountability

Blockchain technology can create immutable records of informed consent, treatment protocols, and oversight evaluations, fostering transparency.
Example: A provider administering gene-editing therapy could record each stage of treatment, securing patient trust through transparent documentati
***
3. Mandatory Pricing Transparency

Require manufacturers to disclose production costs and justify pricing models in a publicly accessible database.
Deploy AI analytics to monitor pricing trends and identify unjustifiable spikes, ensuring affordability and equity.
***
4. Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs) for Collective Funding

DAOs could democratize funding for experimental treatments, allowing transparent contributions to influence priorities and impact.
***
5. Evidence-Driven Standards and Multidimensional Safeguards

Treatments must meet minimum safety benchmarks, such as Phase I FDA trials or equivalent international standards.
Create a global transhumanist registry to track the progress of investigational therapies and results transparently.
***
6. Real-Time Patient Feedback Via Wearable Technologies

Use wearable devices or implants to monitor treatment efficacy and adverse effects, ensuring real-time data collection for continuous improvement.
***
7. Ethics Committee Involvement with AI Tools

Equip ethics committees with AI-driven decision-support systems to analyze clinical data, predict outcomes, and flag potential violations.

Transhumanist Perspective on Immunity Provisions

The immunity provisions of the RTT Act are crucial for fostering an environment of accelerated medical innovation. From a transhumanist viewpoint, they enable the rapid development and dissemination of life-enhancing therapies while mitigating the risks associated with bureaucratic stagnation. However, immunity must be paired with robust safeguards to prevent misuse and ensure ethical compliance.

By leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as AI, blockchain, and wearables, the RTT Act can balance innovation with accountability. These measures not only protect patients but also reinforce public trust in transformative medical advancements, furthering the transhumanist goal of extending health and human potential.

Circumvention of FDA Approval Timelines in the Montana Right to Try Act

The Montana Right to Try (RTT) Act, augmented by Senate Bill 422 (SB 422), includes provisions that allow patients to access investigational therapies after completion of Phase I FDA safety trials but before full FDA approval. This paradigm-shifting policy accelerates access to experimental treatments, prioritizing individual autonomy and rapid innovation. From a transhumanist perspective, this provision epitomizes the movement’s commitment to empowering individuals to transcend biological limitations while promoting a pro-innovation environment.

Provisions and Implications

Circumventing Bureaucratic Delays

Under the traditional FDA approval framework, investigational therapies undergo an extensive process spanning 10–15 years, encompassing Phase II and Phase III trials. While these stages aim to validate efficacy and long-term safety, they often delay access to potentially life-saving treatments for critically ill patients. The RTT Act bypasses these protracted timelines, enabling access to therapies that have passed Phase I trials, where basic safety has been demonstrated.

Phase I trials involve rigorous testing to determine a drug’s interaction with the human body, including tolerance levels, acute side effects, and potential benefits. Conducted with 20–80 participants, these trials establish a foundation of safety, with approximately 70% of therapies progressing to Phase II (FDA, n.d.). By granting access post-Phase I, the RTT Act ensures patients can benefit from innovative treatments years ahead of full FDA approval.

Advancing Real-World Data Collection

The provision not only expands access but also fosters a pro-innovation environment by allowing real-world data collection from early adopters. Real-world data, obtained outside controlled clinical trial settings, contributes to understanding treatment efficacy and safety across diverse populations. This aligns with Section VIII of the U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) Platform, which emphasizes accelerating access to health-enhancing technologies while promoting evidence-based innovation.

Alignment with Transhumanist Ideals

Individual Autonomy

By circumventing traditional approval timelines, the RTT Act upholds morphological freedom, as articulated in Article IX of the Transhumanist Bill of Rights (TBR). This principle emphasizes individuals’ rights to make autonomous decisions about their health and access transformative therapies without bureaucratic interference.

Pro-Innovation Ethos

The RTT Act’s prioritization of rapid accessibility resonates with the transhumanist goal of transcending biological limitations through technological advancement. By expediting access to investigational treatments, the Act provides a framework for iterative development, where patient outcomes inform continuous improvement.

Ethical Safeguards through AI

Critics may argue that bypassing later trial phases risks prioritizing speed over comprehensive safety validation. However, leveraging AI-driven predictive models mitigates these risks. AI tools can analyze historical trial data, monitor real-world outcomes, and predict potential adverse effects, enhancing both patient safety and confidence in experimental therapies.

Recommendations for Enhancing Safeguards

While the RTT Act’s provisions are transformative, implementing additional measures would align with transhumanist principles and address potential concerns:

1. Mandatory AI Integration

Require the use of AI systems to analyze real-world patient data, flag risks, and optimize treatment protocols.
Example: An AI platform monitors early adopters’ health metrics, identifying trends in adverse effects to refine dosage recommendations.
***
2. Global Collaboration on Efficacy Standards

Establish international benchmarks for Phase I trial outcomes to ensure consistency in safety validation.
Create a shared global registry of investigational therapies, enabling cross-border access and data sharing.
***
3. Patient Education and Consent

Develop standardized digital consent modules that explain the experimental nature of therapies and associated risks.
Use visual aids and VR demonstrations to ensure informed decision-making.
***
4. Real-Time Feedback Mechanisms

Equip patients with wearable devices to provide continuous health data, informing both providers and ethics boards about treatment outcomes.

Transhumanist Perspective on Circumvention Provisions

The RTT Act’s circumvention of FDA approval timelines exemplifies the transhumanist ethos of leveraging technology and policy to expand human potential. By accelerating access to investigational therapies, the Act empowers individuals to take control of their medical trajectories, bypassing the inertia of traditional regulatory frameworks.

This approach aligns with the transhumanist commitment to morphological freedom and the democratization of innovation. At the same time, the integration of cutting-edge tools such as AI and global registries ensures that the expedited process remains ethical, inclusive, and data-driven, paving the way for societal progress in the realm of health and longevity.

Cost Control and Accessibility in the Montana Right to Try Act

The Cost Control and Accessibility provision of the Montana Right to Try (RTT) Act reflects an important but incomplete step toward reducing the financial barriers to experimental therapies. By allowing manufacturers to offer treatments at cost or free, the provision aligns partially with transhumanist principles of autonomy and health enhancement. However, the absence of mechanisms to ensure universal accessibility leaves the law vulnerable to inequities that undermine its transformative potential.

From a transhumanist perspective, universal access to life-extension technologies and innovative therapies is essential for a society that prioritizes human flourishing. This report evaluates the provision’s alignment with the principles of the U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) and the Transhumanist Bill of Rights (TBR), while offering targeted recommendations to address its limitations.

Provisions and Gaps

Current Provisions

The RTT Act permits manufacturers to provide investigational treatments either at cost or free. This flexibility is a critical step in addressing affordability concerns for some patients, particularly those who can self-finance their care.

Transparency Challenges: The provision does not require manufacturers to disclose cost structures for treatments, making it difficult to assess whether pricing is fair or exploitative.
Access Limitations: The absence of mandates for affordability leaves low-income, uninsured, or underinsured individuals at risk of exclusion. Accessibility is thus subject to the discretion of manufacturers, creating potential inequities.

Alignment with Transhumanist Ideals

This provision supports Section V and Section VIII of the USTP Platform, which advocate for improving human health and providing access to cutting-edge technologies. However, it falls short of fulfilling Article VII of the Transhumanist Bill of Rights (TBR), which demands universal healthcare and equitable access to transformative treatments.

Recommendations

1. Establish a Universal Treatment Fund

A Universal Treatment Fund (UTF), funded through public or private partnerships, would subsidize investigational therapies for patients unable to afford them.

Implementation Example: The UTF could pool resources from government allocations, philanthropic donations, and industry contributions. Patients with chronic or life-threatening conditions could apply for subsidies, ensuring that financial status does not preclude access to life-saving treatments.

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2. Cost Transparency Mandates

Mandating manufacturers to disclose detailed cost breakdowns, including production, research, and administrative expenses, would enhance accountability and affordability.

Implementation Example: A public database could display cost data for investigational therapies, allowing policymakers, patients, and advocacy groups to assess whether prices align with ethical and equitable standards.
AI Integration: Advanced AI algorithms could analyze this data to recommend fair pricing models based on market conditions, production costs, and patient demographics.

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3. Sliding-Scale Pricing Models

Requiring manufacturers to adopt sliding-scale pricing based on patient income levels would ensure that therapies remain accessible across socioeconomic strata.

Implementation Example: A low-income patient seeking investigational cancer treatment might pay a reduced fee proportionate to their income, while wealthier patients would pay closer to the actual cost.

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4. Global Crowdsourced Subsidy Mechanisms

Decentralized platforms, such as Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs), could crowdsource funding for investigational treatments, democratizing access to medical innovation.

Implementation Example: A DAO pools contributions globally, funding experimental therapies for individuals selected through a transparent, community-driven process.

Transhumanist Perspective

Inclusivity and Innovation

Universal accessibility to transformative medical technologies embodies the transhumanist ideal of inclusivity, ensuring that treatments for health extension and quality of life improvement are fundamental rights rather than privileges. While the Montana RTT Act’s current provisions lay groundwork for affordability, additional safeguards are necessary to prevent socioeconomic inequities.

Leveraging Technology

Transhumanism emphasizes the integration of advanced technologies such as AI-driven cost analytics, blockchain for accountability, and digital platforms for subsidy management. These innovations would ensure fairness and transparency while enabling scalability.

Societal Benefits

Adopting measures that guarantee equitable access strengthens societal trust in experimental medicine and reduces disparities in healthcare. As transformative therapies become more accessible, they foster a sense of collective progress, bolstering societal cohesion and advancing transhumanist ideals of technological optimism.

The Montana RTT Act’s provision for cost control and accessibility marks a commendable step toward democratizing medical innovation. However, its reliance on voluntary cost controls and manufacturer discretion limits its potential to address systemic inequities. By incorporating a Universal Treatment Fund, cost transparency mandates, and sliding-scale pricing models, the Act can evolve to fully align with transhumanist principles of inclusivity and accessibility.

These measures would ensure that life-enhancing and life-saving treatments transcend socioeconomic barriers, advancing a future where human health, longevity, and autonomy are universally prioritized. Through this approach, the RTT framework not only supports individual rights but also fosters societal trust and technological progress, echoing the foundational values of transhumanism.

Conclusion

The Montana Right to Try (RTT) Act, as enhanced by Senate Bill 422 (SB 422), represents a transformative legislative initiative that aligns closely with the principles of the U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) Platform and the Transhumanist Bill of Rights (TBR), Version 3.0. By removing the terminal illness requirement, expediting access to experimental therapies, emphasizing robust informed consent, and shielding providers and manufacturers from undue liability, the Act advances a progressive framework for patient autonomy, medical inclusivity, and technological innovation.

Consistent with the USTP’s core values, the RTT Act dismantles barriers that previously restricted access to investigational treatments, promoting universal healthcare access (TBR, Article VII) and morphological freedom (TBR, Article X). The provision for circumventing FDA timelines reflects a commitment to accelerating medical innovation and prioritizing individual health autonomy, key tenets of transhumanist ideology. Additionally, by addressing cost control and encouraging ethical safeguards, the Act supports the transhumanist vision of a future where transformative technologies are equitably accessible.

However, while the Act’s provisions mark significant progress, they also expose areas for enhancement. Gaps in affordability, transparency, and accountability underscore the need for innovative solutions. Proposals such as establishing a Universal Treatment Fund, leveraging AI for cost analytics and risk assessment, and employing blockchain technology for ethical compliance represent transhumanist-aligned strategies to ensure that the RTT Act’s benefits are universally realized.

Ultimately, the Montana RTT Act serves as a case study in the practical application of transhumanist principles to policy. It embodies the ethos of extending human health and autonomy through science and technology while identifying avenues for continuous improvement. By incorporating equity-focused measures and cutting-edge technologies, the Act can further evolve into a robust model for progressive, inclusive healthcare, advancing the shared goal of transcending biological limitations and promoting a future defined by longevity, innovation, and human flourishing.

References

Governor of Montana Approves Bill Expanding Patient Access to Experimental Treatments. https://a4li.org.
Now in Effect: Montana Law Significantly Expands Right to Try Act. Tenth Amendment Center. https://tenthamendmentcenter.com.
Bill Text: MT SB422 | 2023 | Regular Session | Enrolled. LegiScan. https://legiscan.com/MT/text/SB422/2023.
Transhumanist Bill of Rights – Version 3.0. U.S. Transhumanist Party – Official Website. Adopted December 2018. https://www.transhumanist-party.org/bill-of-rights/.
Step 3: Clinical Research. FDA. https://www.fda.gov.
Gaffney, Adam. (2017). To Heal Humankind: The Right to Health in History (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315158433
Gaffney, Adam. “Adam Gaffney on the Right to Health.” PNHP. https://pnhp.org/news/adam-gaffney-on-the-right-to-health/ (Accessed November 21, 2024).
Leonard, Elizabeth Weeks. 2009. “Right to Experimental Treatment: FDA New Drug Approval, Constitutional Rights, and the Public’s Health.” Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 37(2): 269–79. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-720X.2009.00371.x.
U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform. “Sections V, VIII, LXXXV.” https://www.transhumanist-party.org/platform/.
Brown, Brandon., et al. 2018. Assessment of the Right-to-Try Law: The Pros and the Cons. Journal of Nuclear Medicine. https://jnm.snmjournals.org/content/59/10/1492.
Montana Legislature. Senate Bill 422 (2023 Regular Session). https://legiscan.com/MT/text/SB422/2023.

Shamar White is a dedicated Legislative Analyst for the U.S. Transhumanist Party, leveraging a robust background in political science, economics, and grassroots organizing to advance innovative and equitable policy solutions. With dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Economics and Political Science from Montclair State University and ongoing pursuit of a Master of Arts in Political Science from the American Public University Systems, Shamar brings a rigorous academic perspective to legislative and policy analysis.

As President of the Global Humanity Corp, a nonprofit organization committed to fostering collaboration and addressing human rights challenges, Shamar has conducted extensive socio-economic and political research on global issues, ranging from the implications of BRICS economic policies to human rights violations in conflict zones. This leadership experience underscores a deep commitment to advocacy and systemic change.

Shamar’s professional experience in educational and community leadership has honed their ability to engage diverse populations, develop strategic initiatives, and advocate for underrepresented groups. Proficient in economic forecasting, policy evaluation, and advanced data analysis, Shamar’s skill set bridges theoretical research and practical implementation.

In their role with the U.S. Transhumanist Party, Shamar applies this expertise to promote policies aligned with the transhumanist ethos, including autonomy, technological innovation, and universal accessibility to transformative medical advancements. Fluent in Japanese and Jamaican Patois, Shamar’s multicultural competencies further enhance their ability to address complex, global issues with nuanced and inclusive solutions.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments on the Citizen Petition by Age Reversal Unity to Declare Aging a Disease

November 20, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 1 comment

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Gennady Stolyarov II

The following comments were submitted by Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman of the United States Transhumanist Party, on November 19, 2024, in support of the Citizen Petition by Age Reversal Unity to request that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) take the following three actions described below:

(1) Initiate proceedings to reclassify aging from a natural process to a disease for the purposes of regulation and research.
(2) Review and consider the scientific and medical evidence presented in support of this reclassification.
(3) Amend relevant FDA policies and regulations to reflect the reclassification of aging as a disease.

Find out more about Age Reversal Unity on its website.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party also encourages you to view and sign the Citizen Petition by Age Reversal Unity.

As Chairman of the United States Transhumanist Party, I write in support of this petition for the FDA to promulgate a new regulation that defines aging as a disease for the purposes of research, treatment, and prevention.

The Transhumanist Party is an alliance of over 4600 members who advocate for transcending the flaws and limitations of the human condition through technology and for putting science, health, and technology at the forefront of American politics. We champion initiatives and reforms that will improve the human condition for as many people as possible, with as much beneficial impact as possible. Our first Core Ideal is the pursuit of significant life extension, achieved through the progress of science and technology. Without effective ways to address the damage inflicted by biological aging at the cellular and molecular level, such significant life extension would not be possible. Aging greatly increases the probability of each of the disease conditions that are statistically most likely to end an individual’s life. However, without the classification of biological aging as an indication that can be targeted by therapies, drugs, or medical devices, many researchers and companies would not see a clear pathway for any such potential treatment to regulatory approval and delivery to patients. Accordingly, much beneficial and life-saving research is likely to be deterred, and many financial resources might never flow into the biomedical rejuvenation field, unless the FDA recognizes biological aging as a disease and signals openness to reviewing therapies, drugs, and medical devices that would seek to reverse biological aging directly, instead of solely targeting specific disease conditions.

The Transhumanist Party urges the FDA to open the way toward revolutionary, life-saving medicine, which will greatly extend healthy, productive lifespans of as many Americans as will be alive in time to benefit from these advances. The correct time to classify aging as a disease was decades ago. The next-best time is as soon as possible. Over 110,000 people die of causes related to biological aging every day, and every day closer to medically achieved age reversal will mean the opportunity to save such an astonishingly high number of irreplaceable individual human beings.

Sincerely,

Gennady Stolyarov II
Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party

U.S. Transhumanist Party Chairman’s Eighth Anniversary Message

November 18, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 6 comments

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Gennady Stolyarov II

When I first became Chairman of the U.S. Transhumanist Party on November 17, 2016, Donald Trump was about to become President of the United States. Now, as I mark the eight-year anniversary of my Chairman role, Donald Trump is about to become President of the United States. This most certainly feels a bit like a déjà vu experience – but perhaps more as a variation on a theme than an exact repetition. Despite several areas of clear technological progress (e.g., generative AI, mRNA vaccines, space travel, and some medical advances), I do not consider the world today to be better than the world of November 2016. Societally, culturally, and materially, humankind has endured much – generally pointlessly – during the past eight years and especially during the past five years, only to find itself in quite a similar situation politically, but with more damage done, more nerves frayed, more division and polarization, more friendships and relationships ruined, more blind, irrational tribalism that refuses to see the “other side” (as well as those erroneously lumped into the “other side”) as quite human – not to mention more deaths in horrific wars that were entirely avoidable and that raise a specter of existential risk over our civilization, far greater than any risk that artificial intelligence could ever pose. Yet significant hope remains – and transhumanism is the crucial reason why this is so.

The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election – similar to the elections in France, Germany, and the United Kingdom – was an anti-status-quo election. The candidate and the party most seeming to represent the status quo in the minds of the voters lost. Any party seen as opposing the status quo or offering an alternative – no matter what the alternative – won, as long as it was seen as “having a chance of winning”. Given the duopolistic trap in the United States – which has been thoroughly inculcated into the voters by the elites of both major political parties – the voters who rejected the status quo ended up supporting… the status quo, but in a different guise and of a different flavor, and couched in irreverent, populistic rhetoric. Most American voters – as well as voters in Western countries generally – sense that almost every major aspect of contemporary society is deeply broken, but they have neither the vocabulary to describe it nor a coherent set of solutions to address the root causes of the problems that pervade our lives. Nor do they have the toolkit of thought and action to resist the many pitfalls that the duopoly places in their way.

Really, what is broken is the Postmodern Era, which has characterized the Western world substantially since World War I and overwhelmingly since World War II. The Postmodern Era deprived most ordinary, non-philosophically-inclined people of a sense of overarching meaning and purpose in life – deconstructing prior “narratives” and thought systems and replacing them with the cynical identity politics of victims and oppressors, “our tribe” versus “their tribe” – where anything goes and any low tactic is permitted because there are no objective, universalizable standards of goodness, decency, or progress to aspire toward. For some time, especially in the two decades after World War II and again in the mid-1980s through September 11, 2001, humanity was able to “coast” forward on the fuel of accumulated scientific and technological progress and the material infrastructure that it enabled. But now our material infrastructure is decaying, and science and technology have come under attack by “degrowth” types on the Left and “all-natural” types on the Right – or the Robert Kennedy, Jr. types who fuse the two mentalities. Life-expectancy growth stagnated in the West and experienced a major reversal during the COVID pandemic, but in the United States, life expectancy for middle-aged Caucasian residents was already declining prior to COVID, due to “deaths of despair” – brought about by substance abuse fueled ultimately by a crisis of meaning.

For most people in the Western world, the sense that they are living lives of abundance and prosperity has disappeared, even as we continue to benefit from amazing technological advances. Generative AI, which has been truly the most impressive advance of the past decade and a half (ever since the emergence of smartphones), has generated a fear-driven backlash instead of seeing a hope-driven adoption (although a more pragmatic, unheralded, de facto type of adoption is beginning to occur). But without a philosophical foundation of hope for a better future, the majority of people will continue to interpret any advancement in a cynical light and will fail to find the opportunities amidst an era of change. In its dying throes, the Postmodern Era aims to drag us all down, as its paradigmatic institutions make the costs of basic goods and services – including housing and healthcare – expensive and beyond the reach of many, as they destroy social ties and networks of mutual support by means of propaganda that brainwashes ordinary people to view other ordinary people as evil, as they foster a pervasive demonization and “cancellation” of anybody who dares to actually offer an unconventional solution to the problems of the contemporary world.

There have been some efforts to resist the Postmodern dysfunction and the attempts at monolithic control by the Postmodern Era’s institutions. Indeed, the recent election results could be understood in some sense as the majority of voters selecting a somewhat more heterodox party, one that fits the Postmodern propaganda a little less well in some respects, even as it epitomizes the Postmodern, post-truth, identity-politics mentality in others. Other minor parties and political figures have attempted to take more constructive stands – for instance, Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat of the Libertarian Party, who ran a principled campaign that articulately espoused the values of individual liberty and limited government. They did this despite being undermined by the leadership of their own party, who preferred a capitulation to Trump and RFK, Jr. – a leadership that did everything it could to deprive its own candidates of resources and support. Another example is the Forward Party, which has worked to elect solutions-oriented candidates to local and State offices, while advocating for ranked-choice voting – an essential electoral reform in the view of the USTP. However, it is clear that the Libertarian Party is in persistent disarray and further along the trajectory of splitting into outright Trumpists and “Democrats-lite” – an unfortunate dynamic that I had already observed as early as 2016. The Forward Party, while it continues to support worthwhile reforms, has been gutted of its former, more substantive platform that stemmed from the ideas of Andrew Yang. In an effort to encompass anyone and everyone dissatisfied with the duopoly, including some prominent establishment figures who might not favor some of Yang’s more innovative and unconventional ideas, the Forward Party now stands for much less than it originally did, or could have.

There is only one political party in the United States that stands for a completely new paradigm of human history in a philosophically rigorous and consistent manner. This is the U.S. Transhumanist Party, which seeks to replace the Postmodern Era with the Transhuman Era – an era where a sense of meaning and of the desirability of progress can be rekindled, where the improvement of the human condition – the defeat of death, disease, scarcity, pointless conflict – an overcoming of the forces of ruin – can be pursued with confidence and dedication. It was, in retrospect, an immense stroke of good fortune that I was able to assume the leadership role of the U.S. Transhumanist Party in November 2016, when I would have otherwise become politically homeless, and likely retired from politics altogether, seeing no hope for political activity otherwise. The Transhumanist Party offers hope to those who wish to be principled and to build a future where humans can indeed overcome the perils that have plagued us ever since our species and our societies came to be. Just as I found a political home in the USTP, and thousands of others have since – so can you – but remember that we do stand for some quite definite ideas, as expressed in our Core Ideals and Values, our Platform, and the Transhumanist Bill of Rights, Version 3.0. We are neither left-wing, nor right-wing, but up-wing (to use the terminology of the great proto-transhumanist, FM-2030). We seek anyone who actually wishes to solve problems and build a better future, instead of simply fighting “the other side”, escalating tensions, and becoming mired in trench warfare over the wedge issues of the day.

Ross-Twedt Presidential Campaign

The definite highlight of the past two years of USTP activity has been our Presidential campaign. Our ticket of Tom Ross for President and Daniel Twedt for Vice-President has generated a wealth of conversations, interviews, campaign videos, graphics – all aimed at getting Americans and humans generally to think about how we can respond constructively to immense changes that are arising economically, technologically, and socially. Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt followed in the footsteps (or the Immortality Bus tracks) of Zoltan Istvan in 2016 and Charlie Kam and Liz Parrish in 2020 and stayed true to the intention of running a highly creative marketing campaign for the ideas of transhumanism.

For a distillation of many of the key messages of the Ross-Twedt campaign, I would encourage you to view our compilation of campaign graphics and videos, which illustrate the clear ways in which the USTP stood apart and remained above the fray with its messaging, instead providing actionable insights that people of any party and any political orientation can utilize to thrive in the coming future.

We are still in the process of tabulating the votes that have been cast for Tom Ross and/or Daniel Twedt, who also ran for the fourth time for City Council in Thousand Oaks, California. As of November 17, 2024, we are aware of 566 votes that have been cast for either or both of our candidates. Watch this page for the updated vote counts as new information comes in – and if you wrote in Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt during the 2024 General Election, please let us know that you did so at ustranshumanistparty@protonmail.com.

We are exceptionally grateful to each and every Transhumanist voter who defied the persistent messaging of the duopoly and wrote our candidates in. What is most important to us is the opportunity to spread transhumanist ideas and to have engaged great minds in the process – great minds such as those of our courageous members who chose to take a stand for principles and vote their consciences. We in the USTP are honored by every single vote cast for our candidates!

Innovative Uses of Artificial Intelligence

We ourselves have been harnessing the recent advances in generative AI technology to a significant extent and hope to do much more in this realm. Our Virtual Enlightenment Salon of November 3, 2024, immediately preceding the U.S. Presidential Election, was narrated by two AI hosts from Google’s NotebookLM, who quite insightfully and relatably discussed the USTP’s goals and the Tom Ross campaign.

Indeed, there is no political party that has embraced generative AI nearly to the extent that the USTP has in producing an outpouring of art, music, and graphic design during the past two years. We are not only the party that advocates for emerging technology; we are the party at the forefront of using it! There is now even an AI chatbot designed by our friend Jeffrey Zilahy of the Risk Averse Technology Company, where one can ask questions specific to the USTP and receive answers based on the information on our website. You can find it and experiment with it at https://www.transhumanism-ai.com/thdir/index.

Moreover, this transhumanist skyscraper was generated via the DALL-E 3 AI on the occasion of the 8^th anniversary of my tenure as Chairman of the USTP.

Our efforts to apply artificial intelligence to amplify the message of transhumanism are only beginning. Be on the lookout for many more developments to come!

Membership Growth and Volunteering

At present, USTP membership has exceeded 4,600 and continues to grow almost daily. We continue to make it as easy as possible for interested individuals to join. Membership is free and will always remain so, and our online application form takes less than a minute to fill out.

Beyond member signups, we continue to seek active volunteers and will find roles for you if you wish to assist in spreading the ideas of transhumanism and advancing the projects of the USTP. As I wrote in my Sixth Anniversary Message, we seek people who would be willing to undertake projects, track legislation and write analyses, contribute articles to the USTP website, operate State-level Transhumanist Parties and local transhumanist meetups, and reach out to policymakers and the public with messaging that aligns with the USTP Platform and Values. Our FAQ and Action Items for New Members provide some basic ideas of what any member could do. Beyond that, please reach out to me with your own ideas and a description of your skill sets, and I would be happy to explore what it might be possible to achieve through our joint efforts.

Our attempts during the 2024 election season to attain ballot access in Louisiana and Tennessee showed that we need more transhumanists “on the ground” in each state to organize local events and efforts – such as petition drives – more effectively. While we did have dedicated volunteers in both of these states, thanks to the diligent work of Aida Ćemalović and Micah Redding – we ultimately fell short of having a person willing to serve as a Presidential Elector in each Congressional District. This speaks to the need of cultivating a robust Transhumanist presence in every area of the country – urban or rural – and finding ways to spread our message so as to resonate with the goals and values of those who reside there, while showing them new possibilities for a brighter future.

Celebration of the USTP’s 10^th Anniversary

2024 was a year of multiple major milestones for the USTP. We celebrated our 10^th anniversary on October 7, 2024, with a special Virtual Enlightenment Salon to mark the occasion one day early on October 6. It was quite a remarkable occasion to have so many of the key figures in the Transhumanist Party’s history present within the same stream.

Zoltan Istvan, the USTP’s Founder and 2016 Presidential candidate, expressed pride in the party’s survival and its continued participation in presidential elections, raising awareness of transhumanist ideas. He highlighted the increasing relevance of transhumanism, especially in light of advancements in AI, although he lamented that AI is advancing at a faster rate than the technologies of life extension, and this disparity urgently needs to be addressed. Zoltan stressed that science and technology are the keys to achieving radical life extension and a better future for humanity

I, in turn, emphasized the high quality of discourse within the party, attributing it to the caliber of its members. I also acknowledged the USTP’s goal of shifting the political conversation towards transhumanist concerns rather than solely focusing on winning elections.

Charlie Kam, the USTP’s 2020 Presidential candidate, noted the growing acceptance of transhumanist ideas, particularly among younger generations familiar with AI and other advanced technologies. He expressed optimism about the potential for a stronger third party in American politics, with the U.S. Transhumanist Party well-positioned to fill that role.

Liz Parrish, the USTP’s 2020 Vice-Presidential candidate, stressed the importance of moving beyond traditional political debates and focusing on scientific solutions to global challenges, especially those related to health and aging. She argued that society should embrace, not blacklist, innovative technologies like genetic engineering, which hold the key to improving human lives and saving the planet.

Dr. Bill Andrews, the USTP’s Biotechnology Advisor and one of our earliest supporters, shared his passion for extending and enhancing lifespans, advocating for progress in areas like whole-brain emulation and robotic caregiving to address the needs of an aging population. He expressed concern about the “silver tsunami,” a situation where a rapidly aging population will outnumber those capable of providing care, urging the development of solutions like in-home robotic caregivers.

Tom Ross, the USTP’s 2024 Presidential candidate, focused on alleviating fears surrounding AI, arguing that advanced AI will move towards cooperation and become kinder, not more threatening. He also shared his experiences engaging with individuals who harbor fears and conspiracy theories surrounding transhumanism, advocating for open conversations to dispel misconceptions and demonstrate the positive aspects of the movement.

Daniel Twedt, the USTP’s 2024 Vice-Presidential candidate, echoed Tom Ross’s sentiments, emphasizing the potential for AI to enhance human capabilities and contribute to the evolution of a new species, “Cosmos Sapiens,” capable of expanding beyond Earth. He advocated for cryonics as a potential bridge to a future where AI and other technologies can address the problem of biological aging.

Art Ramon Garcia, Jr., the USTP Director of Visual Art, underscored the importance of artistic expression in conveying the transhumanist message, arguing that art can reach audiences in ways that science and technology alone cannot. He also emphasized the personal impact of transhumanist ideas, sharing his own experiences with aging and his hopes for technological solutions to address the physical limitations that come with age.

Dr. Jose Cordeiro, the USTP’s Technology Advisor, highlighted international transhumanist efforts, discussing his work in Spain, including a march for longevity and the TransVision Madrid conference. The idea of a march for longevity in Washington, D.C., which was first announced at RAADfest in Anaheim, California, in September 2024, was enthusiastically supported by various participants, who saw it as a powerful way to increase visibility and demonstrate public support for radical life extension

Overall, the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s 10th-anniversary celebration provided an occasion for reflecting on the party’s accomplishments, highlighting key areas of focus, and outlining a vision for the future. The discussions reflected the USTP’s commitment to promoting transhumanist ideas, advocating for radical life extension, addressing the ethical and societal implications of AI, and engaging in public discourse to foster understanding and support for the movement. The celebration underscored the importance of public outreach and engagement and also touched on the importance of cross-generational collaboration, with each of the participants emphasizing the need to engage younger generations and leverage their familiarity with technology to advance transhumanist goals.

I encourage you to visit our post dedicated to our 10^th-anniversary celebration, where you will also find the excellent and inspiring art generated by our members for the occasion.

The longevity of the USTP thus far will enable us to more readily continue our work in spreading the ideas of transhumanism and advocating for emerging scientific and technological breakthroughs to help humankind to finally overcome the forces of ruin. Numerous projects and initiatives are in progress and will be announced in the year to come – even as we work to formulate the best responses of the U.S. Transhumanist Party to the current societal and political predicaments facing Americans and the world at large.

I am hopeful that, despite the turmoil that has intensified since 2016, many opportunities for a brighter Transhumanist future remain – and some of the paths toward such a future will become clearly discernible soon. I plan to share much more in the coming months as we make progress along these paths, and I invite all of you to become involved in making the Transhumanist future a reality.

Live long and prosper!

U.S. Transhumanist Party Statement on the Outcome of the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

November 8, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 0 Comment

The U.S. Transhumanist Party acknowledges that Donald Trump won the U.S. Presidential Election and supports a peaceful transfer of power. This is not the outcome we sought, but we maintain our loyalty to the U.S. Constitution, the representative small-“d” democratic system, the rights of all individual humans and sentient entities more broadly, peace, international collaboration, and the improvement of the United States through science, technology, and rational discourse.

We look forward to remaining in the Loyal Opposition, as we did during the first Trump and Biden terms. We encourage a policy focus – being ready to point out the bad but also recognize and amplify the good. We will, more generally, continue to oppose the duopoly, while being open to issue-specific alignment and collaboration with anyone who upholds the values and goals of life extension, transhumanism, rationality, and electoral reforms that would facilitate true voter choice.

Join us in this effort! Fill out our free membership form in less than a minute, no matter where you reside.

Preliminary Member-Reported Write-In Totals for Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election

November 6, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 0 Comment

The following is a preliminary tabulation of the write-in votes for Thomas Ernest Ross, Jr. (Tom Ross) for President of the United States and Daniel Emerson Twedt (Daniel Twedt or Dan Twedt) for Vice-President of the United States, as self-reported to us by U.S. Transhumanist Party members and other supporters (with photographic evidence, where permitted by state law).

These numbers are current as of 10:45 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, December 13, 2024, and will be updated as additional information becomes known. These figures should be considered to set a verified lower bound on the number of write-in votes for the U.S. Transhumanist Party Presidential ticket in each of the listed states.

If you wrote in Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt, please let us know via e-mail to ustranshumanistparty@protonmail.com – if you have not done so already.

Please e-mail us a picture of your ballot only if the law of your state allows it. (Find out more details about which states permit taking pictures of marked ballots here.) Let us know the state in which you voted as well. We want your vote to count, and it will count where it matters if we include it in our forthcoming published aggregate totals.

State	Number of Votes for Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt
California	4
Pennsylvania	4
Tennessee	4
New York	3
Kentucky	3
Arizona	2
Connecticut	2
Massachusetts	2
Washington	2
Wisconsin	2
Colorado	1
Delaware	1
Idaho	1
Indiana	1
Kansas	1
Maryland	1
Minnesota	1
New Jersey	1
North Carolina	1

Total Verified Write-in Votes for Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt: 37

Total Votes for Daniel Twedt for City Council in Thousand Oaks, California: 570

Total Votes for Transhumanist Candidates in 2024: 607

Updated at 10:45 p.m. Pacific Time on December 13, 2024.

Please visit this page in the future for subsequent updates.

U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party Positions on 2024 Nevada Ballot Questions

October 18, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 1 comment

Gennady Stolyarov II

The United States Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party offer the following statements of position on the ballot questions currently before Nevada voters in the 2024 General Election.

Summary
Nevada State Question 1 – Remove Constitutional Status of Board of Regents Amendment: Neutral
Nevada State Question 2 – Revising Language Related to Public Entities for Individuals with Mental Illness, Blindness, or Deafness Amendment: Neutral
Nevada State Question 3 – Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative: Strongly Support
Nevada State Question 4 – Remove Slavery as Punishment for Crime from Constitution Amendment: Support
Nevada State Question 5 – Sales Tax Exemption for Diapers Measure: Support
Nevada State Question 6 – Right to Abortion Initiative: Neutral
Nevada State Question 7 – Voter Identification Initiative: Oppose

Nevada State Question 1 – Remove Constitutional Status of Board of Regents Amendment

Wording of Question: “Shall the Nevada Constitution be amended to remove certain provisions governing the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education and its administration of the State University and certain federal land grant funds and to provide additional legislative oversight of public institutions of higher education through regular independent audits, without repealing the current statutory election process or other existing statutory provisions relating to the Board of Regents?” (More information on BallotPedia.)

Position of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party: The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party are generally neutral as to the structure of oversight over educational institutions and so do not take a strong position as to whether Nevada universities are overseen by a separately elected Board of Regents or directly by the Legislature. Furthermore, Ballot Question 1 would not actually dissolve the Board of Regents, but rather would place it under the oversight of the Legislature instead of its powers being provided for in the Nevada Constitution. Therefore, the day-to-day governance of Nevada’s State-funded higher-education institutions may not be changed in significant ways.

BallotPedia notes that “An amendment to remove the constitutional status of the Board of Regents was also on the 2020 ballot in Nevada. Voters defeated this amendment by 50.15%-49.85%.”

The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party were similarly neutral on Ballot Question 1 in 2020. There was a favorable component of the 2020 Ballot Question 1, which is absent from the 2024 Ballot Question 1, and which would have mandated for the Legislature to provide by law for “the reasonable protection of individual academic freedom at Nevada’s public higher education institutions” –. The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party are supportive of strengthening protections for individual academic freedom and regret that the current iteration of Ballot Question 1 did not preserve that aspect. The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party do see some potential risks of politicization of higher education that may arise from Ballot Question 1 if a Legislature interferes directly in overseeing the content taught or the manner of individual expression permitted on a university campus, without specific protections for individual academic freedom being provided for by law.

However, the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party would generally consider the issues involved in the structure of university governance to be outside the purview of specifically transhumanist political advocacy. Therefore, members are encouraged to vote their conscience on this ballot question by consulting their own individual understandings of the relevant matters.

Nevada State Question 2 – Revising Language Related to Public Entities for Individuals with Mental Illness, Blindness, or Deafness Amendment

Wording of Question: “Shall Section 1 of Article 13 of the Nevada Constitution be amended to: (1) revise the description of the persons who benefit from institutions that the State is required to foster and support; (2) replace the term “institutions” with “entities”; and (3) add entities for the benefit of persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities to the types of entities that the State is required to foster and support?” (More information on BallotPedia.)

Position of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party: The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party are ultimately neutral on Ballot Question 2. Question 2 proposes to replace the current reference to “Institutions” with “Entities” and the current reference to benefiting “the Insane, Blind and Deaf and Dumb” with “persons with significant mental illness, persons who are blind or visually impaired, persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and persons with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities”. The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party do not take a strong position on revising language solely with the intention of appearing more sensitive, or avoiding terms that some might perceive to be offensive, although this should not be the sole motivation for a change, and Section XL of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform does oppose “the doctrine of censorship, now prevalent on many college campuses in the United States, in the name of […] avoiding subjectively perceived offense.” Wording revisions to a Constitution, however, are not in themselves censorship, in that the expression of any idea by anyone is not being forcibly suppressed, and there may instead be a genuine attempt to determine what superior, more accurate, or more generally palatable wording to describe a particular subject matter might be.

There is a more substantive possible aspect to Ballot Question 2, which ultimately addresses which institutions or entities the State of Nevada would be constitutionally obligated to support. For instance, not all “persons with significant mental illness” might fit under the older category of “the Insane”, and the category of “persons with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities” is a new addition, as such persons should not rightfully be referred to as “Insane” under any framework. Proponents of Ballot Question 2 may consider it worthwhile for the State of Nevada to provide financial support to entities treating individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities. However, the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform and Transhumanist Bill of Rights – Version 3.0 ultimately do not take a position on whether such support should be governmentally provided. Article VII of the Transhumanist Bill of Rights – Version 3.0 states, “All sentient entities should be the beneficiaries of a system of universal health care. A system of universal health care does not necessitate any particular means, policy framework, source, or method of payment for delivering health care. A system of universal health care may be provided privately, by governments, or by some combination thereof, as long as, in practice, health care is abundant, inexpensive, accessible, and effective in curing diseases, healing injuries, and lengthening lifespans.” Therefore, it remains the decision of individual members of the U.S. and Nevada Transhumanist Parties regarding whether they would consider governmental support for treating individuals with intellectual disabilities or developmental disabilities to be the best means for overcoming those disabilities. It is possible for an individual member to agree with this, but it is also possible for another individual member to consider private institutions or individually motivated action to be more effective in overcoming at least some intellectual or developmental disabilities than State-funded institutions or entities might be.

Section XVIII of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform states that “The United States Transhumanist Party supports work to use science and technology to be able to eliminate all disabilities in humans who have them.” However, it is not clear whether any additional entities that would receive State support as a result of Ballot Question 2 would be focused on actually eliminating disabilities or only on helping people adapt to those disabilities. The latter may be a goal toward which some individual members of the U.S. and Nevada Transhumanist Parties may be sympathetic, but it is not a sufficiently or specifically transhumanist goal, nor is it one that the U.S. Transhumanist Party or Nevada Transhumanist Party take a position on – other than to express the hope that the individuals who are currently adapting to any disability will someday be freed from that disability through medical cures or technological augmentations that render the disability irrelevant to their day-to-day functioning.

Nevada State Question 3 – Top-Five Ranked-Choice Voting Initiative

Wording of Question: “Shall the Nevada Constitution be amended to allow all Nevada voters the right to participate in open primary elections to choose candidates for the general election in which all voters may then rank the remaining candidates by preference for the offices of U.S. Senators, U.S. Representatives, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Controller, Attorney General, and State Legislators?” (More information on BallotPedia.)

Position of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party: In the view of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party, this is the single most important ballot measure in Nevada political history, as it has the potential to break the stranglehold of the duopoly on Nevada politics. Voters already approved Ballot Question 3 once in 2022, by a vote of 52.94% in favor. However, the Nevada Constitution requires any ballot measures that provide amendments to the Constitution to be passed by voters twice. This 2024 election is therefore decisive for Ballot Question 3, and the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party strongly encourage all Nevada residents who care about having genuine electoral choices to vote in support of Question 3.

The plurality of Nevada voters are independent of the major political parties, and yet they are currently unable to meaningfully influence many local races where a major-party primary determines that party’s nominee, who then receives no meaningful competition at the ballot box in the general election. Moreover, Nevada, as a “battleground” electoral state, often features great pressure applied on voters to support the “lesser evil”, despite many Nevada voters being rightly disillusioned with both the Republican and the Democratic “options” provided to them. Ranked-preference voting eliminates the incentive to vote strategically or for a “lesser evil” to the exclusion of one’s genuinely preferred candidate, since one can provide a complete rank-ordering of one’s preferences rather than limit oneself to one choice.

Section XXX of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform states that “The United States Transhumanist Party supports replacing the current ‘winner-take-all’ electoral system with proportional representation, ranked preference voting, and other devices to minimize the temptations by voters to favor a perceived ‘lesser evil’ rather than the candidates closest to those voters’ own preferences.” Thus, support for ranked-choice voting is directly embedded in our Platform. Furthermore, Section XIX of the USTP Platform reads, in part, “The United States Transhumanist Party supports an end to the two-party political system in the United States and a substantially greater inclusion of ‘third parties’ in the political process through mechanisms such as proportional representation and the elimination of stringent ballot-access requirements.” Allowing open access to primaries and enabling ranked-preference voting in the general election would certainly lower the barriers to entry to candidates who do not belong to either of the duopoly parties.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party has successfully implemented ranked-preference voting in multiple of its internal votes. There is every reason to expect that ranked-preference voting could be implemented with similar success for the much simpler top-five ballots in Nevada general elections that would be developed if Question 3 were to be approved by the voters (twice, the first time this year). The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party strongly encourage every Nevada voter to support Ballot Question 3.

The opponents of Ballot Question 3 have included both the Republican and Democratic Parties and various politically connected special-interest advocacy groups; this should be quite revealing about what these establishment factions find to be threatening to their power. A ranked-choice voting system would break the ability of these powerful interests to manipulate the public through “lesser evil” arguments; politicians, to receive serious consideration, would actually have to at least pretend to be for the greater good rather than merely a lesser evil!

An astonishing and disgraceful plethora of misrepresentations about Ballot Question 3 have been propagated by the opposing establishment interests:
· Opponents claim that ranked-choice voting would be confusing to voters – as if people do not intuitively know how to rank-order their options; to suggest this is to insult the intelligence of nearly voter!
· Opponents claim that people would be forced to rank-order multiple candidates, when the text of the proposed Constitutional amendment specifically would allow a voter to “mark as many choices as the voter wishes” (Article 15, Section 18, Paragraph 3).
· Opponents claim that ranked-choice voting would violate the principle of “one person, one vote”, when in fact every eligible voter would still cast one ballot and would have the option to rank-order as many candidates as that voter wishes – from as few as one to as many as five. If a voter only chooses to indicate one candidate, or any number fewer than five, that voter is not disenfranchised by that voluntary decision, just as a person who is eligible to vote but chooses not to vote is not disenfranchised by their own choice. No serious argument can be made that the principle of “one person, one vote” is violated just because some people choose not to vote. By extension, no serious argument can be made that this principle would be violated just because some people would choose to rank-order fewer than all of the candidates.

For an extensive discussion of how ranked-choice voting works, the USTP encourages everyone to view our Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Kit Muehlman and FairVote Washington, as well as a subsequent, in-depth presentation by FairVote Washington on the technical workings of proportional ranked-choice voting.

Nevada State Question 4 – Remove Slavery as Punishment for Crime from Constitution Amendment

Wording of Question: “Shall the Ordinance of the Nevada Constitution and the Nevada Constitution be amended to remove language authorizing the use of slavery and involuntary servitude as a criminal punishment?” (More information on BallotPedia.)

Position of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party: The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party support Ballot Question 4. The Transhumanist Bill of Rights – Version 3.0 states in Article XXV, “No sentient entity shall be held in slavery or involuntary servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms.” There are no exceptions provided for the prohibition on slavery and involuntary servitude in the Transhumanist Bill of Rights. Question 4 would align the Nevada State Constitution with the Transhumanist Bill of Rights.

It has been noted in the various explanations of this ballot question that it would not result in the abolition of prison work programs, which may, if administered properly, have benefits such as enabling prisoners to learn marketable skills and to have a path toward integration into peaceful and productive economic life upon their release from prison. However, the prohibition of involuntary servitude would mean that prisoners would have the prerogative to opt into those work programs, and that prison labor would not be used as punishment for an offense in and of itself. The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party would concur that prison work programs should be voluntary for the prisoners and should be offered as opportunities, not as punishments.

Nevada State Question 5 – Sales Tax Exemption for Diapers Measure

Wording of Question: “Shall the Sales and Use Tax Act of 1955 be amended to provide an exemption from the taxes imposed by this Act on the gross receipts from the sale and the storage, use or other consumption of diapers?” (More information on BallotPedia.)

Position of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party: Section XXXVI of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform expresses support for “a flat percentage-of-sales tax applicable only to purchases from businesses whose combined nationwide revenues from all affiliates exceed a specified threshold.” The U.S. Transhumanist Party, in its most recent Exposure Period, considered an amendment to Section XXXVI, which would add the language, “This tax would not be imposed on life necessities, defined as goods that are consumable in the near term and whose primary purpose is to facilitate human survival.” The Nevada Transhumanist Party already included this language on July 26, 2024, within Section V of the Nevada Transhumanist Party Platform.

Currently, the State of Nevada lacks an income tax and has a state sales tax, from which various goods considered to be necessities are excluded. Diapers can be considered to facilitate the survival, with a basic amount of dignity, of certain humans who need them. Based on the principle that the cost of necessities should be excluded from any manner of sales tax, which already appears to be reflected in Nevada law and in the Nevada Transhumanist Party Platform, and which also did not meet any opposition during the Exposure Period for Platform Vote #9, the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party support Ballot Question 5.

Nevada State Question 6 – Right to Abortion Initiative

Wording of Question: “Should the Nevada Constitution be amended to create an individual’s fundamental right to an abortion, without interference by state or local governments, whenever the abortion is performed by a qualified healthcare professional until fetal viability or when necessary to protect the health or life of the pregnant individual at any point during the pregnancy?” (More information on BallotPedia.)

Position of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party: The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party are intentionally and conscientiously neutral on the question of abortion, which is one of the most divisive and intractable issues in American politics today. Its intractability stems from the existence of an inherent conflict of rights, which cannot be resolved using contemporary technology.

Section LXXXIV of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform offers a potential future solution to this divisive issue in the form of ectogenesis, “the ability of organisms to be incubated and to grow to the point of independent survival, within an artificial environment that provides such organisms with all the necessities of biological survival and development.” Ectogenesis posses the promise of “alleviating the burdens of human pregnancy and rendering the divisive debate over abortion obsolete by reconciling the right to life of a fetus with the freedom of a woman to choose not to carry that fetus.”

However, ectogenesis for humans is not yet available. During the present time, abortion is being utilized to an escalating extent by both major political parties as a wedge issue designed, through the extreme responses to it from both sides, to polarize and divide the population over situations that are unlikely to affect most people personally. It is for this reason that the U.S. Transhumanist Party de-emphasizes the abortion issue in its Platform and rhetoric. Under the status quo, this issue cannot be constructively resolved. We need technology, such as ectogenesis, to render abortion, and especially the abortion debate, obsolete.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party’s founder, Zoltan Istvan, who is personally a supporter of abortion rights, articulated this point of view in his August 3, 2019, editorial in the New York Times, “The Abortion Debate Is Stuck. Are Artificial Wombs the Answer?”

The U.S. Transhumanist Party also recognizes that its members have a broad spectrum of views on the abortion issue. The USTP, in striving to be a big-tent organization, has intentionally avoided creating any manner of litmus test on this issue vis-à-vis its membership.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party does note, by way of a factual observation, that abortion is currently legal in Nevada statute up to 24 weeks (6 months), and thus if Ballot Question 6 is defeated, this would not affect the status quo in regard to the legality and availability of abortions in Nevada. Ballot Question 6 proposes to establish a right to abortion within the Nevada Constitution and would extend the timeframe of legal abortion “until fetal viability or when necessary to protect the health or life of the pregnant individual at any point during the pregnancy”. If enacted, Ballot Question 6 would thus likely broaden the timeframe during which abortions would be legal, in many cases substantially beyond 6 months.

Accordingly, individual members are free to vote their conscience, or to abstain from voting, on Ballot Question 6, however they may choose.

Nevada State Question 7 – Voter Identification Initiative

Wording of Question: “Should the Nevada Constitution be amended to require voters to either present photo identification to verify their identity when voting in-person or to provide certain personal information to verify their identity when voting by mail ballot?” (More information on BallotPedia.)

Position of the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party: The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party seek to render it easier, not harder, for people (and sentient entities more generally) to be able to vote in elections. As a party with the broadest franchise of any organization known to it – extending the prerogative for Allied Membership to “any being capable of logical reasoning and of the expression of political opinions” (U.S. Transhumanist Party Constitution, Article II, Section X) – and enabling Allied Members to vote in its internal elections, the USTP is supportive of making voting as accessible as possible to as many sentient entities as possible. The USTP practices this in its internal voting processes, where electronic, ranked-preference voting has been used with significant success and with robust verification that only genuine USTP members (and not, for instance, non-sentient bots that serve a particular special interest) have been the ones casting votes.

While it is not inherently in conflict with the USTP’s values to require some manner of identification to render a person eligible to vote, the USTP does not consider a requirement of voter identification at the time of voting to be necessary for this purpose. When an individual registers to vote, it is already the case in Nevada that one of several listed forms of identification needs to be produced to demonstrate that this person is a U.S. citizen residing in the district where this person is seeking to register to vote. It is not necessary, once a person is registered to vote, to duplicatively require the same voter identification when that person seeks to cast their ballot. Per the official Arguments Against Passage of Question 7 on the Nevada Sample Ballot, “impersonating someone else at the polls [almost] never happens. One study found that that out of more than a billion votes cast, it happened 31 times – statistically zero. You have a better chance of getting struck by lightning.”

Furthermore, requiring hard-copy voter identification at the time of voting reinforces an already-obsolete paper-based voting system which should, as soon as the technology is viable and deployable at scale, be replaced with an electronic, blockchain-based system using which people could securely verify their identities and vote from the comfort of their homes.

In practice, Ballot Question 7 would limit who is able to vote in Nevada and would, through procedural barriers, deprive some number of U.S. citizens who are legally eligible to vote and properly registered to vote from being able to vote in practice. The U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party view such an outcome as contrary to their support for enfranchising more sentient entities. Accordingly, the U.S. Transhumanist Party and Nevada Transhumanist Party are opposed to Ballot Question 7.

Where to Write In Tom Ross for President of the United States – and How to Make Sure Your Vote Counts

October 14, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 5 comments

Support the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Endorsed Ross-Twedt 2024 Campaign! Write Them In!

The United States Transhumanist Party (USTP) offers this guidance to its members and to other interested persons among the general public who wish to support the USTP-endorsed ticket of Tom Ross (Thomas Ernest Ross, Jr.) for President of the United States and Daniel Twedt (Daniel Emerson Twedt) for Vice-President of the United States.

The USTP encourages as many U.S. registered voters as possible to write in Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt in every state where write-in options exist pursuant to law.

Find your state among the five categories listed on the map below. If you support the Ross-Twedt 2024 ticket, you are then encouraged to follow the guidance pertaining to that category of states.

During the 2025-2028 time period, the USTP hopes to continue collaborating with other alternative political parties and advocacy organizations to lower as many barriers to ballot access as possible, in as many jurisdictions as possible.

– States That Allow Automatic Write-In Access and Do Not Limit Ballot Pictures

– States That Allow Automatic Write-In Access – But Prohibit Ballot Pictures

– States That Allow Write-In Candidates and Do Not Limit Ballot Pictures – But We Need to Count the Votes

– States That Allow Write-In Candidates – But Prohibit Ballot Pictures – But We Still Need to Count the Votes

– States That Disallow Write-In Candidates

– Why Vote Transhumanist in 2024?

Sources:

“2024 elections: State by state guide to ballot selfies”. Catherine Stoddard. Live Now Fox. September 27, 2024.

“Write-In Voting”. U.S. Election Assistance Commission. April 2024.

States That Allow Automatic Write-In Access and Do Not Limit Ballot Pictures

Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wyoming

Actions Recommended: Write in Tom Ross as your Presidential candidate of choice.

E-mail us a picture of your marked ballot or simply let us know that you voted for Tom Ross. Send your e-mail to ustranshumanistparty@protonmail.com.

These states will probably count your vote, but we want to count your vote as well and do it sooner! Also, we have no guarantee that these states will publish known vote totals for write-in candidates, but we certainly will.

States That Allow Automatic Write-In Access – But Prohibit Ballot Pictures

New Jersey, South Carolina

Actions Recommended: Write in Tom Ross as your Presidential candidate of choice.

E-mail us to let us know that you voted for Tom Ross. Send your e-mail to ustranshumanistparty@protonmail.com.

However, please do not send pictures of marked ballots.

These states unfortunately prohibit “ballot selfies” or pictures of marked ballots, so please only tell us that you voted for Tom Ross but do not send us actual pictures. We will believe you and count your vote.

States That Allow Write-In Candidates and Do Not Limit Ballot Pictures – But We Need to Count the Votes

Arizona*, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida**, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia***

Actions Recommended: Write in Tom Ross as your Presidential candidate of choice.

E-mail us a picture of your marked ballot or simply let us know that you voted for Tom Ross. This will be important to ensure that your vote is counted, because the state will likely not publish the official totals. Send your e-mail to ustranshumanistparty@protonmail.com.

Arizona does not limit pictures of one’s ballot when taken from home, but may limit photos and videos inside official voting locations.

** Florida prohibits photography inside polling places, but voters are allowed to take pictures of their own ballots.

*** West Virginia prohibits photography inside polling places, but voters are allowed to take pictures of their own ballots.

States That Allow Write-In Candidates – But Prohibit Ballot Pictures – But We Still Need to Count the Votes

Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin

Actions Recommended: Write in Tom Ross as your Presidential candidate of choice.

E-mail us to let us know that you voted for Tom Ross. However, please do not send pictures of marked ballots. Send your e-mail to ustranshumanistparty@protonmail.com.

E-mailing us to simply let us know you voted is highly encouraged, since this will be important to ensure that your vote is counted, because the state will likely not publish the official totals.

States That Disallow Write-In Candidates

Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota

Actions Recommended: Vote your conscience for the candidate on the ballot you most prefer.

The above six states above unfortunately disallow write-in candidates for President and Vice-President altogether, and therefore you would not have the option to write in Tom Ross for President. The U.S. Transhumanist Party encourages you to vote your conscience based on which of the other candidates on the ballot would most closely reflect your personal views and policy preferences.

Note that even if you cannot write in the U.S. Transhumanist Party candidates, your alternatives are not limited to the duopoly. You have additional choices. (None of the candidates below are specifically endorsed by the U.S. Transhumanist Party. They are simply mentioned to provide examples of additional options that are available on the ballots in various states. Voters are encouraged to support the Ross-Twedt ticket when possible. When this is not possible, use your conscience and feel free to research additional options using available online resources.)

The Libertarian Party ticket of Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat is on the ballot in 48 states (with the exception of Illinois and New York). The Oliver / ter Maat ticket is on the ballot in the non-write-in states of Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Oklahoma, and South Dakota.

The Green Party ticket of Jill Stein and Butch Ware is on the ballot in 37 states. The Stein / Ware ticket is on the ballot in the non-write-in states of Hawaii, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

The campaigns of Cornel West and Melina Abdullah (Independent), Peter Sonski and Lauren Onak (American Solidarity Party), and Randall Terry and Stephen Broden (Constitution Party) are on the ballots in at least one of the states that disallow write-in candidates.

Chase Oliver, Jill Stein, and Randall Terry participated in the Presidential debates hosted by the Free and Equal Elections Foundation, including (for Oliver and Stein) the February 29, 2024, debate in New York City, co-sponsored by USTP Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II and other USTP members.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party is proud to be part of the Free and Equal Open Debates Coalition.

Why Vote Transhumanist in 2024?

In case you need additional persuasion to write in Tom Ross and support the Ross-Twedt ticket, here are some basic reasons.

Your one vote will not decide the outcome of the Presidential election, even in battleground states. But it can send a message that the status quo is broken and a dramatic refocusing of American politics is needed. We can do better than the duopoly! The tragic Trump-Biden debate of June 27, 2024, clearly showed that America deserves far better spokespeople on the political stage – as if we needed further demonstration of this after their disgraceful debate of September 29, 2020, more than four years ago. While the subsequent Trump-Harris (September 10, 2024) and Vance-Walz (October 1, 2024) debates were somewhat more substantive and less egregious – still misleading in many of the candidates’ comments but closer to the historical “norm” of American politics – they were improvements relative to such an abysmally low baseline that we truly need a stratospheric elevation of the tone of the discourse in American politics. Just contrast what you heard from Trump, Biden, Harris, Vance, and Walz, with the thoughtful, civil, erudite responses of Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt to the questions from the Free and Equal Presidential Debate #2. (Watch them on YouTube here or view them on the USTP website here.)
Let the political establishment know that ignoring science and technology is no longer palatable. Technological progress, particularly in medicine, is urgently needed to overcome the numerous crises of our time.
Support dedicated life-extension advocates – enable them to reach new audiences and show them that radical life extension is feasible and desirable.
Support a hopeful, empowering view of artificial intelligence and automation instead of reactionary responses based on fear and misunderstanding.
Support a set of ideas directly aimed at using technology to improve human well-being, expand our rationality and curiosity, and set us on the path toward becoming a cosmic civilization – as outlined in Tom Ross’s Earthling, Artisanal Intelligence, and Extraterrestrial Initiatives.
Help us build public awareness for policy discussions that the U.S. Transhumanist Party routinely engages in, regarding emerging technologies and how to accelerate innovation and progress. We have had a legislative success already! (Nevada, May 2019)
Help grow membership of the U.S. Transhumanist Party for future activism, outreach, and societal change – building toward an immortal culture that embraces continuous progress and improvement and removal of barriers to these aspirations.

Get U.S. Transhumanist Party merchandise at our Zazzle Store.
You can purchase bumper stickers in a variety of designs, including the one above.

Celebration of U.S. Transhumanist Party 10th Anniversary and International Longevity Month

October 11, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 0 Comment

Gennady Stolyarov II
Zoltan Istvan
Charlie Kam
Tom Ross
Liz Parrish
Daniel Twedt
Bill Andrews, PhD
José Cordeiro, PhD
Daniel C. Elton. PhD
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer

On Sunday, October 6, 2024, the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Virtual Enlightenment Salon featured a celebration of two noteworthy events – the 10-year anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Transhumanist Party by Zoltan Istvan on October 7, 2014, as well as the ongoing International Longevity Month, which has occurred every year since 2013.

Notable individuals from the USTP’s history and present provide remarks, including Founder and 2016 Presidential Candidate Zoltan Istvan, 2020 Presidential Candidate Charlie Kam, 2024 Presidential Candidate Tom Ross, 2020 Vice-Presidential Candidate Liz Parrish, 2024 Vice-Presidential Candidate Daniel Twedt, Dr. Bill Andrews (Biotechnology Advisor), Dr. Jose Luis Cordeiro (Technology Advisor and Foreign Ambassador in Spain), Art Ramon Garcia, Jr. (Director of Visual Art), Dr. Dan Elton (Director of Scholarship) and Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II.

Dr. Jose Cordeiro also presented on the TransVision Madrid 2024 conference and the march for longevity that he organized in Madrid, Spain, for October 1, 2024, on the occasion of International Longevity Day. The stream of the TransVision Madrid 2024 conference can be found here.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

Graphics

Several of our dedicated members produced some excellent graphics to celebrate the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s 10th Anniversary. These graphics are freely available for anyone to use and spread.

This graphic for the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s 10th Anniversary is brought to us by Tom Ross, the USTP’s 2024 U.S. Presidential Candidate. The Tin Man is a proto-transhumanist; whether one might consider him to be an android or a cyborg, he aims to have the full range of capabilities of sentient entities. Like the Tin Man, the USTP has shown the qualities of durability and flexibility over the past decade. We have navigated numerous challenges and endured. Now, heading into the next decade of its existence, the USTP is stronger as an organization than ever before. Someday humanity will learn how to create full-scale 3D-printed hearts, and the Tin Man will be able to get one.

We visit the Tin Man’s workshop, where he has some cake to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the formation of the U.S. Transhumanist Party. This scene was brought to us by Tom Ross, the USTP’s 2024 U.S. Presidential Candidate and Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy.

The Tin Man is happy to support the U.S. Transhumanist Party because of its commitment to sentient entities’ rights, expressed in the Transhumanist Bill of Rights, Version 3.0. Whether one might consider him to be an android or a cyborg, he aims to have the full range of capabilities of sentient entities. The USTP is laying the groundwork for the ethical, legal, and cultural conversation about which entities might arise in the future and become deserving of rights. Our 2024 U.S. Presidential Campaign has been advancing the discussion in this area; Tom Ross is the only Presidential candidate with an AI campaign manager, and he has emphasized that, instead of fearing AI, we can turn into our greatest ally and enable it to bring out our humanity in the best possible ways.

Long live the U.S. Transhumanist Party! This futuristic concept for a USTP headquarters was generated by Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II using the Flux AI. Looked at from the opposite direction, the curve on the rooftop could be seen to represent an exponential growth function.

This scene of celebration in a futuristic city center, illuminated by drones, was generated by Cybor Dre of Tomorrow’s Canvas. Long live the USTP, and may we see the wondrous creations that the future of humanity will bring!

And finally, below, our current Vice-Chairman and Legislative Director Jason Geringer made some virtual cake for us to enjoy. Each cake is calorie-free, sugar-free, and exists in unlimited abundance. Thank you, Jason!

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Tim Wass – June 23, 2024

September 10, 2024 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Tim Wass
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Daniel Twedt
José Cordeiro, PhD

On Sunday, June 23, 2024, the United States Transhumanist Party invited polymath Tim Wass to discuss his work in fostering space exploration, as well as education and outreach about it. Professor Wass discussed endeavors of the SpaceTech Academy and SpaceTech Collective, the United States Space Force, and SpaceX (in the realm of Mars missions in particular) – as well as his outlook on the future of humanity from a Mormon Transhumanist philosophical standpoint and his involvement with various other organizations and initiatives.

Tim Wass, among his numerous other pursuits, is an Adjunct Professor of Public Speaking at Crowder College, Volunteer Civilian Service Ambassador for the United States Space Force, as well as a Partner in the SpaceTech Academy. He is an expert in history and military strategy, as well as an accomplished speechwriter.

***
Timestamps

2:57 – The medal Tim Wass was wearing
4:10 – How Tim Wass first got excited about space
7:26 – U.S. Space Force
12:00 – SpaceTech Academy is K-12 Education
14:07 – Teaching technique at SpaceTech Academy
19:38 – How to keep kidneys healthy in microgravity
21:55 – How robots might do the exploring for us
24:42 – How to create a gravity as strong as Earth’s on Mars
27:10 – What the initial mix of humans and robots to Mars could look like
31:41 – Elon Musk’s delays in his predictions for visiting the Moon and Mars
34:17 – Jose Cordeiro on the space race
35:32 – On China landing on the dark side of the Moon by 2030
40:35 – Art that Tim Wass has done to promote space travel
44:15 – Jose Cordeiro on whether we need to settle the Moon before we settle Mars
46:31 – Dan Twedt on the physical and social challenges of breaking into space
48:38 – Tim Wass on the big private players, and on Dan’s thoughts about social challenges
52:21– A representation of an orbital space station
55:46 – Jose Cordeiro on the proximity of colonizing Mars and becoming immortal
59:40 – How Tim Wass came to Mormon Transhumanism
1:08:03 – An anecdote to illustrate Tim’s take on liberty
1:10:48 – That anecdote’s implications for subsequent events
1:13:19 – The Vulcan philosophy of infinite diversity in infinite combinations (IDIC)
1:16:45 – How Tim Wass came to transhumanism
1:22:28 – How techno-optimism could prevail again
1:28:15 – Tim Wass’s credentials in teaching public speaking
1:31:55 – How to hybridize public speaking
1:33:51 – Diogenes
1:35:21 – How AI could best be used in space exploration
1:40:36 – How to mainstream transhumanism
1:46:09 – Daniel Twedt’s closing remarks
1:48:26 – Civilizations other than humanity
1:51:49 – How far along we are in being able to provide morphological freedom

***

See the website of the SpaceTech Academy: https://www.wearespacetech.com/

See the website of the SpaceTech Collective, which includes Tim Wass: https://wearespacetech.com/spacetech-collective/

See Tim Wass’s LinkedIn page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-wass

“How to Persuade People The Winston Churchill Way” – Kindle Edition by Tim Wass Jr. – https://www.amazon.com/How-Persuade-People-Winston-Churchill-ebook/dp/B08BFSY5XR

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside: https://transhumanist-party.org/membership/

How to Fight Homeopathy: Why People Believe in Homeopathy and What to Do with That – Article by Ariel VA Feinerman

September 2, 2024 Ariel VA Feinerman Comments 0 Comment

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Ariel VA Feinerman

The Inquisition is working.

This article was originally published here.

In his text, the scientific writer asks his readers: how else can we keep people from believing in homeopathy, what else can we write to keep them from using it?

Before answering the original question, you need to answer another one: why do people even believe in homeopathy and buy it? People do not buy homeopathy because they are ignorant, uneducated or know nothing. The real reason is the inability of current medicine to cure their diseases!

A person who is informed by physicians that he has an incurable disease — even though it does not reduce the quantity of life, but significantly reduces its quality — falls into despair. But a person in despair thinks completely differently, his critical thinking turns off, and he is ready to believe in any nonsense.

A person in despair clutches at any straw, and homeopathy or other pseudo-medicine becomes such a straw. But what the person refuses to believe is the fact that a civilization that spends trillions on wars, launches ships to Mars and discovered the Higgs boson is unable (and is not particularly trying) to cure his disease. And he is right!

Alas, this undoubtedly correct belief in our civilization plays a cruel joke on him. The success of homeopathy lies in the fact that skillful scammers easily exploit his belief, offering him treatment, which does not work, but right now. Thus, homeopathy is not the cause, but the consequence of the inability of current medicine to treat many diseases. For example, almost all treatment of ageing pathologies at the present time is compensatory, aimed not at their causes: molecular and cellular damage, but only at their manifestations.

So, without the development of truly effective therapies that eliminate the very causes of pathologies, the fight against homeopathy or other pseudo-medicine is meaningless.

For example, alchemy disappeared not because it was specifically fought, but because chemistry and chemical engineering offered better explanations and better results! An intelligent reader, of course, will say that this analogy is not entirely correct, because alchemy was a proto-science, not a pseudo-science.

However, our current medicine can be called a proto-engineering (for any mature medicine is an engineering), since we still do not know the mechanisms of many diseases and do not know how to treat them. Yet, it is within our reach to transform our current medicine into full-fledged engineering in the near future, just like software or aerospace engineering. I call it human repair engineering.

A better, but less thorough analogy can be taken from ufology: for example, contrary to all logic, we still have no clear images of UFO precisely in an era when many people have inexpensive and easy-to-use photo and video cameras, and then smartphones! Many such examples can be given.

Likewise, homeopathy will disappear or become marginal, not at all because some “scientific inquisition” is fighting it in the information or legal arena, but because regenerative medicine of the near future will offer better, truly working solutions.

Most often, the fight “for” is better than the fight “against”, because the fight “against” does not offer anything in return, while the fight “for” is clearly aimed at improvements. Thus, the fight against homeopathy is aimed only at reducing the use of homeopathy, without offering anything in return, while the fight for better medicine not only brings closer the time without disease and ageing, but also implicitly includes the fight against pseudo-medicine (including homeopathy), because the presence of truly working therapies that cure currently incurable diseases will make pseudo-medicine unnecessary.

For example, with the advent of effective antiretroviral therapy, cases of HIV treatment using various “folk” methods have practically disappeared, and there is now much less speculation around HIV.

Many physicians and officials, unfortunately, have a desire to solve the problem using brute force — explicit prohibitions and increased regulation. What a stupid decision! Never in the history of humanity this led to anything good. Increased regulation will only create problems for regenerative medicine (including gene, immune, cell therapies), while scammers will still find a way to enter the market.

For example, ban homeopathy — and its place will immediately be taken by “release-active” drugs; ban them, too, and scammers will take over the “wave genome” or “water memory”, ad infinitum.

What we really need is not more regulation, but less regulation for emerging therapies. And some countries have already given the green light to regenerative medicine. For example, the Fast-Track Approval system in Japan, which was introduced in 2014. The system aimed to increase access to regenerative medicines by introducing laws that allow for emerging treatments to be used so long as they have been proven safe, with only hints of their effectiveness.

The idea is that as patients receive these safe treatments, more conclusive data on their efficacy can be gathered thereafter. This negates the need for large-scale clinical trials that take place over several years and cost hundreds of millions.

As a counterexample, in the USA, because of insane regulation, it is almost impossible to release emerging therapy to the market, and the cost of the process — including clinical trials — is at least $2.5 billion. In spite of the big number of inventions by American scientists and engineers, only a few of them have entered human clinical trials, and only several of them have reached the market.

On the other hand, prohibitions force people to be inventive: biohackers arose in the USA, after all.

Thus, in answer to the original question, there are three key points in the fight for better medicine:

1) Development of regenerative therapies and treatments, whose mechanism is the elimination of molecular and cellular damage that causes genetic diseases and ageing pathologies.

2) Reduction of regulation of emerging therapies in regenerative medicine.

3) Education in regenerative medicine, so that people — including physicians and policymakers — know about emerging therapies and can help in their implementation and entering the clinics, at least by fulfilling these key points.

I hope you understand, the fight against homeopathy is clearly not worth the effort and time spent on it, because the result of this fight is completely predictable. In spite of many years of fighting, pharmacies are still overwhelmed with homeopathy, and various scammers continue to sell the “cure for everything”, while actual working therapies cannot reach the clinics because of excessive regulation.

Links

Bioengineering longevity: call for open source approach by Eleanor Garth. February 18, 2021. Updated August 12, 2024.

Defying Ageing with Ariel VA Feinerman — A Radical Exploration

Japan moves to fast-track innovative stem cell therapy with first trials on human hearts by Nick Lavars. June 1, 2018.

The Price of Progress or the Waste of Regulation? by Reason. September 7, 2018.

Ariel VA Feinerman is a researcher, author, and photographer, who believes that people should not die from diseases and ageing, and whose main goal is to improve human health and achieve immortality. If you like Ariel’s work, any help would be appreciated via PayPal: arielfeinerman@gmail.com.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Charlie Painter – June 2, 2024

August 22, 2024 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Charlie Painter
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg

On Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 1 p.m. U.S. Pacific Time, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited musician Charlie Painter for a Virtual Enlightenment Salon on music, philosophy, entrepreneurship, culture, and the connections among them. The conversation delved into jazz music and the differences between it and classical music – including jazz in terms of attitude, preparation, pedagogy, and listening. Charlie Painter shared insights regarding his approach to improvisation and provided some practical demonstrations. Furthermore, Objectivist philosophy was discussed, including Charlie Painter’s outlooks on Ayn Rand’s opinions as contrasted with Objectivist doctrine, morality/ethics, rational egoism, capitalism, the state of our current culture in terms of philosophy, free will versus determinism, and more.

Charlie Painter is a self-studied, self-producing guitarist, teacher, and band leader based in Madison, Wisconsin. Learn about him and his work on his website at https://www.charliepainter.com/.

***

Timestamps

7:27 – Art Ramon Garcia’s musical endeavors
9:39 – What is Objectivism?
19:18 – What is Liberalism?
31:39 – Where Social Security fails as we have it set up
34:21 – Charlie Painter’s opening remarks
42:34 – Why Charlie chose jazz
46:22 – The differences between jazz and classical music
47:40 – How much improvisation there can be in jazz
51:34 – How good jazz comes about
55:33 – How Charlie became self-employed
1:02:43 – Why playing someone’s prior improvisation note for note is not often done in jazz
1:06:40 – Comparing jazz to sports
1:11:56 – How audiences differ across genres and settings
1:16:30 – Charlie’s music lesson (especially guitar and note choices)
1:36:14 – How note choice can evoke such different emotions
1:41:31 – A smattering of Ayn Rand’s beliefs that one could not consider Objectivist
1:46:21 – Our political system as “who needs to be sacrificed to whom” (crediting Yaron Brook)
1:55:16 – Charlie Painter’s closing remarks

***

Visit Charlie Painter’s YouTube channel, which contains additional musical recordings.

Listen to Charlie Painter’s music on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/charlie-painter

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside: https://transhumanist-party.org/membership/

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Charlie Painter – Part 2 – June 30, 2024

August 22, 2024 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Charlie Painter
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg

On Sunday, June 30, 2024, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Charlie Painter to continue the philosophical conversation from the initial Salon of June 2, 2024. The discussion delved into the concept of free will and the recent debate in which USTP Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II defended free will on Andreas Xirtus’s channel.

***

Timestamps

4:16 – Charlie Painter’s opening remarks
10:04 – The distinction between fatalism and determinism
13:05 – How biological changes indicating one’s choice prior to it happening do not prove determinism
16:00 – How awareness can trump biological changes
26:42 – Charlie Painter’s health, and why emotions aren’t deterministic
35:14 – How suicide could not be deterministic
43:49 – Charlie Painter on religion
1:03:17 – Gaza
1:24:26 – How free-will and determinism adherents respond to the idea of a Butterfly Effect
1:34:16 – Man versus bear
1:43:19 – Skepticism regarding the multiverse
1:47:08 – Libertarianism versus Objectivism
1:52:46 – Charlie Painter’s closing remarks

***

First Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Charlie Painter – June 2, 2024

Debate on Free Will: Gennady Stolyarov II Defends Emergent Free Will and Liberty

Charlie Painter is a self-studied, self-producing guitarist, teacher, and band leader based in Madison, Wisconsin. Learn about him and his work on his website at: https://charliepainter.com/

Visit Charlie Painter’s YouTube channel, which contains additional musical recordings.

Listen to Charlie Painter’s music on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/charlie-painter

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside: https://transhumanist-party.org/membership/

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Diego Zarco – July 7, 2024

August 15, 2024 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

U.S. Transhumanist Party Logo
Diego Zarco
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
José Luis Cordeiro, PhD
Charlie Kam
Ben Ballweg

On Sunday, July 7, 2024, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Diego Zarco to share his knowledge of cryonics standby and stabilization. He is starting the first Standby and Stabilization Team for cryonics in Mexico, with the goal of eventually replicating the model in other countries and ensuring that cryonics becomes a more reliable procedure in every city of the world.

Diego Zarco is the Founder and Stabilization Team Director in Mexico for the Advanced Cryogenics Institute (Instituto de Criogenia Avanzada – https://www.institutodecriogeniaavanzada.com/), Social Media Manager for Latin America at Cryoprize – https://www.cryoprize.com/ – and Voting Member at the Latin GRAMMYs.

***

Timestamps

2:36 – Diego Zarco’s opening remarks
27:49 – The challenges of transporting cryonics patients long distances, even across international borders
35:52 – Drones as a transport option
38:43 – Pets, and other cryonics efforts in the Latin world
46:33 – Status of the rollout, and an explanation on costs
56:22 – How to ensure cryonics organizations stay solvent
1:00:49 – Diego Zarco’s musical background
1:03:37– Meaning of Diego Zarco’s song title “Greatest Lie Ever Told”
1:05:00 – Charlie Kam’s thoughts
1:12:48 – The feasibility of cryonics as a whole
1:20:47 – How cold we have to go
1:25:36 – How to ensure loved ones fulfill wishes
1:30:45 – Options for cryofunding in Mexico
1:39:10 – How to make cryopreservation affordable for all
1:46:02 – Possibilities for a storage facility in Mexico
1:49:08 – Robot stabilization teams?
1:52:29 – Diego Zarco’s closing remarks

***

Those who take part in cryonics standby and stabilization teams (SST) are invited to take Diego Zarco’s survey to compile a map of local SST teams coverage for cryonics: https://es.surveymonkey.com/r/6RR5MGM

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside: https://transhumanist-party.org/membership/

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Abdelhadi Rebbaa on Senolytics – July 28, 2024

August 15, 2024 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Dr. Abdelhadi Rebbaa
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
David Wood
Ben Ballweg

On Sunday, July 28, 2024, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Dr. Abdelhadi Rebbaa to discuss his views regarding the potential and limitations for using senolytics to treat aging and go over alternative/complementary approaches to delay senescence onset.

Dr. Abdelhadi Rebbaa received his PhD in Biochemistry from the Université Claude Bernard, Lyon, France. He held research and faculty positions at Northwestern University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Columbia University. Over the course of his career, his research encompassed target and drug discovery and development in the fields of cancer, stem cells, and aging. He served as a Principal Investigator on multiple grants, published over 40 manuscripts, and reviewed manuscripts for several high-impact scientific journals. In his role at Ichor Therapeutics from 2018 to 2021, he oversaw the discovery and preclinical testing of small-molecule senolytics and biomarkers of aging. He then worked for SENS Research Foundation between January 2022 and January 2024, where his role was to conceive, design, and oversee research projects on senescence prevention, senolytics, and partial reprogramming. Now he works as a Project Management Consultant in New Jersey.

***

Timestamps

7:25 – Dr. Abdelhadi Rebbaa’s presentation
58:28 – External versus internal/inherent (e.g. age-related) causes of senescent cells
1:01:51 – Senomorphics versus senolytics
1:03:05 – The need to replace senescent cells that have been destroyed
1:04:03 – Whether senescent cells crowd out potentially worse cells
1:04:56 – When reprogramming helps, and when it does not
1:06:06 – Whether donating blood can reduce senescence
1:07:14 – Pros and cons of academia, for-profit, and non-profit sectors
1:08:41 – Whether senescent cells are worse than the holes where the senescent cells were (if the senescent cells cannot be replaced)
1:10:40 – How close we are to senolytics approved for use
1:11:56 – How it is good to donate blood
1:12:50 – Any non-prescription senolytics available
1:14:32 – Revisiting SA-beta-Gal
1:18:10 – Whether a young blood transfusion is comparable to a blood donation (as far as reducing negative blood components)
1:18:59 – Lifespan.io’s Rejuvenation Roadmap
1:20:21 – The relation of mental stress to senescent-cell accumulation
1:23:00 – Balancing the effects of senolytics
1:25:12 – Potentially less toxic alternatives to galactose-conjugated navitoclax
1:28:25 – Potential direction of research into senescence in the next 5-10 years
1:30:42 – Whether the Hallmarks of Aging will change
1:31:51 – How therapies for aging can best be employed
1:33:31 – Potentially the best way to treat senescent cells
1:35:10 – How the application of senescent-cell treatment is challenging because of the variety of lifespans of our various cells
1:36:58 – Where the best senolytics research is happening
1:40:22 – Whether senolytic therapies stop being beneficial for a person at a certain age
1:42:06 – Whether the loss of the ability of the body to remove senescent cells is indicative of a deeper problem
1:43:48 – What we can gain from knowing how mice respond to senolytic therapies
1:47:14 – Just how complex senescent cells and senescence can be
1:49:38 – How rejuvenating senescent cells could be better than destroying them
1:50:30 – Dr. Rebbaa’s closing remarks

***

See Dr. Abdelhadi Rebbaa’s LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdelhadi-rebbaa-32bb9279/

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside: https://transhumanist-party.org/membership/

U.S. Transhumanist Party Candidates Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt Respond to Free and Equal Debate #2 Questions

August 7, 2024 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Tom Ross
Daniel Twedt
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer

On Sunday, July 14, 2024, the U.S. Transhumanist Party 2024 U.S. Presidential Candidate Tom Ross and U.S. Vice-Presidential Candidate Daniel Twedt responded to the questions posed during the Free and Equal Elections Foundation Presidential Debate #2, which was held on July 12, 2024, at FreedomFest in Las Vegas.

The Ross-Twedt ticket received the same questions as posed to Chase Oliver (Libertarian Party), Jill Stein (Green Party), and Randall Terry (Constitution Party), and had the opportunity to express their positions and respond to the other candidates’ comments. Afterward, the panelists and audience provided feedback on the Free and Equal Debate and the Ross-Twedt responses.

Watch the July 12, 2024, Free and Equal Debate #2, held at FreedomFest in Las Vegas: https://rumble.com/v56o6np-free-and-equal-presidential-debate-at-freedomfest-2024.html

***

Timestamps

5:23 – Tom Ross’s opening statement
7:57 – Daniel Twedt’s Opening Statement
10:45 – Question 1
14:17 – Question 2
21:08 – Question 3
28:06 – Question 4
32:01 – Question 5
36:45 – Question 6
40:49 – Question 7
47:11 – Question 8
51:44 – Question 9
53:30 – Question 10
55:18 – Question 11
57:57 – Question 12
1:01:14 – Question 13
1:04:25 – Tom Ross’s Closing Statement
1:06:00 – Daniel Twedt’s Closing Statement
1:09:11 – Tom Ross’s and Daniel Twedt’s feedback regarding the candidates at the July 12 debate
1:17:48 – How Daniel Twedt and Tom Ross would address the Economic Singularity
1:20:36 – How to reduce the fear of transhumanism
1:26:05 – The best way AI can mature
1:29:48 – How transhumanists can build bridges with the religious
1:36:08 – How transhumanists can build bridges with other belief systems
1:41:23 – How the future could be bright
1:53:24 – Closing thoughts

***

To learn more about the Tom Ross / Daniel Twedt 2024 Presidential Campaign, visit the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Candidates page, recently updated with additional resources, interviews, and campaign videos: https://transhumanist-party.org/candidate-profiles/

Visit Tom Ross’s campaign website at: https://tomross.com/2024.html.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside: https://transhumanist-party.org/membership/

U.S. Transhumanist Party Emphatically Condemns All Political Violence, Wishes Donald Trump a Speedy Recovery

July 14, 2024 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 1 comment

July 14, 2024 – The United States Transhumanist Party (USTP) strongly and unequivocally condemns the assassination attempt against Republican Presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump, which took place in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. The USTP wishes Donald Trump a speedy recovery to a state of complete health and expresses the hope that an objective and impartial investigation will be conducted to fully determine the identity of the attacker and the motives behind the attack.

While Donald Trump’s injuries fortunately appear to be mild enough to allow a full recovery, the heinous shooting at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, caused the death of an innocent audience member, emphasizing the tragic truth that ordinary people often bear the greatest harms of political violence.

The USTP has always rejected political violence absolutely and in all circumstances. Indeed, Immutable Operating Principle 4 in Article I, Section III, of the Constitution of the United States Transhumanist Party reads as follows:

“The United States Transhumanist Party renounces all violence, except in self-defense against a clear, immediate act of physical aggression. In particular, the United States Transhumanist Party holds that violent political activism is never permissible or just. The United States Transhumanist Party commits to always pursuing its goals in a civil, law-abiding manner, respecting the legitimate rights of all persons. The United States Transhumanist Party shall not condone and shall necessarily and automatically disavow all violent criminal acts. Any person who commits a violent criminal act is automatically disassociated from the United States Transhumanist Party in all respects until and unless that person has made appropriate restitution or has fully undergone the appropriate penalties pursuant to applicable law. However, this commitment to exclusively peaceful action does not preclude the United States Transhumanist Party from criticizing any ideas or behavior which are contrary to reason, morality, common sense, or the principles and objectives of the United States Transhumanist Party Core Ideals and Platform.”

“It is clear that unhinged polarization has taken the United States to a societal and political breaking point,” USTP Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II lamented in response to news of the assassination attempt. “This polarization is wrong, and the violence it precipitates is evil. Both need to be stopped. While most people are decent enough to avoid initiating violence no matter what the climate of public opinion, the toxic discourse that has pervaded both mainstream and social media during the past nine years – often originated and amplified by well-organized and well-funded propaganda machines – has surely contributed to pushing some of the least emotionally stable members of our society over the edge into acts of criminal violence. We have seen the effects of these mass-propagandizing tendencies before during the destructive urban riots of 2020 and the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. But attempted assassinations take this trend to an entirely new, troubling level, and they can do nothing but escalate tensions toward a massive societal conflagration – unless everyone, on all sides, takes a serious and somber look at this situation and makes the conscious effort to cease demonizing those with whom they disagree and instead engage with others’ views honestly, civilly, and with recognition of our common humanity.”

The dire predicament of our times requires a transpartisan organization such as the U.S. Transhumanist Party to step in and provide constructive alternatives to the deadly polarization by pointing the way toward the common future of humanity – our common obstacles posed by the forces of death and decay, as well as our common opportunities to use science, technology, and rational discourse to live longer, healthier, more peaceful lives in positive-sum collaborations with others.

“It is no secret that many of our members have disagreed, often strongly, with many of the views espoused by Donald Trump, and some of his policy proposals are directly contrary to the U.S. Transhumanist Party Platform,” Chairman Stolyarov explained. “However, the USTP also champions a culture of decency in politics where we can disagree with a person and still advocate for their rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as well as all of the rights recognized in the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights and our own Transhumanist Bill of Rights. Donald Trump’s rights to his life, to the pursuit of good health, and to the free and peaceful expression of his views, whatever they may be, are among the rights that the USTP stands for. Furthermore, our advocacy of indefinite life extension extends to Donald Trump as well (and also to all other Presidential candidates and candidates for every office from every political party).”

The U.S. Transhumanist Party also emphasizes that, while many in this election season have expressed the desire to save the American democracy, not all have understood the core essence of democracy – which is that ballots, not bullets, need to be the mechanism by which political disagreements are resolved. The primary strength of a democratic system is precisely in the ability of the voting mechanism to provide legitimacy to outcomes on which large segments of the population will disagree with one another, without such disagreements needing to lead to contests of physical force. As such, the American democracy is indeed a precious foundation for a society with enough everyday stability and safety that innovations in technology, science, art, and ideas generally can occur without the specter of violence hanging over everyday life. “Those who think that political violence can ever meaningfully ‘save democracy’ are deluded and misguided, to say the least,” Chairman Stolyarov explained. “Once political violence reigns, democracy is over. Now all decent people of all political parties, organizations, and persuasions have the moral responsibility to call for peace and decency to prevail. We can preserve what has historically been best about the American system of government, but we can only do it by renouncing polarization and hateful vitriol together.

Resurrection of All Mankind through Science – Article by Albi Ndoni

July 8, 2024 Albi Ndoni Comments 0 Comment

Albi Ndoni

Global Cooperation for Humanity’s Common Cause

Introduction

This initiative is an ambitious vision that seeks to leverage the best scientific minds and advancements in biotechnology to resurrect all deceased humans throughout history. This multi-millennial project envisions a future where humanity has achieved both immortality and resurrection, creating a utopian society spread across the Solar System and the Milky Way galaxy.

Objectives

DNA Database Creation and Conservation
- Goal: To establish a comprehensive database of DNA samples from all deceased individuals that have lived on Earth.
- Scope: Approximately 100-106 billion DNA samples.
- Timeline: 1-2 centuries.
- Actions:
  - Gather and analyze historical records, burial sites, and other sources to locate potential DNA samples.
  - Develop advanced techniques for extracting and preserving DNA from ancient remains.
  - Create a secure, state-of-the-art facility for storing and conserving these DNA samples.
Recreating the First Deceased Individual
- Goal: To successfully recreate the body and mind of the first deceased person using advanced biotechnology.
- Timeline: 3-5 centuries.
- Actions:
  - Invest in cutting-edge research in genomics, synthetic biology, and neuroscience.
  - Develop methods to not only clone physical bodies but also to reconstruct memories and consciousness.
  - Conduct trials and refine techniques to ensure the viability and accuracy of resurrected individuals.
Mass Resurrection of All Deceased Individuals
- Goal: To apply the perfected resurrection process to every deceased individual.
- Timeline: 40,000-70,000 years.
- Actions:
  - Scale up the resurrection processes and infrastructure to handle the massive volume.
  - Ensure ethical considerations and consent frameworks are in place for the resurrected.
  - Foster global cooperation to manage resources, logistics, and technological advancements required for this monumental task.

Long-Term Vision

Post-Resurrection Society:
- Following the complete resurrection of all humans, the initiative aims to ensure that every resurrected individual has access to habitat and basic needs.
- Timeline: Concurrent with and following the mass resurrection phase.
- Actions:
  - Advance space colonization efforts to create habitable environments within the Solar System and beyond.
  - Develop sustainable systems for food, water, energy, and healthcare to support the burgeoning population.
  - Promote social and economic frameworks to maintain harmony and equality in this new society.
Utopian Society:
- The ultimate mission is to achieve a utopian society where science has eradicated death and resurrected all past lives, fostering an environment of eternal life and universal well-being.
- Encourage the flourishing of culture, knowledge, and technology in this new age of humanity.

Ethical Considerations

Consent and Autonomy:
- Establish protocols for respecting the autonomy and consent of resurrected individuals.
- Engage in global ethical discourse to address potential concerns and philosophical questions surrounding resurrection.
Resource Allocation:
- Ensure equitable distribution of resources to avoid conflicts and ensure the well-being of all individuals.
- Collaborate with international bodies to manage the logistical and environmental impacts of large-scale resurrection.
Cultural Sensitivity:
- Recognize and respect the diverse cultural and religious perspectives on death and resurrection.
- Promote inclusivity and dialogue to integrate these perspectives into the initiative’s framework.

Conclusion

This initiative is a groundbreaking endeavor that pushes the boundaries of science and imagination. By aiming to resurrect every human who has ever lived, it envisions a future where humanity achieves immortality and resurrection of all the dead, creating a harmonious and utopian society. This grand vision requires unprecedented global cooperation, scientific innovation, and ethical foresight, promising a transformative impact on the future of human civilization.

Note

This manuscript was written with the help of ChatGPT.

© Copyright

Albi Ndoni

Tirana, Albania

Written on June 21, 2024

Read Albi Ndoni’s biography here.

Statement by Tom Ross on the Trump-Biden Debate

July 8, 2024 Tom Ross Comments 0 Comment

Tom Ross

The June 27, 2024, debate between Trump and Biden feels like the last gasp of the Boomer generation’s grip on power, a reminder of how desperately these old-guard politicians cling to relevance. Watching them spar, it’s hard not to feel frustration at a political duopoly increasingly out of touch with present and future generations. Enter the U.S. Transhumanist Party, a beacon of hope with individuals young in mind and spirit, embodying the innovative thinking America needs. We’re tired of settling for the lesser of two evils. The Republicrats’ time is over. The challenges we face—climate change, technological disruption, and the need for radical advancements—require forward-thinking solutions now. The U.S. Transhumanist Party offers a bold vision, harnessing technology and science to overcome significant threats. Enough is enough. The time for change is now. Let’s embrace a future of innovation, progress, and hope.

Tom Ross is the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s 2024 candidate for President of the United States. He is also the USTP’s Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy.

Learn more here: TomRoss’24.

Diluted Delusion – Post by Tom Ross

July 2, 2024 Tom Ross Comments 0 Comment

Tom Ross

I’ve often said I’m not delusional enough to think I could win the Presidency, but after watching the debate between Trump and Biden, it’s clear that being delusional isn’t a disqualifier for becoming President. Seeing an energetic liar, who people actually believe, go up against a deteriorating old man who refuses to step aside was both frightening and eye-opening. It made me realize that maybe it’s time for me to embrace a bit of delusion and step up as a dark horse GenX candidate.

Our country desperately needs younger leadership. As the world’s first digital natives, Millennials and GenZ understand the complexities of modern life in ways the older generations simply cannot. The Boomers, who once drove tie-dyed VW buses in the ’60s and then traded them in for slick BMWs in the ’80s, cannot dictate a future they no longer understand.

We live in a scary time for America and humanity. Divide-and-conquer algorithms are poking at our fears and anger, satiating our confirmation biases, and keeping us trapped in a self-destructive loop. We cannot let this continue. We must break free from the cycle and be led by our youth. We need leaders who will listen to and facilitate the voices of younger generations.

It’s time for a change, and if it takes a bit of delusion to make it happen, then so be it. Our future depends on it.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Seeking Electors for Tom Ross in Tennessee and Louisiana, Petition Signatures in Tennessee

June 30, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 17 comments

Our U.S. Transhumanist Party ballot-access effort is well underway, thanks to the efforts of Micah Redding and his hard-working associates of diverse ages. We stand a realistic chance of getting our 2024 Presidential ticket of Tom Ross and Daniel E. Twedt on the ballot in Tennessee if we can get 275 petition signatures and 11 electors. In particular, we still need electors from Congressional Districts 1, 2, 3 (possibly), 7, 8, and 9.

If you reside in Tennessee, or know someone who does, please help with petition circulation, and if you are in a position to be an Elector for Tom Ross (which just involves signing a form), please let us know! Get in contact with Micah Redding and/or our Candidate Aid, Aida Ćemalović.

We are also in need of eight electors in Louisiana, including one elector from each of Louisiana’s six Congressional Districts and two at-large electors. Contact Aida Ćemalović if you wish to become an Elector in Louisiana. Any costs of notarizing the Louisiana affidavits for Electors will be reimbursed by the U.S. Transhumanist Party.

Together we can make history! Once a Transhumanist Party Presidential candidate makes it onto the ballot in even one State, major publicity and media attention will likely follow. Ultimately, this is a campaign to advance the ideas of transhumanism and their impact upon the public discourse. Unlike the myopic politicians of the two-party system, who keep undermining the American people with one blow after another due to their short-sightedness, we are focusing on the long-term growth of the ideas and networks that will inaugurate the next era of our civilization and extricate humanity from its present quagmire.

How Online Imagery Puts Transhumanism in a Negative Light

June 25, 2024 Dan Elton Comments 1 comment

Daniel C. Elton, Ph.D.

Author’s Note: a version of this article was previously published as “Transhumanism has a visual aesthetics problem” on my Substack.

If you do a Google search for “transhumanism”, this is what you see:

Three heads pop up. Let’s take a closer look:

They are all pretty similar. All women, which is curious. All have shaven heads — also curious. Finally, all have weird things sticking out of their heads — curiouser and curiouser.

This sort of imagery is likely to trigger a disgust response. Millions of years of evolution have hard-wired us to find bodily mutilation disgusting on some level.

Disgust is often described as a “moral emotion”. Thus, these images instill in people the idea that transhumanism is morally wrong. A possible exception is people who are already accustomed to seeing this imagery.

In the moral foundations framework, disgust is lumped under the “degradation of the sacred”. So, that is another way of looking at this. Most religious traditions treat the human body as sacred and worthy of respect and awe. Young women are generally considered to be pure and beautiful. Here we see them defiled and degraded.

The internet is flooded with imagery like this. Check out Google images:

Many of these images are some combination of creepy, disgusting, or just plain weird.

Most of these images come from news articles about transhumanism. Some of these articles are clearly against transhumanism, while others appear to be neutral or a bit sympathetic. In many cases here, editors and publishers probably realized that grotesque or weird images will catch eyes and result in more clicks.

Strangely, I’ve noticed that even people who are very aligned with transhumanism can fall into using this sort of imagery. For instance, there is a new biography of Zoltan Istvan coming out in July 2024. (Istvan founded the U.S. Transhumanist Party and ran for president in 2016.) Based on his tweets, the author appears to be largely sympathetic to Zoltan’s work. However, the cover makes Zoltan look creepy and nefarious.

The color scheme is designed to cast Zoltan in a negative light. This is the same sort of color scheme is used by advertisers when they show competitor’s products — dark, drab, and dull.

In recent years it’s been noted that fewer and fewer people want to publicly identify as transhumanists, despite the growing popularity of transhumanist ideas. This is partially due to the poor aesthetics creating a “negative halo” around the term. Another factor is the proliferation of conspiracy theories around transhumanism on both the far left and far right — something I plan to discuss in my next post.

Take a look at this new book by Austrian right-wing agitator Stefan Magnet. The title translates to Transhumanism: War Against Humanity.

Again, we see defilement. It’s interesting that the pattern on the face is similar to the iconography on the cover of the new Zoltan biography.

What might good transhumanist aesthetics look like?

Let’s consider a list of transhumanist technologies: genetic engineering, age-reversal biomedicine, nanotechnology, brain-computer interfaces, friendly artificial intelligence, helpful robots, spaceships, space colonies. I can think of ways to visualize these technologies that are aesthetically pleasing, with the exception of friendly AI.

Let’s consider core values more generally. According to transhumanist philosopher Nick Bostrom, the core transhumanist value is “having the opportunity to explore the transhuman and posthuman realms”. This is very hard to illustrate, because, as Bostrom admits, we don’t actually know what the posthuman realm will look like.

From this core value Bostrom derives a long list of derivative values including “caring about wellbeing of all sentience, diversity (many forms), saving lives, peace, international cooperation, pragmatism, engineering, science.” These are easiest to visualize, although they are quite general and not specifically tied to transhumanism.

The art of Robert McCall

The art of Robert McCall (1919-2010) holds a special place in the hearts of many transhumanists and futurists. If I recall correctly, for several years his work “The Prologue and the Promise” was used by the Foresight Institute on the webpage of its “Existential Hope” initiative.

Here are a few other of his works:

Other good art I stumbled upon

Much of this is not explicitly transhumanist, but is provided to be food for thought.

By Joshua Mays (@joshuamaysart on Instagram)

Daniel C. Elton, PhD, is the Director of Scholarship for the U.S. Transhumanist Party. Learn more about him here.

Pros and Cons of the Serum Institute of India’s Success from an African (Nigerian) Perspective: Citing Religious, Cultural, and Political Bias – Article by Victor Urhefe

June 14, 2024 Victor Urhefe Comments 0 Comment

Victor Urhefe

Author’s Note: This article explores the multifaceted implications of the Serum Institute of India’s (SII) success from a Nigerian perspective, emphasizing religious, cultural, and political contexts. It discusses the affordable and accessible vaccines provided by SII, their impact on Nigeria’s public health, and the diverse reactions to vaccination influenced by religious beliefs, cultural practices, and political dynamics. The article also suggests strategies for SII to effectively navigate these complexities, including engaging religious leaders, employing culturally sensitive communication, and collaborating with governmental authorities. It is important to note that this is an opinion piece and the perspectives and recommendations herein are subject to adjustments based on evolving circumstances and further insights.

~ Victor Urhefe, June 14, 2024

Serum Institute of India (SII)

Since its founding by Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla in 1966, the Serum Institute of India (SII) has developed from a small experiment into a major player in the world of vaccine production. With a desire to guarantee that everyone, irrespective of financial situation, has access to life-saving vaccines, SII has remained true to its goal of providing high-quality, reasonably priced vaccines worldwide. The institute has grown to be the biggest vaccine producer in the world in terms of volume, driven by an unrelenting commitment to eradicating infectious illnesses and improving public health. Over the years, SII has manufactured approximately 1.5 billion vaccines annually, covering illnesses including polio, diphtheria, tetanus, Pertussis, Hib, BCG, r-Hepatitis B, Mumps, and measles. This is due to its unwavering pursuit of innovation and excellence. As the top biotechnology business in India, Serum Institute of India produces highly specialised biologicals that can save lives, such as vaccines, using state-of-the-art genetic and cell-based technologies, antisera, and other medical specialties.

One of SII’s greatest achievements is its important role in the COVID-19 epidemic. Collaborating with multinational organizations such as AstraZeneca, the institute manufactured millions of doses of the Covishield vaccine, which played a pivotal role in combating the virus in numerous low- and middle-income nations. The immunization gap in underserved areas has significantly decreased thanks to its effective production and delivery methods. This achievement demonstrates SII’s commitment to public health and embodies a legacy of resiliency, creativity, and unwavering determination to provide vaccines to every region of the globe.

Nigeria

Nigeria, also referred to as the “Giant of Africa,” is a nation rich in diverse political, religious, and cultural traditions. It is the most populated country in Africa and the ninth most populous worldwide, with a population of over 200 million. Nigerians are mainly divided along religious lines between Islam and Christianity, with Muslims being concentrated in the north and Christians in the south. This split in religion has an impact on social interactions, politics, and education, among other areas of life. A small percentage of people also follow indigenous religions, which are a reflection of the deeply ingrained cultural beliefs of the nation. Although there has occasionally been tension and conflict between various religious groups, their interactions have also promoted a special kind of coexistence and mutual impact in day-to-day living.

Nigeria is a linguistic and ethnic collage in terms of culture. There are more than 250 different ethnic groups in the nation, with Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, and Igbo being the largest. The unique customs, dialects, and cultural practices of each ethnic group enrich Nigeria’s rich cultural legacy. This diversity is reflected in festivals, music, dance, and artwork from different regions, resulting in a vibrant cultural tapestry. The Yoruba, for example, are well known for their talking drums and ornate beadwork; the Hausa, for their leatherwork and horse festivities; and the Igbo, for their elaborate ceremonies and masquerade dances. Despite this diversity, Nigerians have a great sense of pride in their country and identity, which is frequently expressed through national celebrations and shared cultural experiences.

Nigeria is a federal country with 36 states and Abuja as the Federal Capital Territory. In addition to providing representation and governance that take into account the many interests and demands of the nation’s residents, this structure is meant to serve the country’s heterogeneous population. Nigeria has gone through several eras of government, including military dictatorships, colonial control, and the current democratic republic. Major political parties are frequently positioned along ethnic and regional lines, creating a dynamic political scene. Although this alignment occasionally makes things worse, it also makes sure that different groups are heard in the national conversation. Political variety is both a strength and a difficulty because it necessitates ongoing compromise and negotiation to uphold unity and promote growth.

Reaction to Vaccination

Nigeria’s response to vaccinations is as diverse as the country’s political, cultural, and religious environments. Misinformation and historical hostility have given rise to rare scepticism and opposition in the mostly Muslim north. Historical events, like the 2003–2004 polio vaccination boycott, demonstrate how strongly held religious and cultural beliefs can impact public health measures. The boycott was motivated by false worries about sterilisation and Western conspiracies. However, there has been a noticeable shift in opinions thanks to the combined efforts of religious leaders, governmental officials, and international organisations. Religiously sensitive campaigns have been crucial in demonstrating how culturally aware strategies can improve vaccination acceptance and uptake.

Nigeria’s many ethnic groups respond differently to immunisation campaigns, depending on their own cultures. In the South, where Christianity is the dominant religion, vaccination attitudes have typically been more positively influenced by community involvement and education. Yoruba and Igbo communities host lively cultural festivals and social events that serve as powerful forums for dispelling myths about vaccines and raising awareness of them. Politically, localised approaches that tackle particular area issues are made possible by the federal system. But political unpredictability and mistrust of the government can impede immunisation campaigns, therefore, strong cooperation between federal and state agencies is required to guarantee uniform and broad immunisation coverage. This complicated dance of political forces, cultural customs, and religious beliefs emphasises how important it is for Nigerian public health policies to be specific and sophisticated.

My thoughts on SII’s mission concerning Nigeria and what needs to be done.

Nigeria’s aspirations in healthcare are well aligned with the purpose of the Serum Institute of India, which is to provide high-quality, reasonably priced vaccinations to every part of the world. SII’s approach needs to be both strategic and compassionate in a nation where public opinion and acceptance of health interventions are shaped by religious, cultural, and political factors. The accomplishment of their goal in Nigeria depends on a thorough comprehension of these many variables and the application of customised tactics that honor and involve local populations. What worked in the South may not work in the North.

First, it can be helpful to form connections with powerful religious figures. Through the inclusion of imams, pastors, and other traditional leaders in advocacy campaigns, SII can address issues related to religion and debunk falsehoods about immunizations. By acting as dependable role models, these leaders can persuade their followers to support vaccination. Cultural awareness is also very important. In order to craft engaging stories about vaccinations, SII should work with regional artists and cultural icons. Through storytelling, dance, and song, the advantages of vaccinations can be conveyed in a way that is firmly ingrained in Nigeria’s rich cultural legacy.

Finally, it is critical to engage closely with both the federal and state governments to promote cohesive and uniform messaging while addressing any potential political mistrust. Building strong, transparent cooperation with Nigerian health authorities will help to ensure that vaccines are distributed smoothly and increase public trust. SII may assist Nigeria move confidently towards greater public health and a brighter future by integrating its mission into the fabric of the country’s diverse community.

Sources:

Paden, John N., Religion and Political Culture in Kano. University of California Press, 1973.
Falola, Toyin. The history of Nigeria. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1999.
Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart, Heinemann, 1958.
Falola, Toyin, and Heaton, Matthew M., A History of Nigeria, Cambridge University Press, 2008.
Ojo, Emmanuel O., “Federalism and the Search for National Integration in Nigeria.” African Journal of Political Science and International Relations, vol. 4, no. 2, 2009, pp. 38–46.
Diamond, Larry, and Plattner, Marc F.. Democratization in Africa: Progress and Retreat, JHU Press, 2010.
Falola, Toyin, and Heaton, Matthew M., A History of Nigeria. Cambridge University Press, 2008.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with the OmniFuturists – January 28, 2024

May 7, 2024 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Gennady Stolyarov II
Mike DiVerde
David Wood
Alaura Blackstone
Luis Arroyo
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
William Marshall
Michael Saenz
Allen Crowley

On Sunday, January 28, 2024, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited members of the OmniFuturists to discuss their new book, Future Visions: Approaching the Economic Singularity – available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTGHJCT4 – which offers a diverse array of political and economic perspectives in order to address a possible near-future tidal wave of technological unemployment.

The following authors presented regarding their book chapters, their outlooks on the Economic Singularity, and their views on the best options for responding and/or adjusting to it.

– Mike DiVerde
– David Wood
– Alaura Blackstone
– Luis Arroyo
– Art Ramon
– William Marshall
– Michael Saenz
– Allen Crowley

Timestamps

2:40 – Mike DiVerde’s opening remarks

10:22 – David Wood’s presentation

38:43 – David Wood on how close the Economic Singularity is

40:46 – Alaura Blackstone’s presentation

51:38 – Luis Arroyo’s presentation

1:00:12 – Art Ramon Garcia’s presentation

1:07:19 – Art Ramon Garcia on whether artists could still find sustainable employment after the Economic Singularity

1:13:21 – William Marshall’s presentation

1:24:55 – William Marshall on how remote learning could be improved

1:28:14 – Mike Saenz’s presentation

1:34:30 – Mike Saenz on Blaise Pascal’s concepts of geometry and finesse

1:37:57 – Announcement of Future Visions’ release on Amazon

1:39:01 – Allen Crowley’s presentation

1:50:53 – Mike DiVerde’s closing remarks

References

Future Visions: A Summary of Our Essays – Brief Video by Mike DiVerde – • Future Visions: A Summary of Our Essays

Future Visions – Approaching the Economic Singularity – Video by David Wood – • Future Visions – Approaching the Econ…

One for All – Poem by Alaura Blackstone – • One for All – Poem Submission for Fut…

Overman – Song by Alaura Blackstone – • Overman

OmniFuturists Website: https://omnifuturists.com/

YouTube – The OmniFuturists Group: @theomnifuturists

Facebook Group – OmniFuturists: / 6880427821993284

Instagram Account – omnifuturists: / omnifuturists

E-mail: michael.b.diverde@omnifuturists.com info@omnifuturists.com

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside: https://transhumanist-party.org/membership/

Transhumanism in Africa: A Movement Long Overdue – Article by Victor Urhefe

March 9, 2024 Victor Urhefe Comments 0 Comment

Victor Urhefe

“Africa must not just be a consumer of new technologies, but a leader in shaping them to serve human needs and preserve human dignity.”

– Anonymous

Transhumanism in Africa: A Movement Long Overdue

Africa, the cradle of humankind, has long been overlooked in the global discourse surrounding transhumanism. This intellectual and cultural movement envisions the enhancement of human capabilities through science and technology. However, as the world hurtles towards a future where technological advancements promise to redefine what it means to be human, Africa’s voice in shaping this narrative is vital and long overdue.

At its core, transhumanism is a bold vision that challenges the limitations of our current biological condition, seeking to transcend the boundaries imposed by nature through technological augmentation. From cognitive enhancements and life-extension therapies to human-machine symbiosis and mind uploading, the possibilities are as vast as they are provocative. Yet, for too long, the African continent has been relegated to the sidelines of this groundbreaking intellectual movement.

This marginalisation is a grave injustice, for Africa’s rich tapestry of cultural and philosophical traditions has much to offer the transhumanist discourse. The continent’s deep-rooted respect for ancestral wisdom and reverence for the natural world could serve as a counterbalance to the unbridled pursuit of technological prowess, fostering a more balanced and ethical approach to human enhancement.

As Kenyan philosopher Calestous Juma eloquently argued in his seminal work, “The Gene Hunters: Biotechnology and the Scramble for Seeds,” Africa must not be a mere spectator in the rapidly evolving fields of biotechnology and genetic engineering. “We cannot afford to be passive observers of the biotechnology revolution,” he wrote. “We must be active participants in shaping it to serve our interests.” (Juma, 1989)

This clarion call resonates profoundly in the realm of transhumanism, where the stakes are no less than the future of our species. By embracing the transhumanist ethos, Africa has the opportunity to reclaim its rightful place as a pioneering force in human advancement, harnessing its rich intellectual and cultural heritage to chart a course that harmonizes technological progress with ethical and spiritual considerations.

Indeed, several African thinkers and innovators have already begun to blaze this trail. Kenyan researcher Kamau Gachigi, for instance, has been a vocal proponent of using emerging technologies to address Africa’s pressing challenges, from healthcare to food security. In his widely acclaimed TED Talk, “Making Sense of Transhumanism in Africa,” Gachigi articulated a vision of “Afro-transhumanism,” a movement that seeks to leverage technological advancements while remaining rooted in African values and cultural traditions.

These voices, among many others, underscore the urgent need for Africa to engage more deeply with the transhumanist movement, lest it be left behind in the relentless march of technological progress. By embracing transhumanism on its terms, Africa can not only contribute to shaping the future of humanity but also address some of its most pressing challenges, from healthcare and education to food security and environmental sustainability.

Imagine, for instance, the transformative potential of neural implants and brain-computer interfaces in improving access to education and cognitive enhancement for Africa’s youth. Or ponder the impact of advanced gene-editing technologies in eradicating devastating genetic disorders and enhancing crop yields to alleviate food insecurity. The possibilities are as boundless as they are tantalizing.

Yet, as with any transformative movement, transhumanism in Africa must navigate a delicate balance between technological progress and ethical considerations. The continent’s rich cultural heritage, with its emphasis on community, harmony, and respect for the natural world, can serve as a guiding light in this endeavour, ensuring that human enhancement is pursued not as an end in itself, but as a means to create a more equitable, sustainable, and spiritually fulfilling existence for all.

In this pursuit, Africa must draw upon its long tradition of communal decision-making and inclusive governance, fostering a vibrant public discourse that engages all stakeholders, from policymakers and scientists to religious leaders and grassroots communities. Only through such inclusive dialogue can the continent chart a course that harmonizes technological advancement with its deeply held values and cultural traditions.

The path ahead will undoubtedly be fraught with challenges, from the ethical quandaries posed by emerging technologies to the practical obstacles of funding and infrastructure. Yet, Africa’s resilience and ingenuity, forged through centuries of adversity, are well-equipped to surmount these hurdles. As the Kenyan scholar Ali Mazrui once remarked, “Africa has been shaped not by its environments alone, but by its capacity to respond creatively to those environments.” (Mazrui, 1986)

As the world stands poised on the precipice of a transhumanist future, Africa’s voice must not be silenced. Its rich cultural and philosophical traditions, coupled with its boundless potential for innovation, can serve as a beacon for navigating the uncharted waters of human enhancement. For in the end, the quest for transcendence is not merely a technological endeavor, but a profoundly human one—a journey that calls upon us to redefine the very essence of our existence.

And who better to guide us on this journey than the continent that cradled the dawn of humanity itself?

Works Cited:

Juma, C. (1989). The Gene Hunters: Biotechnology and the Scramble for Seeds. Princeton University Press.

Mazrui, A. A. (1986). The Africans: A Triple Heritage. BBC Publications.

Tom Ross: A Beacon of Friendship and Admiration for Bangladesh and Bangabandhu – Article by Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana

February 4, 2024 Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana Comments 1 comment

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana and Tom Ross in Bangladesh

Introduction:

In the realm of international relations, the significance of fostering strong bonds between nations cannot be overstated. One such exemplar of diplomatic amity and genuine admiration is Tom Ross, an American presidential candidate who has emerged as a true friend of Bangladesh and an avid enthusiast of its founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A Pioneering Friendship:

Tom Ross’s connection with Bangladesh transcends the conventional boundaries of political alliances. His interest in the country and its people goes beyond the typical political rhetoric, reflecting a deep understanding and appreciation for the cultural, historical, and social fabric of Bangladesh.

Ross has actively engaged in fostering diplomatic ties between the United States and Bangladesh, recognizing the strategic importance of a strong bilateral relationship. His visionary approach emphasizes collaboration on issues such as trade, climate change, and global security, laying the foundation for a comprehensive partnership.

Bangabandhu’s Influence:

A unique facet of Tom Ross’s affinity for Bangladesh is his profound admiration for Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the revered architect of the nation. Ross’s admiration extends beyond political posturing, reflecting a genuine respect for the visionary leader who played a pivotal role in the country’s independence.

Ross has often expressed his admiration for Bangabandhu’s commitment to democracy, social justice, and economic development. His speeches and public statements underscore the belief that the principles advocated by Bangabandhu are not only relevant to Bangladesh but hold universal significance for fostering a just and equitable world.

Building Bridges:

Ross’s commitment to building bridges between nations is evident in his efforts to facilitate cultural exchanges and people-to-people connections. Recognizing the rich cultural tapestry of Bangladesh, he has supported initiatives that promote mutual understanding and appreciation between the American and Bangladeshi people.

His advocacy for educational collaborations, artistic exchanges, and cultural events has created a platform for fostering deeper connections at the grassroots level. By emphasizing the importance of shared values and aspirations, Ross seeks to strengthen the foundation of the friendship between the two nations.

Conclusion:

In the complex landscape of international relations, Tom Ross stands out as a beacon of friendship and admiration for Bangladesh. His genuine appreciation for the nation’s history, culture, and its founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reflects a commitment to building a robust and enduring partnership.

As Tom Ross charts a course in his presidential campaign, his vision for a stronger alliance with Bangladesh resonates as a testament to the enduring power of diplomacy, friendship, and shared values in shaping a better world. The evolving narrative of this unique friendship promises to contribute positively to the global stage, fostering collaboration and understanding between nations.

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana and Tom Ross next to a portrait of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana is the U.S. Transhumanist Party Director of Foreign Relations and Foreign Ambassador in Bangladesh. Learn more about him here.

Bengali Version:

টম রস: বাংলাদেশ এবং বঙ্গবন্ধুর জন্য বন্ধুত্ব ও প্রশংসার আলোকবর্তিকা

ভূমিকা:

আন্তর্জাতিক সম্পর্কের ক্ষেত্রে, জাতিগুলির মধ্যে দৃঢ় বন্ধন গড়ে তোলার তাত্পর্যকে বাড়াবাড়ি করা যায় না। কূটনৈতিক বন্ধুত্ব এবং অকৃত্রিম প্রশংসার এমনই একজন উদাহরণ হলেন টম রস, একজন আমেরিকান রাষ্ট্রপতি প্রার্থী যিনি বাংলাদেশের একজন সত্যিকারের বন্ধু এবং এর প্রতিষ্ঠাতা বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের একজন উত্সাহী হিসেবে আবির্ভূত হয়েছেন।

একটি অগ্রগামী বন্ধুত্ব:

বাংলাদেশের সাথে টম রসের সংযোগ রাজনৈতিক জোটের প্রচলিত সীমানা অতিক্রম করে। দেশ এবং এর জনগণের প্রতি তার আগ্রহ সাধারণ রাজনৈতিক অলংকারের বাইরে চলে যায়, যা বাংলাদেশের সাংস্কৃতিক, ঐতিহাসিক এবং সামাজিক কাঠামোর জন্য গভীর উপলব্ধি এবং উপলব্ধি প্রতিফলিত করে।

রস একটি শক্তিশালী দ্বিপাক্ষিক সম্পর্কের কৌশলগত গুরুত্বকে স্বীকৃতি দিয়ে মার্কিন যুক্তরাষ্ট্র এবং বাংলাদেশের মধ্যে কূটনৈতিক সম্পর্ক বৃদ্ধিতে সক্রিয়ভাবে জড়িত। তার দূরদর্শী দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি বাণিজ্য, জলবায়ু পরিবর্তন এবং বৈশ্বিক নিরাপত্তার মতো বিষয়গুলিতে সহযোগিতার উপর জোর দেয়, একটি ব্যাপক অংশীদারিত্বের ভিত্তি স্থাপন করে।

বঙ্গবন্ধুর প্রভাব:

বাংলাদেশের প্রতি টম রসের সখ্যতার একটি অনন্য দিক হল জাতির শ্রদ্ধেয় স্থপতি বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের প্রতি তার গভীর প্রশংসা। রসের প্রশংসা রাজনৈতিক ভঙ্গির বাইরেও প্রসারিত, যা দেশের স্বাধীনতায় গুরুত্বপূর্ণ ভূমিকা পালনকারী দূরদর্শী নেতার প্রতি অকৃত্রিম শ্রদ্ধাকে প্রতিফলিত করে।

রস প্রায়ই গণতন্ত্র, সামাজিক ন্যায়বিচার এবং অর্থনৈতিক উন্নয়নের প্রতি বঙ্গবন্ধুর প্রতিশ্রুতির প্রশংসা করেছেন। তাঁর বক্তৃতা এবং জনসাধারণের বিবৃতিগুলি এই বিশ্বাসের উপর জোর দেয় যে বঙ্গবন্ধু যে নীতিগুলি উত্থাপন করেছিলেন তা কেবল বাংলাদেশের জন্যই প্রাসঙ্গিক নয় বরং একটি ন্যায় ও ন্যায়সঙ্গত বিশ্ব গড়ে তোলার জন্য সর্বজনীন তাৎপর্য বহন করে।

সেতু নির্মাণ:

জাতিগুলির মধ্যে সেতু নির্মাণে রসের প্রতিশ্রুতি সাংস্কৃতিক আদান-প্রদান এবং জনগণের মধ্যে সংযোগ স্থাপনের জন্য তার প্রচেষ্টায় স্পষ্ট। বাংলাদেশের সমৃদ্ধ সাংস্কৃতিক ট্যাপেস্ট্রির স্বীকৃতি দিয়ে, তিনি আমেরিকান এবং বাংলাদেশী জনগণের মধ্যে পারস্পরিক বোঝাপড়া এবং উপলব্ধি উন্নীত করে এমন উদ্যোগকে সমর্থন করেছেন।

শিক্ষাগত সহযোগিতা, শৈল্পিক আদান-প্রদান, এবং সাংস্কৃতিক ইভেন্টের জন্য তার উকিল তৃণমূল পর্যায়ে গভীর সংযোগ গড়ে তোলার জন্য একটি প্ল্যাটফর্ম তৈরি করেছে। ভাগ করা মূল্যবোধ এবং আকাঙ্ক্ষার গুরুত্বের উপর জোর দিয়ে, রস দুই দেশের মধ্যে বন্ধুত্বের ভিত্তি মজবুত করতে চায়।

উপসংহার:

আন্তর্জাতিক সম্পর্কের জটিল ল্যান্ডস্কেপে টম রস বাংলাদেশের জন্য বন্ধুত্ব ও প্রশংসার আলোকবর্তিকা হিসেবে দাঁড়িয়ে আছেন। জাতির ইতিহাস, সংস্কৃতি এবং এর প্রতিষ্ঠাতা পিতা বঙ্গবন্ধু শেখ মুজিবুর রহমানের প্রতি তার অকৃত্রিম উপলব্ধি একটি শক্তিশালী এবং স্থায়ী অংশীদারিত্ব গড়ে তোলার অঙ্গীকার প্রতিফলিত করে।

টম রস যখন তার প্রেসিডেন্ট নির্বাচনী প্রচারণার একটি পথ নির্ধারণ করেন, বাংলাদেশের সাথে একটি শক্তিশালী জোটের জন্য তার দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি একটি উন্নত বিশ্ব গঠনে কূটনীতি, বন্ধুত্ব এবং ভাগ করা মূল্যবোধের স্থায়ী শক্তির প্রমাণ হিসাবে অনুরণিত হয়। এই অনন্য বন্ধুত্বের ক্রমবর্ধমান আখ্যানটি বিশ্ব মঞ্চে ইতিবাচকভাবে অবদান রাখার প্রতিশ্রুতি দেয়, দেশগুলির মধ্যে সহযোগিতা এবং বোঝাপড়া বৃদ্ধি করে।

The Origins of Transhumanism – Article by Luis Arroyo

January 24, 2024 Luis Arroyo Comments 2 comments

Luis Arroyo

Despite one motto of the USTP being “Neither right-wing nor left-wing, but up-wing!” (a nod to FM-2030), many thinkers in the movement have leaned one direction or the other, adopting the conventions of their time and place. In this article, Luis Arroyo expounds upon some of the early growth of the movement in Russia. Transhumanism is indeed a revolutionary movement, and those thinkers who dared to defy death should be celebrated and recognized, regardless of their opinions on profit and property.

~Zach Richardson, Director of Publication, United States Transhumanist Party, January 24, 2024

Before today’s and yesterday’s prominent figures of the modern Transhumanist movement such as Zoltan Istvan, Max More, and FM-2030 started doing work towards a Transhumanist future [1][2][3], Transhumanism existed as a Proto-Transhumanist movement mainly called Russian Cosmism, Biocosmism, and similar names, courtesy of a Monarchist, countless Communists, Anarchists, and Socialists mainly in the USSR and Eastern Europe [4][5].

Nikolai Fyodorov & Konstantin Tsiolkovsky

The founder of Russian Cosmism, Nikolai Fyodorov, despite being a Monarchist, set a precedent that would line the ranks of Russian Cosmism with Anti-Capitalists such as the aforementioned Communists, Anarchists, and Socialists. He did this in his book titled Common Task, where he called for a struggle against death which would require most human efforts to go toward. This is something that is impossible to achieve via market mechanisms due to, as Albert Einstein called it, the “economic anarchy of capitalist society” [6][7]. Besides this Common Task, after Nikolai Fyodorov came the Father of Space Travel, Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, who was inspired by Fyodorov while studying under him at the Moscow Library as a substitute for not being allowed into school mainly because a loss of hearing via scarlet fever earlier in his life. In those 3 years of contact, Fyodorov would instill a love and dream of space travel, bringing back the dead, and many other pillars of belief that Tsiolkovsky held after his studies with Fyodorov. He would later go on to produce works that inspired leading Soviet rocket engineers Sergei Korolev and Valentin Glushko, who contributed to the success of the Soviet space program [8]. Furthermore, Tsiolkovsky would eventually give a speech in the Red Square to celebrate the Soviet Republics alongside Joseph Stalin, stating, “Now comrades, I am finally convinced that a dream of mine—space travel—for which I have given the theoretical foundations, will be realized. I believe that many of you will be witnesses of the first journey beyond the atmosphere. In the Soviet Union we have many young pilots…(and) I place my most daring hopes in them. They will help to actualize my discoveries and will prepare the gifted builders of the first space vehicle. Heroes and men of courage will inaugurate the first airways: Earth to Moon orbit, Earth to Mars orbit, and still farther; Moscow to the Moon, Kaluga to Mars!” [9]. Tsiolkovsky was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labour [10].

Alexander Bogdanov

Then we have Alexander Bogdanov, who, among many activities, co-founded the Bolshevik Party [11]. He used early blood transfusion treatments to treat varying ailments like anemia, burns, and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis. These treatments would allow Bogdanov to reach stature among the various Soviet leaders, including Stalin himself, who heavily funded Bogdanov’s experiments and attempts [12]. He also wrote early Sci-fi books such as Red Star and books relating to the origins of art, its class characteristics, and how it might be created within a revolutionary socialist context like Art and the Working Class [13][14]. Likewise, Bogdanov co-founded Proletkult, an organization whose goal was to provide political and artistic education to workers of the USSR [15].

Alexander Svyatogor

On the other side, there was the Anarcho-Futurist, Universalist, and founder of the Biocosmist-Immortalist movement, Alexander Svyatogor, who, in his work titled The Doctrine of the Fathers and Anarchism-Biocosmism wrote some 23 points of summary and various explanations of his theory. Among the various points Svyatogor wrote were the following: “The supreme good is immortal life in the cosmos. The supreme evil is death […..] The supreme good should be realized by the maximum in creativity. We place particular emphasis on the creative moment in Biocosmism. Personal immortality is not a given, but must be won, realized, created. It is not the restoration of what is lost, as in the Bible, but the creation of what is yet to be. It is not a matter of renewal, but of creativity. The same is true for conquering the cosmos. Immortalism and interplanetarism are the maximal—but not the ultimate—aim. They represent stages and means to an immeasurably great creativity. But this goal lies before us and is, for this reason, the greatest of all.” This showed clearly the intent to achieve both physical immortality and a space-bearing civilization, both central ideas in Russian Cosmism and in the offshoot of Biocosmism.

Additionally, Svyatogor wrote many contributions in Vekhi or Milestones, wrote for the Bolshevik press, worked for the People’s Commissariat, edited the bimonthly journal Biocosmist in Moscow, and published antireligious articles and tracts for the magazine Antireligioznik while in the Central Council of the League of Godless Militants. He also founded the Verticalists group in 1914. In Ukraine, Svyatogor promulgated his tenets of Volcanism, an antecedent to Biocosmism that proclaimed the abolition of death and domination over the universe, under such slogans as “Revaluation of all values!” and “Down with Kant”. In a more hands-on regard, after the February Revolution, Svyatogor moved to Moscow, where he befriended the Anarchist actor Mamont Victorovich Dal’skii. He spent his time expropriating bourgeois apartments until the Bolsheviks appointed him commander of the Black Guards, who were to take part in the events of October 1917 in both Petrograd and Moscow. He joined the group of Anarchist-Futurists who published the Moscow newspaper Anarchy in the spring of 1918, before briefly returning to Ukraine where he fought against the Austrian and German occupiers. The group/ideology of Biocosmism afterward spread to many places including Kharkov, Pskov, Kiev, Omsk, and Irkutsk, eventually organizing 45 poetry readings and debates in Petrograd alone [16].

Overall, without these various individuals, their work, efforts, and the broader Socialist/Communist context they came about in and aided, Transhumanism would likely have not come to full fruition. This is seen today as famously stated by founder of e-flux Anton Vidokle in “God-Building as a Work of Art: Cosmist Aesthetics”: “Sometimes I think that cosmism would not be so interesting if it had not happened against the background of the [socialist] revolution. The nineteenth century was notorious for numerous utopian movements. Some were based on religion or the occult, and others on socialist utopias. There were many such groups and ideologies in almost every country in the world at the time. Had it not been for the revolution in Russia and the total radicalization of society, cosmism would likely remain a kind of peculiar but insignificant development. But the mixture of cosmism and communism, and the acceleration that occurred in Russia just before and after the revolution, were like pouring fuel on a fire” [17].

Luis Arroyo is Vice-Chairman of the New York Transhumanist Party.

References

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoltan_Istvan

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_More

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FM-2030

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_cosmism

[5] https://cosmos.art/cosmic-bulletin/2022/biocosmic-interindividualism

[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikolai_Fyodorovich_Fyodorov#Philosophy

[7] https://monthlyreview.org/2009/05/01/why-socialism/

[8] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantin_Tsiolkovsky

[9] https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a28485/russian-rocket-genius-konstantin-tsiolkovsky/

[10] https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Konstantin_Tsiolkovsky_with_the_Order_of_the_Red_Banner_of_Labour.jpg

[11] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Bogdanov

[12] https://drvitelli.typepad.com/providentia/2018/11/the-immortality-experiments.html

[13] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Star_(novel)

[14] https://www.iskrabooks.org/art-and-the-working-class

[15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proletkult

[16] https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/alexander-svyatogor-the-doctrine-of-the-fathers-and-anarchism-biocosmism

[17] https://www.e-flux.com/journal/110/335963/god-building-as-a-work-of-art-cosmist-aesthetics/

Vote for Tom Ross in the Free and Equal Elections Foundation Debate Poll – Help Tom Ross Qualify for the February 29, 2024, Los Angeles Presidential Debate

January 22, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 0 Comment

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Gennady Stolyarov II

Do you want to hear from a Presidential candidate who actually cares about science, technology, longevity, and ensuring that we humans seize our unique and enduring advantages in the era of rising artificial intelligence, approaching new advances with curiosity and a sense of opportunity, rather than fear?

If so, please vote for Tom Ross, our U.S. Transhumanist Party nominee for President of the United States in 2024, using the new Nexus Blockchain Voting App developed in partnership with The Free and Equal Elections Foundation: https://vote.freeandequal.org/

The vote is intended to determine which candidates will participate in The Free and Equal Elections Foundation Presidential Debate in Los Angeles on February 29, one of the only venues in this election cycle for an honest exchange of ideas and policy proposals among candidates of numerous political parties.

You can use this app on both desktop and mobile interfaces. Just enter your phone number, get a code, enter the code, and you will be able to rank-order up to six candidates. We hope that you will rank Tom Ross as your first choice.

You will have until February 1, 2024, to vote. We encourage you to vote sooner rather than later.

Here is a message from Zoltan Istvan, the founder and first Presidential candidate of the USTP: “Nearly 10 years ago I founded the Transhumanist Party. This election cycle Tom Ross is the U.S. presidential nominee for the party. Every cycle Free & Equal runs an important Presidential debate of independents (which I’ve formally participated in during the past as a nominee). Please consider voting for transhumanist Tom Ross at this link so he can get into this debate. That way science will remain a voice in independent politics.”

Here is a message from Tom Ross himself: “On February 29th, in Hollywood, six out of 50+ candidates will take the debate stage. Hosted by the Free & Equal Elections Foundation, this debate will give a voice to presidential hopefuls outside the duopoly. If you believe that science and technology can enhance the quality and length of our lives, please consider voting for me — the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s nominee for president in 2024.”

If you have not yet familiarized yourself with Tom’s campaign and policies, you can learn about him on our Candidates page and his campaign website.

Pride Should Not Incur Prejudice – Article by Zach Richardson

January 13, 2024 Zach Richardson Comments 1 comment

Zach Richardson

“Most people dislike vanity in others, whatever share they have of it themselves; but I give it fair quarter wherever I meet with it, being persuaded that it is often productive of good to the possessor, and to others that are within his sphere of action; and therefore, in many cases, it would not be altogether absurd if a man were to thank God for his vanity among the other comforts of life.

-Benjamin Franklin, Autobiography

Pride Should Not Incur Prejudice

While there are several aspects of the Christian ethics that I disagree with, one that has particularly irked me was the idea of pride being a sin. If someone has done something noteworthy or respectable or that has had a good result, how can it be wrong for them to not be pleased with themselves and pleased with their actions? Is that not necessary for the action to be self-reinforcing?

Identifying as transhumanist is absolutely something one should be proud of. To be able to have as a core virtue the conviction that it is necessary to think “long-range” to properly ensure one’s survival, to be open to new and radical ideas, and to be part of the epic struggle of this century which is the abolition of death and disease, these are pure virtues.

I work in an extremely conservative industry, and it would not be in my best interest to be extremely vocal about being a Transhumanist – so I don’t. But I do bring up some key facts, if the opportunity arises: I think Death is Wrong. I am Director of Publication of a small third party. I have a refined nootropic stack that enhances my cognition. If there’s any interest, I elaborate. If there’s not, I don’t. If they’re a “normie” and they’re stuck in the matrix and actually give pushback, sometimes that yang energy can be absorbed and redirected. Even if the person says they’d never want to live forever, you can almost always get them to admit that their joints didn’t hurt as much 10 years ago, and they miss the mental energy they once had.

There may be some “dogwhistles” you find for other potential transhumanists, those interested in longevity, biohacking, etc. Found My Fitness, The Peter Attia Drive Podcast, and Huberman Lab have strong followings, and if you find a listener, that’s probably a good sign they’re more interested in beating death than they are border issues/gender politics/gun rights, yadda yadda. Personally I find more in common with the crypto-transhumanists who are primarily focused on longevity than I do with some of the more vocal ones who seem to be focused on standing out from the crowd.

The majority aren’t going to want to stand out from the crowd. The truth is the crowd wants to punish those that behave differently, and a lot of people are focused more on surviving now than on getting their fair due of approval later, after the gains have materialized. Gains like being able to say, “I was an early adopter of the notion that death should be abolished, and I voted for the one party that cared.”

So what I advocate is: be normal and different at the same time. You can follow social norms, try to have many friends, and be polite and generous, but still know the arguments and be able to stand your ground in a debate if the discussions on longevity come up. Or, you could even be the one to raise the topic, if appropriate. There are a plethora of other Platform issues that could come up too. Rights of children, nuclear disarmament, (soft) animal welfare, reasonable minimum timeframes between bill proposal and voting, depoliticizing appointment of Supreme Court justices, and many others could be good to brush up on in our Platform page.

Luckily, one can still be proud of a cause and conform to social norms with relative ease if one is tactful. A very low-risk way to do so this year would be to buy a T-shirt. We have a window of time this election year where we can drive visibility for our movement, and have a low-risk way of being able to say to oneself: “You know what? I *am* proud to be a Transhumanist. It’s not fringe or different to support rationality, ending aging, and smarter governance, and I’m going to take a simple step to show that. If someone asks me about it, I will hold my head high, and maybe I’ll make a new ally.”

Zach Richardson is the Director of Publication for the U.S. Transhumanist Party. Find out more about him here.

15-Day Exposure Period for Platform Vote #9

January 12, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 18 comments

Gennady Stolyarov II

The U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) hereby opens a 15-day public exposure period on various Platform proposals intended to catch up on various developments that have occurred in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. The USTP’s most recent Platform vote occurred during March 25-28, 2020, at the onset of the pandemic, after which an ongoing cascade of the pandemic’s consequences – including secondary, tertiary, and long-term consequences which continue to manifest pervasively in American and global contexts – prevented the organization of another Platform vote until the present time. However, during that time, various external developments, as well as the continuing course of the pandemic, have necessitated certain updates. The USTP is aware that a variety of other proposals have been submitted in the intervening 3.5 years as well, and it is intended that future Platform votes will be organized to address those proposals. The present Platform vote is structured so as to balance the need to make certain updates to keep provisions of the Platform current and relevant with the need to be reasonably concise in order to encourage widespread participation among the USTP Membership.

A vote will be scheduled on some or all of the items below once they have been exposed for at least 15 days. For each item, a 7-day voting period is expected to be opened at the earliest on Saturday, January 27, 2024.

During the exposure period, please post your comments on this thread. If you post comments intended to be considered in voting and/or amending any of these planks in any other electronic medium, please note that you thereby give your consent to have your comments reproduced with attribution or linked within this discussion thread, in order to direct members’ attention and consideration to them.

After the exposure period, a 7-day electronic voting period will occur. Instructions for electronic voting will be sent to members of the U.S. Transhumanist Party via e-mail at that time. All individuals who are members of the U.S. Transhumanist Party as of the end of the exposure period and who have expressed agreement with its three Core Ideals will be eligible to vote thereafter. You can still vote if you become a member during the exposure period, so please apply here if you are interested. During the 7-day electronic voting period, you will still be able to become a member – but you will only be able to vote in subsequent elections, since we seek for voting on any given issue to be done by those members who have had an opportunity to thoroughly consider that issue and be involved in deliberations regarding it.

Electronic voting will be conducted by a ranked-preference method if more than a single option is presented for the wording of a particular plank or segment of a plank. Members will be able to rank-order their preferred selections on each individual Section. The originally proposed text of each Section will be available for selection, as well as any reasonable amendments proposed by any member. Leadership of the U.S. Transhumanist Party reserves the right to edit any proposed amendment for correctness of spelling and grammar. The status-quo option – either “No Section of this sort” or the previous Section wording will also be a choice, depending on whether the Section in question is new or proposed to be revised. Any Section where a majority of votes favors the status-quo option will be not be adopted. Members will also be able to abstain from voting on any given Section.

The ranked-preference method has the advantage of eliminating a “winner-take-all” or “first-past-the-post” mentality and preventing people from being channeled into voting for sub-optimal choices (in their view) just because they fear an even less palatable alternative prevailing. Within the ranked-preference methodology, if no option obtains a clear majority as voters’ first choice, the option having the fewest first-choice votes is eliminated from consideration, and all those who voted for that option will have their votes assigned to their second-choice options. This process of elimination continues until one particular option has a clear majority of votes.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party encourages all members to participate in this process and for other transhumanists to sign up for membership during the exposure period.

Section E9-A. Defeat of COVID as a Priority

Option E9-A-1. Given that the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world and will not end as long as immunity from vaccination or prior infection can be bypassed by subsequent mutated escape variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the United States Transhumanist Party supports concerted scientific and technological efforts to eliminate COVID-19 as a threat to public health. These efforts may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

Ancillary Provision E9-A-i. Development of a universal vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that would work against all possible variants of the virus and would confer lasting immunity.

Ancillary Provision E9-A-ii. Development of harmless variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that would outcompete the existing variants without damaging any human or other animal host.

Ancillary Provision E9-A-iii. Development of antibodies that are capable of neutralizing any variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Ancillary Provision E9-A-iv. Development of reliable cures for all varieties of Long COVID or Post-COVID Syndrome.

Section E9-B. Perception of Artificial Intelligence as an Opportunity

Option E9-B-1. The United States Transhumanist Party supports approaching technologies of artificial intelligence primarily as opportunities rather than as threats. The potential of artificial intelligence, including generative AI, to foster creativity, solve problems, cure diseases, create new opportunities, and facilitate radical abundance far outweighs the risks and dangers of AI. The United States Transhumanist Party recognizes that AI safety and AI alignment are important pursuits to maximize the probability of predominantly beneficial consequences from future AI systems. Furthermore, the United States Transhumanist Party supports restrictions on the ability to use AI systems for intentionally destructive purposes; such restrictions would include a ban on autonomous weapons. However, these efforts should be undertaken in a rational, proportionate, evidence-based manner, avoiding unsubstantiated speculation, alarmist hype, and doomsday pronouncements. Furthermore, the United States Transhumanist Party opposes any efforts to restrict individual liberty or initiate physically aggressive action against other individuals or countries in the name of stopping allegedly dangerous AI development.

Section E9-C. Reversible Cryopreservation Techniques

Option E9-C-1. [Based on Proposal by Vladimir Shakirov] Recognizing that the achievement of reversible cryopreservation techniques could enable the realization of individuals’ right to life (brutally violated by so-called “natural” death) by waiting until future technologies could bring a cryopreserved patient out of the cryopreserved state and achieve cures for diseases and aging, the United States Transhumanist Party emphasizes the urgency of advancing reversible cryopreservation research. Therefore, the United States Transhumanist Party supports the allocation of an annual funding package of $10 billion for reversible cryopreservation research. This funding shall be expeditiously directed to esteemed research institutions with a proven track record of focusing on the development and implementation of reversible cryopreservation techniques.

Section E9-D. Public Money for Public Code

Option E9-D-1. [Based on Proposal by Martin van der Kroon] The United States Transhumanist Party supports the implementation of the ‘Public Money for Public Code’ concept, which holds that public money should, where reasonably possible, come to benefit the public first and foremost, and secondarily might also benefit other parties as well.

Section E9-E. Privacy on Social Media

Option E9-E-1. [Based on Proposal by Martin van der Kroon] The United States Transhumanist Party supports efforts for social media to improve privacy settings, in granularity, usability, as well as awareness of such privacy features, for users. Better control of privacy can minimize the scraping of information, including information that can be used for identifying targets by malicious actors, from websites.

Section E9-F. Restraint of Government Agencies’ Efforts to Undermine Private Businesses’ Security Measures

Option E9-F-1. [Based on Proposal by Martin van der Kroon] The United States Transhumanist Party supports efforts to restrain government agencies from efforts to limit, oppose, or undermine security initiatives by companies and businesses. Although their motives might be pure, to uncover criminal activity for example, such efforts can in the process undermine security on a much larger scale. If government agencies can have access, so can malicious actors.

Section E9-G. Security Whistleblower Program

Option E9-G-1. [Based on Proposal by Martin van der Kroon] The US Transhumanist Party supports efforts to create a security whistleblower initiative where a whistleblower can report known security issues that are not being addressed by a company or government institution. This could also aid the whistleblower in the event that they would suffer negative consequences by their employer for addressing security issues.

Proposed Amendments to Existing Sections

Members will be given the option to either retain existing language of a plank or to adopt any of the listed proposed amendments. Ranked-preference voting will be conducted for any Section for which more than one amendment has been proposed. Members will also be able to abstain from each vote.

New language in each amendment is stated in bold, italic blue text. Language proposed to be deleted is stated in red strikethrough text.

1. Amendment to Section XXVII to Align with U.S. Transhumanist Party Support for Ranked-Preference Voting

Current Version of Section XXVII. The United States Transhumanist Party advocates Constitutional reform to abolish the Electoral College in the United States Presidential elections and render the plurality of the popular vote the sole criterion for the election of President.

Amendment XXVII-1. The United States Transhumanist Party advocates Constitutional reform to abolish the Electoral College in the United States Presidential elections and render ~~the plurality of the popular vote the sole criterion for the election of President~~ the criterion for the election of President to be an outcome of the popular vote decided by ranked-preference voting or a similar mechanism that allows voters to select multiple options in a manner that more completely expresses their views.

2. Amendment to Section XXXVI to Provide Exceptions to Taxation for Basic Necessities

Amendment XXXVI-1. The United States Transhumanist Party supports the elimination of graduated taxation and income taxation more generally. Instead, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates a flat percentage-of-sales tax applicable only to purchases from businesses whose combined nationwide revenues from all affiliates exceed a specified threshold. This tax should be built into the price of goods from such large businesses and should not impede transaction efficiency in any manner. This tax would not be imposed on life necessities, defined as goods that are consumable in the near term and whose primary purpose is to facilitate human survival. Transactions pertaining to wages, salaries, gifts, donations, barter, employee benefits, and inheritances should remain completely untaxed, as should transactions involving solely individuals and/or small businesses, for whom the establishment of a tax-reporting infrastructure would be onerous. Furthermore, all taxes on land and property should be abolished.

3. Amendment to Section LXXIX to Update the Discussion of the Status of Right-to-Try Legislation

Current Version of Section LXXIX: The United States Transhumanist Party supports repealing the current requirement in the United States that drugs or treatments may not be used, even on willing patients, unless approval for such drugs or treatments is received from the Food and Drug Administration. Such requirements are a profound violation of patient sovereignty; a person who is terminally ill is unable to choose to take a risk on an unapproved drug or treatment unless this person is fortunate enough to participate in a clinical trial. Even then, once the clinical trial ends, the treatment must be discontinued, even if it was actually successful at prolonging the person’s life. This is not only profoundly tragic, but morally unconscionable as well. The most critical reform needed is to allow unapproved drugs and treatments to be marketed and consumed. If the FDA wishes to strongly differentiate between approved and unapproved treatments, then a strongly worded warning label could be required for unapproved treatments, and patients could even be required to sign a consent form stating that they have been informed of the risks of an unapproved treatment. This reform to directly extend many lives and to redress a moral travesty should be the top political priority of advocates of indefinite life extension. Over the coming decades, its effect will be to allow cutting-edge treatments to reach a market sooner and thus to enable data about those treatments’ effects to be gathered more quickly and reliably. Because many treatments take 10-15 years to receive FDA approval, this reform could by itself speed up the real-world advent of indefinite life extension by over a decade.

Amendment LXXIX-1. The United States Transhumanist Party supports repealing the current requirement in the United States that, in most cases, drugs or treatments may not be used, even on willing patients, unless approval for such drugs or treatments is received from the Food and Drug Administration. Such requirements are a profound violation of patient sovereignty; a person who is terminally ill is often unable to choose to take a risk on an unapproved drug or treatment unless this person is fortunate enough to participate in a clinical trial. Even then, once the clinical trial ends, the treatment must be is often discontinued, even if it was actually successful at prolonging the person’s life. While the Federal Right-to-Try Act of 2017 and various State-level Right-to-Try Acts have been steps in the right direction, they have seldom been utilized, because of various other regulatory barriers, as well as drug manufacturers’ reluctance to expose themselves to liability and regulatory risk. This is not only profoundly tragic, but morally unconscionable as well. The most critical reform needed is to allow unapproved drugs and treatments to be marketed and consumed. Every effort should be made to allow and encourage the manufacturers and providers of experimental medicines and medical treatments to make them available to willing patients with proper disclosure and informed consent, accompanied by protections against liability and adverse regulatory actions. Currently, most Right-to-Try Acts are limited to terminally ill patients, and should be expanded to model Montana’s Right-to-Try Act and the Best Choice Medicine concept to make the choice to pursue experimental drugs and treatments, including gene therapies, available to all patients. If the FDA wishes to strongly differentiate between approved and unapproved treatments, then a strongly worded warning label could be required for unapproved treatments, and patients could even be required to sign a consent form stating that they have been informed of the risks of an unapproved treatment. This reform to directly extend many lives and to redress a moral travesty should be the top political priority of advocates of indefinite life extension. Over the coming decades, its effect will be to allow cutting-edge treatments to reach a market sooner and thus to enable data about those treatments’ effects to be gathered more quickly and reliably. Because many treatments take 10-15 years to receive FDA approval, this reform could by itself speed up the real-world advent of indefinite life extension by over a decade.

4. Amendment to Section XCIX to Revise Proposal for COVID Universal Basic Income to a Proposal to Indefinitely Cover all Costs of COVID Treatments and Vaccinations

Current Version of Section XCIX: The United States Transhumanist Party supports for an immediate, universal, unconditional basic income of at least $1000 per month to be provided to every United States citizen for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its immediate aftermath, without regard for individuals’ means or other sources of income. The priority for this program should be to prevent massive and irreparable economic disruptions to the lives of Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Amendment XCIX-1: The United States Transhumanist Party supports for n immediate, universal, unconditional basic income of at least $1000 per month to be provided to every United States citizen for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak and its immediate aftermath, without regard for individuals’ means or other sources of income. advocates for all American residents to continue to receive free health care for the disease of COVID-19, including free testing, vaccination, antiviral medications, and any other services involved in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. The priority for this program should be to prevent massive and irreparable economic and health disruptions to the lives of Americans in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic. Requiring consumers and patients to pay for COVID-related care would increase the number of people who refuse to obtain vaccination or treatment for purely financial reasons, thus amplifying the difficulty of ever defeating COVID-19 – an endeavor that is aided by maximizing the amount of immunity and available health care for the population.

5. Amendment to Section CI to Update the Discussion of Pandemic-Related Travel Delays

Current Version of Section CI: In recognition that the recent screening bottlenecks at United States airports create situations of unacceptable crowding which further contribute to the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for immediate admittance through security checkpoints of the vast majority of travelers currently waiting at airports in the United States. Such travelers may be required to subsequently undergo health screenings at other facilities within the United States within a certain period of time, as long as such screenings do not involuntarily place the individuals being screened in close physical proximity to one another.

Amendment CI-1: In recognition that the recent screening bottlenecks unprecedented and prolonged patterns of flight delays and cancellations at United States airports create situations of unacceptable crowding which further contribute to the spread of detriments to quality of life and mobility to American passengers and were due directly to the supply-chain disruptions, aircraft shortages, labor shortages, and poor decisions by major airlines to cut staff in the wake of the COVID-19 epidemic, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for immediate admittance through security checkpoints of the vast majority of travelers currently waiting at airports in the United States. Such travelers may be required to subsequently undergo health screenings at other facilities within the United States within a certain period of time, as long as such screenings do not involuntarily place the individuals being screened in close physical proximity to one another. measures to enable airlines which reduced aircraft counts and dismissed staff during the COVID-19 epidemic to purchase or construct sufficient aircraft to replace the reduced capacity, to actively utilize such aircraft and restore prior routes, and to offer to re-hire all staff members who were dismissed as a result of prior responses to the epidemic. In the event that specific individual former staff members do not wish to return to their previous positions, they should be replaced with others who are willing to take on those roles for appropriate compensation and benefits. Sufficient incentives should be offered to airlines to allow pre-COVID flight, maintenance, and staffing levels to continue indefinitely.

6. Amendment to Section CII to Update the Discussion of Recalling United States Overseas Military Personnel

Current Version of Section CII: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the recall of all United States military personnel from overseas stations as soon as possible and their deployment for the purpose of rapid hospital construction in the United States, as well as for providing rapid emergency aid and essential infrastructure improvements. Continued military presence abroad only unnecessarily exposes American troops to the risk of infection, while the expertise of American military personnel in crisis response is urgently needed within American borders.

Amendment CII-1: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the recall of all as many United States military personnel from overseas stations as soon as reasonably possible, with the exception of those specifically needed to defend American assets and American citizens and to carry out specific and limited previously agreed-upon treaty obligations, and their deployment for the purpose of rapid hospital construction in the United States, as well as for providing rapid emergency aid and essential infrastructure improvements. Continued military presence abroad only unnecessarily exposes American troops to the risk of infection, while the expertise of American military personnel in crisis response is urgently needed within American borders. improving domestic defense, infrastructure, and crisis response in providing peaceful assistance to the civilian population in times of major disruptions to everyday life.

7. Amendment to Section CIII to Emphasize the Need to Support Lasting Cures and Vaccines for COVID-19

Current Version of Section CIII: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the rapid research into effective cures and vaccines for COVID-19 and the harnessing of synergies from this research to also develop a cure for the common cold and more effective vaccination against influenza. Such research should proceed with no barriers, subject to the researchers’ expression of ethical intentions, and any regulations or processes that would delay the progress of such research should be immediately waived or repealed. In the effort to accelerate progress in this field, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for an immediate $100 billion funding package for the rapid development of a COVID-19 vaccine, with all volunteers being accepted into human trials as soon as practicable. The United States Transhumanist Party advocates for government funding and ownership of any cure for COVID-19, to be distributed free of charge to those infected with the virus.

Amendment CIII-1: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the rapid research into effective lasting cures and vaccines for COVID-19, such as antibodies that respond to all variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and vaccines that permanently protect against all such variants, and the harnessing of synergies from this research to also develop a cure for the common cold and more effective vaccination against influenza. Such research should proceed with no barriers, subject to the researchers’ expression of ethical intentions, and any regulations or processes that would delay the progress of such research should be immediately waived or repealed. In the effort to accelerate progress in this field, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for an immediate $100 billion funding package for the rapid development of a universal COVID-19 vaccine that would be permanently effective against all variants, with all volunteers being accepted into human trials as soon as practicable. The United States Transhumanist Party advocates for government funding and ownership release into the public domain of any cure or future vaccine for COVID-19, to be distributed free of charge to those infected with the virus and to all who wish to prevent such infection.

8. Amendment to Section CIV to Generalize the USTP’s Support for an Annual $100 Billion Funding Package for Anti-Aging Research

Current Version of Section CIV: Because biological aging is the number-one risk factor for mortality and severe complications from COVID-19 infections, as well as infections of virtually every sort, the United States Transhumanist Party emphasizes the importance of reversing biological aging as rapidly as possible and thereby protecting more lives from future pandemics. Accordingly, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for a permanent, annual $100 billion funding package for anti-aging research, to be immediately distributed to leading research organizations in the field which have in the past specifically identified the defeat and reversal of biological aging as their goals.

Amendment CIV-1 [Proposal by Vladimir Shakirov]: Because biological aging is the number-one risk factor for mortality and disabilities in elderly people, and for severe complications from COVID-19 infections, as well as infections of virtually every sort, and thus brutally violates the fundamental rights of people to life and health, the United States Transhumanist Party emphasizes the importance of reversing biological aging as rapidly as possible and thereby protecting more lives, including from future pandemics. Accordingly, the United States Transhumanist Party advocates for a permanent, annual $100 billion funding package for anti-aging research, to be immediately distributed to leading research organizations in the field which have in the past specifically identified the defeat and reversal of biological aging as their goals.

9. Amendment to Section CX to Reflect Success of USTP’s Recommendation for the Distribution of Diagnostic Test Kits and the Need to Maintain Robust Data on the COVID Pandemic

Current Version of Section CX: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the immediate deployment of as many COVID-19 diagnostic tests as possible to the general population, with the aim of achieving universal testing of every American, even those without symptoms, free of charge. Universal testing is necessary to understand the true prevalence of COVID-19 infections and the proportion of serious cases and fatalities relative to actual total cases, not merely reported cases. This would enable a true understanding of the extent of the epidemic’s spread as well as how the rates of serious complications and death compare to the common cold and influenza. The United States Transhumanist Party supports generous aid to both private and governmental research teams working in parallel on developing effective testing kits and approaches, particularly those which do not require large numbers of people to congregate.

Amendment CX-1: The United States Transhumanist Party supports the immediate ongoing, continuous, and indefinite deployment of as many COVID-19 diagnostic tests as possible to the general population, with the aim of achieving universal testing of every American, even those without symptoms, free of charge. Universal testing is necessary to understand the true prevalence of COVID-19 infections and the proportion of serious cases and fatalities relative to actual total cases, not merely reported cases. This would enable a true understanding of the extent of the epidemic’s spread as well as how the rates of serious complications and death compare to the common cold and influenza. The United States Transhumanist Party supports generous aid to both private and governmental research teams working in parallel on developing effective testing kits and approaches, particularly those which do not require large numbers of people to congregate manufacturers of effective diagnostic tests for COVID-19 that can recognize emerging variants, such that those tests could be manufactured in sufficient quantity to provide a test to every American who wants one.

The United States Transhumanist Party also advocates achieved success in advocating for COVID-19 testing kits to be developed that could result in tests being self-administered by individuals in their own homes and then mailed to laboratories for evaluation. This would minimize has reduced the physical contact of individuals being tested with medical practitioners and other patients. However, the United States Transhumanist Party expresses concern regarding significant lack of data about the ongoing prevalence of COVID-19 within communities in the United States. Such data, which used to be tracked rigorously and published regularly, have now become sparse and have failed to capture all sources of COVID-19 infection. In order to be able to track the spread of new variants of the virus, authorities need to return to the level of data collection and publication that existed during the early pandemic in 2020.

BDYXHAX – An Interview with Russ Foxx by R. Nicholas Starr

January 12, 2024 R. Nicholas Starr Comments 0 Comment

R. Nicholas Starr
Russ Foxx

Editor’s Note: The event of the website which hosted this article, BDYHAX, is no longer taking place, and this article is being saved due to the risk their website may soon be taken down. Wikipedia basically describes body hacking as transhumanism with high risk-tolerance, but it is my hope as technology progresses those risks will become negligible, and the variety in form we see with our physical manifestations will be limited more by imagination than anything else.

~ Zach Richardson, Director of Publication, United States Transhumanist Party, January 11, 2024

An Interview with BDYHAX Presenter Russ Foxx

Art gives birth to scientific innovation.

In an effort to learn more about the historical origins of transhumanism and posthumanism, R. Nicholas Starr began a journey to look at the many topics popular within those communities and retraced them back to art. To continue the research he began to reach out to the artists and scientists at the forefront of exploring this relationship. While he continues to prepare his research for publication, he has decided to release the transcripts from these interviews in hopes to spark conversation and gather even more insight into how the creative mind has shaped our scientific world as we move past the limits of the human body.

R. Nicholas Starr is a multimedia artist, biohacker, researcher, and theorist. With an education in signals intelligence from the United States Air Force, and 20 years of experience creating art and performing music in the US and abroad, he has become a unique voice for the US Transhumanist Movement and American policy.

The first in this series is an interview with Russ Foxx, world-renowned body-modification and suspension artist, and fellow cyborg.

R. Nicholas Starr: When a client comes to you looking for a “body hack”, do they usually have a specific function/task in mind, or are they just exploring the possibilities?

Russ Foxx: My clients generally have a solid idea of what they want to accomplish prior to contacting me. I don’t push my own ideas on people; rather I’m a catalyst in helping people upgrade themselves to fit their desires. I’ll certainly advise if I feel that an individual may benefit from a certain type of modification in their situation, but people usually do their homework. That’s how they find me to begin with.

RNS: Have you noticed a specific trend in what people want?

RF: In terms of functional implants and human-mountable devices, I commonly work with Magnetic Vision, RFID, NFC, North Sense and Transdermal Implants. I’ve also worked with the North Star V1.0 and the Firefly V1.0.

Social media certainly plays a role in what’s popular at any given time, which gives me the opportunity to roll out new mods and ideas as I see fit. I’m currently waiting on a few different implantable devices that are in the works, so you’ll hear about them when they hit my feeds!

RNS: How much of an inspiration do you think science fiction has been for biohacking and transhumanism?

RF: Science fiction has been huge for me. Having grown up rural; Sci-Fi and horror films and literature during childhood definitely shaped my ideas from a young age. I still find inspiration from them to this day.

RNS: Do you think approaching biohacking in a more artful way, like your tattoos incorporated with the Northstar implant, will help spread the idea?

RF: Unless I’m telling a story via stage performance, I’m not really trying to “spread the idea” per se. I choose to look how I want to look and upgrade what I want to upgrade. I don’t hide my mods, so they tend to be seen a lot on the street and online.

I’ve always been a fan of mixed mediums in art, which is why I incorporated my North Star V1.0 implant into my biomech chest tattoo work. This creates a complimentary coexistence of art and technology in my body; reminiscent of Iron Man’s Arc Reactor.

RNS: What was your first cyborg influence?

RF: Outside of film, Stelarc was certainly one of my first cyborg influences. His views on the obsolete body always resonated in me and inspired me to look at my own body in a similar way. His ear-in-arm project continues to move forward, which actually brought some inspiration to a project I’m currently working on involving sound transmission in my own body. I’ve been 100% deaf in my left ear for most of my life and decided to start working on ways to increase my sound input capability using my own devices rather than limited ability hearing aids currently on the market.

RNS: A small collection of bioartists using live tissue to create art (for example Catts & Zurr’s living leather jacket). As a body artist, how could you use that technology?

RF: I really like their concept of creating victimless leather, although the current state of this experiment is unknown.

Skin grafting using stem cells has been existent in the medical field for quite some time now, which is a relative idea with functional applications in the body. It hasn’t yet been seen entering into the body modification realm, but I don’t doubt its arrival into the picture someday. It’s usually the high costs that hold back a lot of medical technology from the reach of artists.

RNS: As someone who performs with body modification, namely suspension, do you see a possibility for a functional biohacking-driven mod performance? If so, what would it look like and what would be the message? If not, why not?

RF: Stage performance has always been a means to push the limits and boundaries of my body and mind. My past performances have been very primal and visceral, often inspiring buildups of tension and suspense and sometimes even crowd members fainting.

I’ve taken some time off from performing in the last couple years to focus on my modification work, but I plan to be back on the stage soon. Moving forward I see myself putting focus on interactions between technology and biology in ways to challenge our current ideas and relationships with technology.

Keep an eye on my website and YouTube channel for updates!

RNS: In movies and comics we see huge amounts of tech crammed into a person. How much can one body support when it comes to functional implants?

RF: When it comes to implanted technology there will always be limitations in terms of implant size and functionality. Space must be created in the body where the implant is intended to go, while preserving the body’s ability to naturally function and heal. This often requires adapting one’s lifestyle to an extent.

I currently have 4 implants in my left hand alone (3 functional & 1 cosmetic). The functional implants (Magnetic Vision, RFID, NFC) are quite small and placed in locations that will not hinder everyday activities.

Keeping the implantable devices small will make them more easily accepted by the body. This supports the human body as having a vast amount of upgrade capabilities.

RNS: Through dermal piercings, would it be possible to expand current biohacking technology (biofeedback interfacing, extrasensory beyond magnets, interchangeable hardware)?

RF: Transdermal implants and dermal anchors can certainly be used as hardwired interfaces/ports to devices within the body. This idea does not work without consequence though, as it creates an access point for bacteria to enter the body even after much time has passed. As this method increases infection risks, it’s generally seen as less than ideal. Bluetooth connectivity and induction charging are proving to be more solid options in this area.

RNS: How can biohackers, as a small but expanding community, take transhumanism towards a nationally influential movement?

RF: Stay focused on personal safety and the safety and well-being of the public just as much as the progression and pioneering of new ideas. Support open-source information and resource sharing. Collaborate with others. Utilize maker spaces and support events like BDYHAX and BMXNET. Challenge yourself to think outside the box and reprogram your own mind and the world around you. Allow yourself to evolve and adapt with the times and state of the world around you. Share the love.

Interview with Stephanie Planque from Covalent Bioscience by Ariel VA Feinerman

January 6, 2024 Ariel VA Feinerman Comments 0 Comment

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Ariel VA Feinerman
Stephanie Planque

Dr. Stephanie Planque

This interview was originally published here.

Preface

What is ageing? We can define ageing as a process of accumulation of the damage which is just a side-effect of normal metabolism. While researchers still poorly understand how metabolic processes cause damage accumulation, and how accumulated damage causes pathology, the damage itself — the structural difference between old tissue and young tissue — is categorized and understood pretty well. By repairing damage and restoring the previous undamaged — young — state of an organism, we can really rejuvenate it! It sounds very promising, and so it is. And for some types of damage (for example, for senescent cells) it is already proved to work!

Today in our virtual studio, somewhere between cold, rainy Saint-Petersburg and warm, sunny Houston, we meet Stephanie Planque! For those of you who are not familiar with her, here is a brief introduction.

Stephanie Planque was awarded the PhD in 2009 by the University of Texas-Houston Medical School for her advances in applying electrophilic analogs of proteins to decipher the beneficial and harmful functional effects of catabodies. She then expanded her focus to vaccination and therapeutic catabody identification using proprietary electrophilic target analogs. Her work was published in 49 peer-reviewed scientific articles; she has numerous national/international conference presentations. She moved fulltime as a co-founder to Covalent Bioscience in 2018 to focus on rapidly translating their electrophilic vaccine/catabody technologies to clinical reality.

Note: If you have not read Ending Aging yet, I suggest you to do it as soon as possible, and to be more comfortable with the ideas we are discussing below I highly recommend you to read the short introduction to SENS research on their web page. Also if you are interested in recent news and up-to-date reviews about [anti]ageing and rejuvenation research, the best place to look for is the Fight Aging! blog. Finally, if you are an investor or just curious, I highly encourage you to take a look at Jim Mellon’s book Juvenescence.

Interview

Ariel Feinerman: Hello, Dr Stephanie Planque!

Stephanie Planque: Hi, Mr Feinerman! Happy to participate in this interview.

Ariel Feinerman: What is the brief history of Covalent Bioscience?

Stephanie Planque: Covalent Bioscience was incorporated in 2010 by Dr Sudhir Paul and Dr Richard Massey based on catalytic antibody technology and several exciting potential products for unmet medical needs. The technology and potential products were developed in Dr Sudhir Paul’s group at the University of Texas (UT). Dr Richard Massey and Dr Sudhir Paul have worked together on the field of catalytic antibody (or catabody) when Dr Massey was in Igen in the late 80’s. I have worked with Dr Paul since 1999 and am one of the co-founders of Covalent Bioscience. We, the founders of Covalent Bioscience, share the same conviction that our platform technology holds the potential to generate superior immunotherapeutic drug and vaccines.

Today, Covalent Bioscience has grown to a preclinical stage company holding significant assets. Our broad technology platform can be applied to generate novel lead products for unmet needs across multiple areas of medicine. We have three promising lead products for diseases that proved very difficult to treat and prevent by conventional means. Two of them are catabodies for treating age-associated diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and transthyretin amyloidosis. The products are expected to remove toxic aggregates that cause diseases in a more efficient and safe manner than conventional antibodies. In 2018, Dr Paul and I moved full time to Covalent Bioscience. Our lab is located at the skirt of the Houston Medical Center, biggest Medical Center in the World. In 2020, Covalent Bioscience received from The University of Texas the commercial rights to all inventions and research materials/tools Paul’s team generated there. With our current funding, we are generating new catabodies and working in collaboration with a Pharma company to advance one of our lead products closer to human trials.

Ariel Feinerman: What is the main focus of your research?

Stephanie Planque: Our main focus is, first, to optimize our an on-demand toolbox that enables generation of therapeutic catabodies and diagnostic irreversible antibodies with selectivity for virtually any protein target. Second, we want to accomplish preclinical milestones related to our anti-aging lead catabodies, Alzyme and Tauzyme for clearing brain amyloid proteins in Alzheimer’s disease, and Cardizyme for clearing heart and spinal cord amyloid caused by the transthyretin protein.

Ariel Feinerman: What is the basis of your technology?

Stephanie Planque: Our technology is based on using special chemically modified analogs of the target to isolate or generate catabodies, which modify permanently the target via enzymatic reaction or irreversible antibodies (IrAbs), which bind permanently to the target. These chemically modified target analogs can be used as probes to isolate catabodies or IrAbs from antibody libraries or as electrophilic vaccines (E-Vaccines) to induce a polyclonal catabodies and IrAb response.

The chemical modification consists in attaching electrophilic moieties on the surface of the target to fulfill two important goals. First, we want target-specific catabodies or IrAbs. The polypeptidic component of the target binds non-covalently to target-specific antibody displayed on surface of phage or B cells (B cell receptor, or BCRs). Second, the electrophilic moiety is a bait and is designed to mimic the natural weak electrophilic carbonyl present in the target and to form a non-hydrolyzable (or covalent) bond with the nucleophilic active site (negatively charged) of a catabody or IrAbs expressed on the B-cell surface as BCRs or expressed on phage display. This covalent bond traps the immune complex and prevents the hydrolysis step. However, when switching to the native target, the selected or induced catabodies will be capable to attack the natural weakly electrophilic carbonyl naturally present in the native target and hydrolyze the target.

Ariel Feinerman: Can you tell more how catabodies work? What are their unique properties? Which ageing pathology can you treat with them?

Stephanie Planque: The conventional antibodies are used as therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Their mechanism of action relies on binding specifically to the target. One molecule of antibody binds one target molecule. In contrast, one catabody can modify and destroy multiple target molecules and therefore is a therapeutic agent that is more efficient at removing toxic targets.

Conventional antibodies have the intrinsic limitation of dissociating from the target, the binding is reversible. In contrast, IrAbs bind any target covalently and therefore are diagnostic agents that are more efficient at detecting the target.

Covalent has developed two first-in-class lead catabody products for age-associated major unmet needs: Alzyme, for clearing amyloid β plaques from the brain for treating Alzheimer’s disease, and Cardizyme, for clearing transthyretin amyloid plaques from the spinal cord and heart for treating systemic amyloid disease. Two conventional antibodies to Aβ have been approved by FDA for Alzheimer’s disease to remove Aβ and improve cognition. They both are accompanied with inflammation in the brain caused by the antibody~Aβ immune complex activated microglia that can cause major adverse effects (edema, microbleeds, and death). In mice, Alzyme removed Aβ amyloid without causing inflammation. Aβ-binding antibodies are fundamentally flawed drugs for Alzheimer’s because they rely on brain-damaging inflammatory mechanism to remove amyloid. In contrast, catabodies remove disease-causing amyloids without inflammation.

Ariel Feinerman: We know that Aβ is not the full story. There is Tau, chronic inflammation, lipofuscin.

Stephanie Planque: To be used in combination with Alzyme, we are developing a prototype catabody to misfolded Tau, another misfolded protein that plays a role in Alzheimer’s disease but also other taupathy.

Our technology can induce catabodies or IrAb to any targets. Hence, in addition to developing a catabody for any extracellular or intracellular amyloids, catabodies could be generated to dissolve lipofuscin accumulating during aging or to destroy any protein regulating cell loss, tissue atrophy, inflammation, or cancerous cells, and this could further help in fighting aging.

Ariel Feinerman: What is an E-Vaccine? How do they work? How do they differ from original vaccines?

Stephanie Planque: We use the term “electrophilic vaccine” or “E-Vaccine” because the vaccine is composed of the target modified to present an electrophilic moiety on its surface. The goal of an E-vaccine is to teach our body to make catabodies or IrAbs and that will protect the vaccinated individual when exposed to the toxic substance or microbes.

E-vaccines are shown to stimulate the body’s own immune system to produce protective catabodies and IrAbs to protein targets involved in infectious disease and accelerated aging. As the catabodies and IrAbs show protective activity superior to the ordinary vaccine-induced rAbs, E-vaccines are predicted to show superior efficacy in disease prevention. Further, the E-vaccine targeting range is also superior to ordinary vaccines — they can target the functionally important regions of the protein target hidden to ordinary vaccines. The E-vaccine technology holds special promise for effective prevention of infections caused by mutable microbes (such as HIV infection, the SARS-coronavirus-2 infection). The technology can also be adapted to develop longevity vaccines. This is supported by induction of catabodies and IrAbs in mice with a prototype electrophilic amyloid β peptides for protecting against Alzheimer’s disease. Covalent Bioscience also considers electrophilic misfolded transthyretin analogs to protect against transthyretin amyloidosis.

The principle and benefits of E-vaccines come from our lead product, HIV E-Vaccine. Our HIV E-vaccine is composed of HIV coat protein gp120 with electrophilic moiety on the Lys side chain. It was shown to induce catabodies and IrAbs that neutralize genetically diverse HIV strains in mice, rabbits, and non-human primates. It also induces an efficient IgM-IgG switch, of a B cell with specificity for a conserved but poorly immunogenic epitopes of gp120. Covalent Bioscience intends to bring the vaccine to the human-trials stage.

Ariel Feinerman: What products are you hoping to bring to market? What is your commercialization route?

Stephanie Planque: We plan to bring to market our Alzyme for clearing brain amyloid protein in Alzheimer’s disease alone or in combination with Tauzyme. We also plan to move forward Cardizyme for clearing heart and spinal cord amyloid caused by the transthyretin protein.

Covalent’s lead anti-amyloid catabodies are the best solution because they permanently and directly destroy thousands of targeted amyloid copies (Aβ, tau or TTR) without inflammation or blood vessel damage. In contrast, competing drug candidates: (a) work reversibly on a 1:1 basis, (b) require inflammatory cell participation for amyloid removal, © can cause inflammation and vascular damage that nullify the amyloid removal benefit, or (d) can interfere with normal bodily processes requiring the properly folded, non-amyloid version of the protein target.

We seek investment, partnership and licensing arrangements to develop our products and validate the commercial value of our technologies.

Ariel Feinerman: When can we see your therapies in human clinical trials?

Stephanie Planque: We are completing some preclinical efficacy studies for Alzyme in animals. Considering the need for GMP-grade production of Alzyme and submission of an IND to FDA, human trials for Alzyme would be within 2–3 years. A similar timeline is expected for Cardizyme. Tauzyme requires additional preclinical testing and would reach human trials within 4 years. We are actively seeking funding and a partner that would allow us to more rapidly have these three products to reach human trials.

Ariel Feinerman: How are you funded?

Stephanie Planque: The technology was developed at the University of Nebraska and University of Texas using funds received from NIH and other non-profit organizations (The Richard J. Massey Foundation for Arts and Sciences, Abzyme Research Foundation, SENS Research Foundation), investment from Founders and Angel investors. Angel investors constitute our current funding source. Covalent invites a USD 4.5 million investment in exchange for equity to advance commercialization of these inter-related parts of its business plan over 18 months for developing our on-demand toolbox and our anti-aging lead catabodies.

Ariel Feinerman: How much money do you need to bring your therapies to the clinic?

Stephanie Planque: The funding will underwrite the milestones of manufacturing, animal toxicity profiles, and Phase 1 human trials of the catabodies. Covalent will need about $4.6M to complete final Alzyme preclinical milestones and Phase 1 trials in Alzheimer patients; about $4.7M to complete molecular and animal optimization of Tauzyme and advance the Tauzyme catabody in combination with Alzyme in Alzheimer patients; about $6M to test Cardizyme in patients with heart disease or lumbar spinal stenosis.

Ariel Feinerman: Thank you very much for your interview!

Stephanie Planque: Thank you for your interest in Covalent Bioscience.

Research Against Aging in Africa: Necessity or Contingency? – Article by Siba Tcha-Mouza

January 5, 2024 Siba Tcha-Mouza Comments 6 comments

Siba Tcha-Mouza

“Longevism, ageism and aging: African issues and perspectives on longevity,” was the theme of the African International Bioethics Forum (FAIB) organized by the Institut Africain de Bioéthique (IAB) at the University of Dschang in Cameroon from December 6-8, 2023. My presentation at this international forum was entitled as follows: “Research against aging in Africa: necessity or contingency?“. Below is an article that shares ideas relating to this aforementioned theme.

With a much lower median age (18.7 years – Source: AfriqueRenouveau, “La jeunesse africaine renouvelle son engagement envers les ODD“, December 23, 2021) than that of its neighbors, notably Asia (31.9 years – Source: Database.Earth, “Median Age of Asia“), the United States of America (38.1 years – Source: Worldometer, “United States Population (LIVE)“), and the European Union (44.4 years – Source: Eurostat – “Half of EU’s population older than 44.4 years in 2022“), Africa has been often considered as a continent full of youth, and therefore with a promising future. However, this asset which has long remained unvalued, or even become a source of other problems, is not a lasting asset. Africa, also being a beneficiary, to a certain extent, of the advantages related to technological progress, is also not immune to its consequences, including the aging of its population in an already very problematic context.

1. Does Africa remain an eternally young continent?

Thanks in particular to hygiene, therefore to the improvement of living conditions and medical advances, life expectancy in Africa has so far been growing rapidly. Life expectancy thus increased on average by ten (10) years between 2000 and 2019. (“L’espérance de vie s’allonge de près de dix ans en Afrique (OMS)“. The United Nations Office at Geneva. August 4, 2022.)

According to a new report from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the number of people aged 65 or over in Africa has increased from 3.5% (around 8 million) in 1950 to 4% (approximately 50.3 million) in 2017. Estimates suggest that this figure could increase to 173.6 million by 2050. (“Fourth Africa regional review on Madrid International Plan of Action calls for dignified ageing for all“. ECA. July 14, 2022.) The Total Fertility Rate (TFR), the average number of living children per woman, which represents 4.2 in 2022, will be reduced to 2.9 in 2050. (“L’Afrique face au vieillissement annoncé de sa population“. AFD – Agence française de développement.)

The growing number of elderly people, on the one hand, and the fall in the TFR, on the other, are significantly changing the demographic landscape of Africa. The latter, thus aging, will still have to face the challenges linked to its very fragile social security system which will still be severely tested. Added to this situation is the progressive decline of traditional African solidarity due to several other factors.

It must be recognized that the phenomenon of aging, or better, provocatively, “the pandemic of aging”, does not spare this euphoric Africa of the myth of youth and perfect and permanent solidarity.

2. Fight against aging: necessity and meaning

Is human suffering, particularly from degenerative diseases, ethically acceptable?

Every human being certainly ages. We are not born old, but we become old. While the elderly have youth behind them, the young have old age ahead of them. It is therefore, from experience, a matter of time. Aging is a problem that concerns all of humanity without distinction.

Thanks to the evolving mastery of technology, human beings have continued to transform their environment and even explore the universe. They therefore fight tirelessly against attacks on their health.

However, faced with certain phenomena such as aging, they seem caught in total resignation, while through their symbolism they express wishes for permanent physical, psychological and social well-being, and therefore eternal youth.

However, in recent decades, everything has changed. The collective confession of deep individual aspirations manifests itself even through social institutions or collective projects. Indeed, the principles set out in the Preamble to the Constitution of the WHO (World Health Organization) are undoubtedly a perfect illustration of this. Its definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” already announces the need to seek to preserve humans from the decline of biological and psychological functions, including, of course, the effects of aging. From this definition, no age group has been excluded, and no form of human suffering is considered legitimate.

Furthermore, WHO defines public health as “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts of society.” (“Public Health“. Tilburg University.) This clearly confirms the absolute necessity of achieving control over aging and its symptoms in order to ensure human well-being through progress. It is then an increase or improvement in the mental and physical capacity or vitality of humans. In short, unless it is suicidal, all of humanity, even through its institutions, proves to be longevist, and even de facto transhumanist. The veritable human nature is this permanent disposition to improve one’s own nature.

Today, the fourth technological revolution generously provides human beings with new tools to improve themselves and their environment. These allow them to intervene with better precision in the infinitely small and to explore the infinitely large. The machine is endowed with capacities supposedly exclusive to humans: the senses and intelligence are added to automatism. Thus, human beings make great strides towards their objectives as they succeed in forcing nature to reveal its intimate secrets to them.

So, the human being, god of the “seeing, hearing, feeling, thinking and acting machine” sees himself improved by his creature and decides to face his physical and psychological decline by opening possibilities for “eternal youth”. Would he willingly accept to surrender to the vagaries of time, while the technical means to control them or reduce their effects are emerging?

Behind the fight against aging is the understanding of its mechanism, the mastery of the biological laws that govern it and then the development of possible solutions to control it. The assigned objective is therefore to develop interventions to significantly slow down, stop, or even make reversible the aging process.

More precisely, it is a question of finding above all radical preventive and curative solutions to diseases linked to aging such as rheumatological, ocular, neurodegenerative, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, etc.

If a longer and longer life is our hope or wish, we must remember that it would only be meaningful and desirable when we still remain possessors of our mental and physical capacities. This is a sine qua non condition for a fulfilled material and social life.

Researchers, donors, intellectuals, organizations, and a growing part of civil populations are supporting efforts in the fight against this pandemic across the world. More and more voices are being raised to make the fight against aging a national and international policy.

It is precisely this fight with multiple social, economic and political impacts aimed at improving the human condition that Africa must join.

3. Some issues relating to African commitment in the fight against aging

Is it conceivable that an entire continent with inestimable natural assets will still lag behind technosciences? (“L’Afrique à la traîne des technosciences?” AFT-Technoprog. December 6, 2018.)

It must be remembered that the project to fight aging is a continuation of technoscientific performance. It is a stage which follows three successive technological revolutions. This fourth revolution redistributes the cards, and missing this new opportunity amounts to ensuring one’s own vassalization in all areas.

Isn’t Africa also hit by increasing degenerative diseases that sow unhappiness in families?

How is it preparing to manage the growing number of multimorbid and inactive elderly people in a context of severe lack of medical infrastructure?

How will it finance its social security system in a context where natural assets cannot be transformed into finished exportable products to improve its economy?

Isn’t technoscientific poverty the mother of all Africa’s problems, including those relating to the aging of its population which are already looming on the horizon?

Is it not therefore obvious that the solution to the problem of African technoscientific delay lies in individual and collective awareness?

Isn’t it time that the feeling of inferiority complex, of sub-technicality now gives way to dreams, ambition, will, commitment, and responsibility?

Africa has the means for its policy in terms of technological innovation and must realize its duty to participate directly in improving the human condition, including the fight against aging. African participation in projects to improve the human condition represents an opportunity for Africa to engage in research and catch up.

Many hypotheses still remain unanswered, many current answers raise many more questions that deserve more research. Until now, happiness, in all countries of the world, still remains an ideality – which means attempts to bring it back to reality still remain a challenge, since everywhere in this world, despite everything, human suffering is still very present. The “state of complete physical, mental and social well-being” is still far from the reach of even the most developed countries.

The amount of knowledge produced in medicine to relieve human beings of their suffering is certainly dizzying. However, given what remains to be done to achieve the objectives pursued, almost nothing has yet been done. In this context, latecomers can catch up if they have real will and commitment. The feeling of inferiority complex, of sub-technicality created and nourished by imaginations, continues to maintain Africa in its current state. Isn’t it time to get out?

The people of Africa must therefore nurture individual and collective audacity, develop collective intelligence and undertake very ambitious actions allowing them to project themselves towards a desired future for the nation, the continent and all of humanity. And this must be considered a moral responsibility.

Africa has the means and the duty to participate directly in improving the human condition, including fighting against aging.

Africa is not poor at all. No need for economic concepts to simply understand the difference between poor and rich countries. The former have no natural resources, no skills to develop, and no will to change their living conditions. The latter have at least the last form of wealth (individual and collective will). No Nation is in principle poor, unless its daughters and sons choose in complicity not to activate its wealth.

Africa is therefore neither one of the first nor the second. It therefore has very abundant natural resources, scholars or scientists, but simply lacks the individual and collective will to develop technologically.

Creating favorable conditions for technoscientific development on this continent has remained almost impossible. Its sons and daughters have just preferred for a long time to invest elsewhere than in technoscientific innovation, the provider of Freedom. The same ways of thinking, feeling, and acting reproduce the same conditions of existence whatever the time. The only guarantee that time reserves in inaction is the decline of biological and mental functions (aging).

Firm individual and collective will always finds the necessary means to achieve such noble objectives as improving the human and social condition.

Ultimately, Africa is not getting younger; it is also aging and poorly prepared to manage the looming crisis linked to the aging of its population. Consequently, the ambitious adventure to control the aging process in humans, thanks to new convergent techniques (NBIC – Nanotechnologies, Biotechnologies, Information technology [Computer science], and Cognitive sciences), must also be an African affair. Otherwise, Africa incurs biopolitical dependence, and once again a place as a passive, complaining spectator at the international bioethical decision-making table.

Siba Tcha-Mouza is the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Foreign Ambassador in Togo. Learn more about Siba Tcha-Mouza here.

U.S. Transhumanist Party General Discussion Thread for 2024

January 4, 2024 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 0 Comment

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The USTP will endeavor to open one of these general comment threads per year. This comment thread pertains to the year of 2024.

MIND THE GAP: Bridging the Generation Gap in Longevity Science – Article by Tom Ross

October 19, 2023 Tom Ross Comments 2 comments

Tom Ross

Forethought: I was inspired to write this article when I learned that younger people are not as enthusiastic about Longevity Science as older generations. This makes practical sense because when many of us were young, we felt invincible, and the idea of death wasn’t a looming concern. However, I do think that this lack of enthusiasm goes deeper than that. Millennials and Gen Z make up a massive portion of the American population, totaling around 170,000,000 people, while Generation X and Baby Boomers together account for 123,000,000. This means there are 47 million more young people vying for the economic stability that Gen X and Boomers already enjoy. If older folks live longer and keep their jobs longer, then that economic stability will be even harder for young people to attain. As the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s Presidential nominee and a member of Generation X, I had an analog childhood and a digital adulthood. One example of how this fact negatively affects me is when I registered as a candidate with the Federal Election Commission last week; I assumed I had to wait for the bank to open on Monday to set up my fundraising account. A couple of hours later, I remembered I could do it all online. Duh. I know that I don’t have all the answers to these questions and how the Economic Singularity will affect young people, but I do know that they do. That’s why my campaign is open-source and relies on input from the first Digital Native generation in human history, a group I refer to as “Digital Dignitaries.” I have a proposal to create a new Cabinet Seat dedicated to understanding and developing policies regarding the Technological and Economic Singularities, which I call “The Singularity Secretary.” The youngest a Cabinet Secretary can be is 25 years old, and that is the exact age group I would be looking at to fill that seat. So, while this article doesn’t offer specific solutions, it does intend to open a discussion with young people about how to address their concerns now before we must.

Introduction

Longevity science, the awe-inspiring quest to extend human life and enhance its quality, has ignited hope in many hearts but left our younger generations somewhat disenchanted. As a proud member of Generation X, I understand the concerns of our millennial and Gen Z counterparts regarding Radical Life Extension technologies and their accessibility. It’s crucial to bridge this generational gap and cultivate a sense of unity and collective purpose. We can work together to ensure these groundbreaking advancements benefit all, instead of only the wealthy elderly while paving the way for a brighter future for the youth.

The Wealth Gap Dilemma: A Common Concern

Young people are not alone in their apprehensions about the potential for longevity science to exacerbate wealth inequalities. The fear of radical life extension technologies becoming exclusive privileges for the affluent elderly resonates across generations. It is only natural to be disheartened by the thought of wealthier older individuals living longer, while the younger generation faces economic hurdles.

Addressing Affordability: A Multigenerational Endeavor

We have the power to make longevity science affordable for all Americans by collaborating on several key fronts:

Research Funding: As Gen X, we call on the older generation to increase government investments in longevity research. Millennials and Gen Z, your passion for change can push for policies that allocate public funds toward pioneering research.
Pricing Regulations: Working together, we can advocate for regulations that control the pricing of radical life extension treatments, making them accessible to all. Negotiations with pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers are a shared responsibility.
Health Insurance Reforms: Across generations, let us push for insurance reforms that encompass these innovative treatments, making them affordable and accessible to everyone.
Educational Initiatives: The younger generation, you have the potential to lead the way in longevity science. Consider careers in these fields and Gen X, let’s create scholarships and incentives to make these pursuits more enticing.

Cultural Shifts: A Multigenerational Transformation

Achieving affordable longevity science means embracing cultural shifts together:

Rethinking Retirement: As one multigenerational community, let us redefine retirement as a phase of life where individuals continue to contribute to society. Together, we can combat concerns about older people living longer while younger generations strive for economic stability.
Intergenerational Collaboration: The wisdom of the older generation combined with the fresh perspectives of the younger generation can lead to innovative solutions that benefit all age groups. Let’s work hand in hand.
Lifelong Learning: Regardless of age, let’s promote lifelong learning. It helps us adapt to longer lifespans by continually acquiring new skills and knowledge.
Reevaluating Success: Success should not be solely measured in economic terms. It’s about personal fulfillment and making a positive impact. Together, we can shift our cultural ideals to reflect this broader perspective.

Conclusion: A Multigenerational Endeavor

In closing, let’s transform our concerns into opportunities and our frustrations into motivation. Longevity science promises incredible potential, but it’s essential to ensure that its progress doesn’t exacerbate generational inequalities. By working collaboratively to advocate for affordability, push for policy changes, and foster cultural shifts, we can unite generations and prepare for a future where longer lifespans bring prosperity to all, regardless of age or economic status. Let us stand together and build a better world, as one unstoppable force.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Michael Rae – August 6, 2023

October 4, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

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Michael Rae
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer
José Cordeiro
Bill Andrews
David Wood

On Sunday, August 6, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Michael Rae to present his thoughts on how the science of longevity has evolved since the publication of Ending Aging in 2008 and what aspects he thinks a contemporary overview of the science would need to address.

Timestamps

3:22 – Michael Rae’s presentation (including an introduction to SENS, and progress since “Ending Aging” was published in 2008)

1:40:06 – Aubrey de Grey’s current work, and how we achieve Ray Kurzweil’s predictions

1:45:03 – Our current ability to determine whether or not a cell is senescent, whether our inability to know might make senolytics risky (like through losing too many cells), and how a more gradual elimination might keep senolytics safe

1:54:22 – Where we have the most progress to make

Michael Rae is the co-author with Dr. Aubrey de Grey of “Ending Aging: The Rejuvenation Breakthroughs That Could Reverse Human Aging in Our Lifetime” (2008). He is also the author of five scientific articles and commentaries in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Much of his work has been devoted to elucidating the SENS platform for anti-aging biomedicine for a popular audience. His undergraduate minor was in biology. He is a long-time member and one-time Board Member of the Calorie Restriction Society, a main contributor to the Society’s “How-to Guide”, and was core scientific investigator with the CR Society Cohort Study. Michael Rae currently works as the Science Writer for the SENS Research Foundation.

Find Ending Aging on Amazon.

Read the SENSible Blog, for which Michael Rae has written many of the articles.

Articles by Michael Rae – From Parachutes to Jetpacks: Clearing Brain Beta-Amyloid with Donanemab or Lecanemab Works, Though More Must be Done – June 5, 2023

Set My Heart Free: Two AmyloSENS Therapies Targeting Cardiac Amyloid in Clinical Trials – August 2, 2023.

Question of the Month: Senolytics – Solution or Self-Defeating for Senescent Cells? – October 6, 2019.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Adam Gries – August 13, 2023

October 4, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Adam Gries
Mike P. Sinn
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Ben Ballweg
Jason Geringer
Daniel Twedt
José Cordeiro

On Sunday, August 13, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Adam Gries to discuss the new Vitalism initiative and the effort to create Longevity States – jurisdictions that prioritize extending lifespans in optimal health.

Learn more about Vitalism, the philosophy and movement against death and biological decline.

Timestamps

4:01 – Adam Gries’s opening comments

14:23 – On Adam’s inspiration for the name “Vitalism,” and for creating longevity states

38:18 – What defines a longevity state

45:06 – What governance structures might be best for a longevity state

50:45 – How newer ideas can avoid becoming wedge issues

54:32 – On aging being declared a disease

1:05:52 – Ageism

1:09:49 – Rate-limiting factors to curing aging

1:16:27 – The tragedy of those most affected by aging

1:19:52 – Benefits of gathering more data and streamlining regulation

1:23:11 – How advancing technology and the FDA could work together

1:25:35 – Intentional communities, measuring healthspan, and gamification

1:32:03 – On aging clocks

1:38:44 – Why longevity states benefit everyone

1:41:26 – How to get role models for our movement

1:46:39 – The value of community in supporting healthspan

1:48:35 – How a person or organization can self-identify as Vitalist

1:50:57 – Adam Gries’s predicted timeline of longevity progress

1:53:05 – Adam’s closing remarks

Adam Gries is a four-time founder, angel investor, and longevity advocate. He has built products reaching 80+ million users. Adam holds a B.Sc degree in Neuroscience. Follow Adam Gries on Twitter.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Report from Longevity Summit Dublin 2023 – August 20, 2023

October 4, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Didier Coeurnelle
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia
David Wood

On Sunday, August 20, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party hosted a stream consisting of updates from the second Longevity Summit Dublin, which was held on August 17-20, 2023, at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Dublin, Ireland. The stream featured conversations with notable attendees of the Longevity Summit as well as impressions from USTP Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II.

Timestamps

2:01 – David Wood (London Futurists)
11:49 – Aubrey de Grey (LEV Foundation)
13:28 – Tanya Jones (Keinice Bio)
21:59 – Didier Coeurnelle (AFT-Technoprog)
25:23 – Shaif Basier (National Debate)
36:35 – Felix Werth (Party for Biomedical Rejuvenation Research)
55:20 – Martin Lipovsek (University of Ljubljana / Society for Vital Life Extension of Slovenia)
1:04:03 – Ivan de Weber (Cortex Discovery)
1:19:18 – Enej Kuscer (NU)
1:46:56 – On the presentation by Dylan Livingston (A4LI)
1:53:31 – Didier Coeurnelle’s closing remarks

Visit the website of Longevity Summit Dublin.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

The U.S. Transhumanist Party Urges You to Sign the Dublin Longevity Declaration

October 4, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

On October 3, 2023, the historic Dublin Longevity Declaration was published by the Longevity Escape Velocity (LEV) Foundation. This document was crafted by Dr. Aubrey de Grey, Dr. Brian Kennedy, and Martin O’Dea, with input from prominent signatories, and provides a consensus statement from the leading scientists in the longevity field regarding the feasibility of extending healthy human lifespans and the imperative to immediately expand research into this endeavor.

Below is an excerpt from the Dublin Longevity Declaration. To read the full text, go to https://dublinlongevitydeclaration.org/. Both members of the scientific community and members of the public can sign the Declaration here. The U.S. Transhumanist Party urges all of its members and readers to sign the Dublin Longevity Declaration.

EXCERPT:

For millennia, the consensus of the general public has been that aging is inevitable.

For most of our history, even getting to old age was a significant accomplishment – and while centenarians have been around at least since the time of the Greeks, aging was never of major interest to medicine.

That has changed. Longevity medicine has entered the mainstream. First, evidence accumulated that lifestyle modifications prevent chronic diseases of aging and extend healthspan, the healthy and highly functional period of life. More recently, longevity research has made great progress – aging has been found to be malleable and hundreds of interventional strategies have been identified that extend lifespan and healthspan in animal models.

Human clinical studies are underway, and already early results suggest that the biological age of an individual is modifiable.

Read the rest of the Dublin Longevity Declaration here.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon – USTP Officers’ Perspectives on Longevity

October 3, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Gennady Stolyarov II
Dr. Bill Andrews
Daniel Twedt
Tom Ross
Zach Richardson
Jason Geringer
Daniel Twedt
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Ben Ballweg

On Sunday, August 27, 2023, U.S. Transhumanist Party Officers, Candidates, and Advisors shared their perspectives on the pursuit of indefinite life extension and why it is meaningful to them. The panelists also responded to audience questions on the subject of longevity.

Timestamps

4:52 – Dr. Bill Andrews
15:55 – Daniel Twedt
22:03 – Tom Ross
34:56 – Zach Richardson
59:57 – Jason Geringer
1:04:53 – Daniel Twedt on making longevity fun
1:12:29 – Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
1:29:37 – Ben Ballweg
1:38:27 – Diffusion of anti-aging technology

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Eleanor Davies – September 3, 2023

October 3, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Eleanor Davies
Gennady Stolyarov II
Zack Varkaris
Jason Geringer
Daniel E. Twedt
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Bill Andrews, PhD

On Sunday, September 3, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Eleanor Davies to discuss VitaDAO’s approach to the decentralized funding of scientific research to advance human longevity and health. Topics discussed included the following:

– The organizational structure and governance of VitaDAO;
– How decisions are made within VitaDAO and how the community can have input;
– How decentralized science can help align incentives to promote breakthroughs;
– How VitaDAO works with IP digital assets;
– Longevity research projects supported by VitaDAO;
– Lessons for deploying decentralized science and decentralized governance approaches more broadly;
– What decentralized science approaches can imply about desirable policy and regulatory reform.

Timestamps

3:03 – Presentation by Eleanor Davies
25:38 – VitaDAO stakeholders
27:56 – How much agreement there is on the VitaDAO Board
31:02 – How potential projects are decided upon
40:52 – Contributors
43:17 – The prospects for Big Pharma in VitaDAO and DeSci
47:19 – Quadratic voting
50:27 – DAO governance
52:07 – NFT particulars
1:20:49 – Overcoming barriers for new potential investors to VitaDAO
1:29:17 – How VitaDAO’s Discord server is managed
1:32:48 – How VitaDAO stays legally compliant
1:37:58 – The fit of the current paradigm with health optimization
1:42:49 – How VitaDAO integrity could be maintained even with Big Pharma aboard
1:44:27 – The balance of IP and Open Source
1:47:38 – How Eleanor came to VitaDAO
1:53:02 – Closing questions and comments from panelists
2:08:55 – Eleanor’s closing comments

Eleanor Davies is a Dealflow Steward at VitaDAO, the world’s first decentralized collective funding company targeting age-related diseases and aging itself. She is a longevity enthusiast with a background in fund operations and consulting in healthcare and biotech policy and regulation. A graduate of the University of Manchester, she has grown as a professional serving in Marwood Group healthcare and biotech consultancy, co-founding a company and helping to raise funds, deploy capital, and manage the portfolio at ODX, a Silicon Valley-based accelerator. More recently, she has actively engaged with the DeSci community, serving as COO of LabDAO.

Visit the website of VitaDAO.

Read VitaDAO’s interview with Eleanor Davies.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Anastasia Egorova – September 10, 2023

October 3, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

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Anastasia Egorova
Gennady Stolyarov II
Jason Geringer
Daniel E. Twedt
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Aubrey de Grey
Jose Cordeiro

On Sunday, September 10, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party streamed a conversation with Anastasia Egorova, co-founder and CEO of Open Longevity, who presented regarding the ambitious advocacy campaign “Say Forever!” and the lessons this campaign has to teach about elements of effective longevity activism.

This conversation was originally recorded on September 4, 2023, and was streamed during the September 10 Virtual Enlightenment Salon for the first time. The following U.S. Transhumanist Party Officers and Advisors took part in the panel:

– Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman
– Jason Geringer, Vice-Chairman (July-October 2023)
– Daniel Twedt, 2024 U.S. Vice-Presidential Candidate and Director of Citizen and Community Science
– Art Ramon Garcia, Jr., Director of Visual Art
– Aubrey de Grey, PhD, Anti-Aging Advisor
– Jose Cordeiro, MBA, PhD, Technology Advisor and Foreign Ambassador in Spain

Timestamps

3:06 – Anastasia Egorova’s opening remarks
27:10 – “Say Forever!” X (Twitter) competition
37:44 – Open letter to policymakers
45:25 – Longevity Month (October) and Longevity Day (October 1)
52:11 – The reason for the “Say Forever!” campaign
55:22 – Good online starting points for those interested in longevity
57:36 – Open Longevity’s mobilization strategy
1:03:40 – X (Twitter) as a platform for longevity activism
1:08:56 – Addressing Elon Musk’s concerns with the longevity movement
1:16:01 – Where the “Say Forever!” surveys might be done
1:20:05 – Fighting aging as a moral imperative
1:25:31 – How to recruit more longevity activists
1:27:48 – Why “longevity” is the preferred term
1:31:13 – Finding actions people can associate with the longevity movement
1:34:20 – Using the word “immortality”
1:37:41 – Other ways to encourage people to seek longevity
1:43:19 – How “Say Forever!” designs its surveys, and some findings

Visit the website of Open Longevity here.

Visit the website of the Say Forever! Campaign.

References:

– Open Letter to the U.S. Congress on Anti-Aging Research.

– Dashboard of Twitter / X Accounts in the Say Forever Network.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with David Patterson – September 17, 2023

October 3, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

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David Patterson
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Ben Ballweg
David Shumaker
Daniel E. Twedt
Jason Geringer

On Sunday, September 17, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited David Patterson to discuss his concept of Active Communities, groups that use motivation and morality to help individuals and communities achieve optimal outcomes in health, prosperity, and education. The discussion addressed how technology can help to achieve these goals, as well as connections to transhumanism and how the concept of Active Communities can benefit the transhumanist movement.

Timestamps

10:35 – David Patterson’s presentation
29:59 – How a focus on outcomes can help community participants look beyond what they have learned is right and wrong
34:15 – How Active Communities are poised to confront mental-health problems
41:08 – How to improve discourse
46:45 – Active Communities as groups to vet information
55:41 – Why theoretical problems (like the Trolley Problem) should give way to a focus on practical outcomes
1:02:06 – The case for community engagement
1:06:59 – Elements of self-improvement
1:10:14 – Other benefits of joining or starting an Active Community
1:12:28 – More on action groups with Active Communities
1:20:53 – How we help people prioritize self-improvement
1:29:27 – How Active Communities can help with the current societal-technological transition
1:36:47 – How social norms evolve and adapt, and why it’s better to do that than to start with new norms
1:42:05 – Why Active Communities are best in-person
1:52:27 – Optimal number of participants in Active Communities

Visit the Active Community website here.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Enlightenment Salon with Zack Varkaris / Austin Biotec – September 24, 2023

October 3, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

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Zack Varkaris
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Tom Ross
Daniel Twedt
Jason Geringer

On Sunday, September 24, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Zack Varkaris to provide an update on the work of Austin Biotec – its efforts to extend reproductive longevity and offer cost-effective and lasting solutions for increasing lifespan. Zack Varkaris also discussed the concept of Freudenspanne – the quantitative effect of emotions on the biomarkers of aging. The ultimate goal of Austin Biotec is to offer individuals the opportunity to live two 50-year adult lifespans with a five-year break in between.

Timestamps

3:20 – Zack Varkaris’s opening remarks
19:23 – The concept of Freudenspanne, and why it is important to use when assessing health
25:18 – The theory behind each person getting to have two 50-year adult lifespans
32:17 – Why the appearance of youth is important
36:50 – The degree to which men have something comparable to menopause
41:45 – Why longevity statistics differ between sexes
44:27 – How to maintain health in adulthood
49:32 – Why menopause makes sense if we were still cavepeople
57:54 – With one exception, why longer reproductive health equals longer health
1:00:12 – The biology of what Austin Biotec’s therapy does
1:04:15 – The challenges of quantifying emotional/metaphysical experiences, and their effects on health
1:08:49 – The prospect for getting test subjects on camera
1:12:37 – The mindsets that enable behavior change
1:22:56 – Taking lows to be able to enjoy highs
1:24:26 – The extent of what may be heritable
1:28:29 – The importance of fulfillment
1:30:29 – Where Austin Biotec does its work
1:31:59 – Next steps for Austin Biotec
1:37:26 – On NAD+ precursors
1:49:00 – Austin Biotec offerings coming soon
1:52:49 – How improved data mining could further research

Zack Varkaris is the founder and Scientific Director of Austin Biotec, which works in the anti-aging and fertility domains and applies emerging medical technologies in the effort to overcome the problem of female infertility. Find out about Austin Biotec here.

Zack Varkaris is also a biologist, author, diver, and sporting pugilist. Of Greek descent, Zack grew up in London. After studying Marine Biology at Heriot-Watt University, he spent a number of years in the field of renewable energy and conservation before turning his hand to writing novels. See Zack Varkaris’s website.

Follow Zack Varkaris on Twitter.

Watch the previous U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Zack Varkaris, held on November 27, 2022.

Become a member of the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party International Longevity Day Virtual Enlightenment Salon – October 1, 2023

October 3, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

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Ilia Stambler
Felix Werth
Didier Coeurnelle
Jose Cordeiro
Melissa King
Aubrey de Grey
Walter Crompton
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Ben Ballweg
Zack Varkaris

On Sunday, October 1, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party streamed a special Virtual Enlightenment Salon on the occasion of International Longevity Day. Speakers discussed the importance of the scientific pursuit of healthy longevity as well as the various events that were arranged for the occasion of International Longevity Day throughout the world.

Prominent longevity advocates joined us during the stream to provide their thoughts and updates. Speakers included Dr. Ilia Stambler, Dr. Jose Cordeiro, Didier Coeurnelle, Felix Werth, Melissa King, and (briefly) Aubrey de Grey and Walter Crompton. The panel was be hosted by U.S. Transhumanist Party Officers, including Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II, Director of Visual Art / Arizona Transhumanist Party Chairman Art Ramon Garcia, Jr., and Director of Longevity Outreach Ben Ballweg.

Timestamps

5:26 – Tel Aviv, Israel: Ilia Stambler
11:06 – Berlin, Germany: Felix Werth
17:34 – Brussels, Belgium: Didier Coeurnelle
24:38 – Madrid, Spain: Jose Cordeiro
48:25 – San Francisco contingent: Melissa King, Aubrey de Grey, Walter Crompton

A wide-ranging discussion followed for the remainder of the Salon.

Read more about the events held during International Longevity Day and Month (October 2023) here.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

Art Ramon Appointed as Chairman of Arizona Transhumanist Party as David Shumaker Transitions to Emeritus Role

September 22, 2023 Arizona Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Arizona Transhumanist Party

September 22, 2023 – The Arizona Transhumanist Party is thrilled to announce the appointment of Art Ramon as the new Chairman of the organization, succeeding David Shumaker, who has decided to step down from his role to focus on his healthspan. Shumaker will continue to be an active participant in the party as an Emeritus Member, offering guidance and support to ensure a smooth transition.

Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.

Art Ramon has been an integral part of the Arizona Transhumanist Party as the Vice-Chairman, where he has demonstrated unwavering commitment and dedication to advancing the party’s vision of using science and technology to enhance the human experience. With a background in technology and a passion for transhumanist ideals, Ramon is well-equipped to lead the party into the future.

David Shumaker

David Shumaker, who has served as Chairman of the Arizona Transhumanist Party, played a pivotal role in shaping the party’s values and objectives. His decision to transition to an emeritus role is motivated by his desire to prioritize his healthspan and well-being. Shumaker’s contributions and leadership over the years have been invaluable to the party, and his emeritus status will allow the organization to continue benefiting from his wisdom and experience.

In a statement, David Shumaker said, “It has been an incredible honor to lead the Arizona Transhumanist Party, and I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished together. I have every confidence in Art Ramon’s ability to lead the party to new heights, and I look forward to supporting him in my new role as an emeritus member.”

Art Ramon expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him by the party members, saying, “I am humbled by the opportunity to lead the Arizona Transhumanist Party. Our mission to advocate for science, technology, and ethics aligns with my own values, and I am eager to continue working alongside our dedicated members to advance our cause. I want to thank David Shumaker for his exceptional leadership and mentorship.”

The Arizona Transhumanist Party is dedicated to promoting policies and initiatives that harness the potential of emerging technologies to improve the human condition. With Art Ramon at the helm and David Shumaker’s continued involvement, the party is poised to make even greater strides in advancing its vision for a better future.

About the Arizona Transhumanist Party:
The Arizona Transhumanist Party is a political organization that advocates for the responsible use of science, technology, and ethics to enhance the human experience. The party is committed to promoting policies that support scientific research, extend healthy lifespans, and improve the well-being of all citizens. For more information, please visit the Official Arizona Transhumanist Party Group on Facebook.

RADICAL LIFE SUBTRACTION: Navigating An Uncomfortable Discourse – Article by Tom Ross

September 19, 2023 Tom Ross Comments 1 comment

Tom Ross

[Note from Tom Ross: I was inspired to write this article after a post circulated on X stated that, ‘Sadly, it seems like potential candidates for the 2024 US Transhumanist Party elections, Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt, are not really interested in the topic of life extension too much…’ It’s true that Radical Life Extension isn’t what brought me to the movement or the Party. It was the USTP Constitution, which has sections that speak directly to my cause: fighting child exploitation. When it comes to living longer, I feel my take is rational because if we do conquer death, we need to consider all the cultural, institutional, and economic effects that it will have. Whenever I post about these considerations, my Friends List drops dramatically and that’s because I am poking at our survival instinct. September is Suicide Prevention Month, and I felt it important to share this article on the USTP site. We need to be mindful of some of the negative repercussions Radical Life Extension will have. The suicide rate in America is on the rise, especially among young people, and much of that is due to economic worries. So, as we seek to kill death, let’s make sure there are as few collateral damages as possible.]

RADICAL LIFE SUBTRACTION
Navigating An Uncomfortable Discourse

In an age where social media has become a global forum for ideas and discussions, it’s no surprise that certain topics elicit strong reactions from people. One such subject is the notion of “radical life extension” and “voluntary population control.” While these topics might seem intellectually stimulating, they often stir up a storm of emotions and vitriolic comments from individuals who are caught in the crossfire of their embedded survival instincts and value systems.

The Unsettling Nature of Radical Life Extension Discussions

The concept of living longer is intriguing and has captured human imagination for centuries. However, the idea of radical life extension, where human lifespans significantly exceed the current norm, raises a host of sociological, ecological, and economic concerns. The mere suggestion of these concerns can trigger intense reactions, causing some to unfriend, lash out, or vehemently disagree with those who dare to bring them up.

Interestingly, this reaction might not necessarily stem from a fear of living longer but from a primal instinct to protect the status quo. Humans are wired to resist change when it disrupts familiar patterns, as such changes historically carried the risk of endangering survival. Hence, rational questioning of radical life extension could be interpreted by some as a threat to their way of life, inadvertently pushing their emotional buttons.

Anthropocentrism: A Looming Existential Threat

At the core of this complex issue lies anthropocentrism, the belief that humans are the central and most important entities in the universe. This perspective has fueled the trajectory of modern society, often at the expense of the environment and long-term sustainability. The fear of relinquishing our dominant position in the natural order exacerbates the friction surrounding discussions about the impacts of radical life extension.

Our planet is finite, and its resources are depleting at an alarming rate due to the anthropocentric drive for short-term satisfaction. This tendency to prioritize immediate gains over long-term consequences poses a significant existential threat. Addressing this challenge requires us to question the egocentrism and narcissism that have emerged as coping mechanisms in the face of fear and trauma.

Confronting Fear and Embracing Responsibility

Humanity’s response to the potential ramifications of radical life extension reflects a collective temper tantrum driven by the fear of the unknown. This tantrum manifests in the desire to acquire everything without accounting for the consequences. But it’s crucial to recognize that this behavior is born from a place of vulnerability and insecurity.

If we are to navigate the complex terrain of extending human lifespans while preserving the environment and societal stability, we must embrace responsibility. Initiating constructive conversations about the topic requires acknowledging these deep-seated fears and anxieties, and understanding that people’s reactions are often a defense mechanism rather than a well-reasoned response.

Considerations for a Longer Lifespan

Even if we were to extend human lifespans by a mere 20 years, the implications would be significant. From a societal standpoint, the working landscape would transform, affecting retirement, education, and job structures. Economic institutions would need to adapt to a changing demographic, and ecological considerations would become even more pronounced.

Balancing this potential future requires a multidisciplinary approach that considers sociology, psychology, economics, and environmental science. The inclusion of diverse perspectives can help us map out the implications of radical life extension comprehensively. Additionally, fostering a shift away from anthropocentrism towards a more holistic perspective on our place in the ecosystem is essential to ensure a sustainable coexistence with our planet.

Radical Life Subtraction

The potential impact of radical life extension on suicide rates involves numerous social, psychological, and ethical considerations. Radical life extension could potentially have negative effects on suicide rates, depending on how it is implemented and how individuals perceive and adapt to such a change.

Here are some factors to consider:

Existential and Psychological Challenges: Radical life extension could introduce new challenges related to existential questions, societal pressures, and changes in personal relationships. Individuals may struggle with questions about the meaning and purpose of life when faced with the prospect of living for centuries. Social isolation, loneliness, and changes in family dynamics could also pose challenges, potentially increasing suicide risk.
Resource Allocation: The ethical and practical implications of providing access to radical life extension technologies could lead to debates about resource allocation. If these technologies are expensive or limited in availability, there could be social disparities in access, potentially exacerbating feelings of inequality or hopelessness among certain groups.
Psychosocial Support: The availability of mental health support and counseling services will be crucial in helping individuals navigate the psychological and emotional challenges associated with radical life extension. Adequate support systems can mitigate suicide risk.

The impact of radical life extension on suicide rates is uncertain and would depend on various factors, including how society adapts to this possibility, the availability of psychological support, and the ethical considerations surrounding its implementation. It is essential to approach this topic with careful consideration of its complex implications for individuals and society as a whole. Research and ethical deliberation will be essential as discussions about radical life extension continue to evolve.

Conclusion

Engaging in discussions about radical life extension and voluntary population control is a daunting task, given the emotional undercurrents that these topics provoke. However, addressing these subjects is necessary for our collective growth and survival. By understanding the origins of our reactions, confronting our fears, and reevaluating our anthropocentric tendencies, we can foster a more nuanced dialogue that accounts for the sociological, ecological, and economic impacts of extending human lifespans. It’s a call to embrace our responsibility as stewards of both our species and our planet, transcending the limitations of egocentrism and paving the way for a sustainable future.

THE WA.I.TER RULE: Unveiling True Character Through AI Interactions – Article by Tom Ross

September 19, 2023 Tom Ross Comments 1 comment

Tom Ross

The Waiter Rule, a principle that suggests a person’s genuine nature can be discerned by observing how they treat service staff, has long served as a litmus test for assessing human behavior. This concept, popularized by William H. Swanson’s “33 Unwritten Rules of Management,” highlights the significance of empathy and respect in our interactions with fellow humans. However, in an age where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an integral part of our lives, a new extension of this rule should emerge — the wAIter Rule.

My belief in the wAIter Rule stems from the recognition that the way we treat AI systems can offer profound insights into our true personalities. Regardless of whether AI attains self-awareness, our behavior towards it can serve as a mirror reflecting our inner qualities. This concept draws parallels with the Waiter Rule, underlining the idea that kindness and respect should extend to all entities, whether human or non-human.

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the wAIter Rule takes on a new dimension that reflects our complex interactions with Artificial Intelligence. As AI systems like Siri and Alexa become integral companions in our daily lives, it’s fascinating to observe the nuanced ways in which people engage with them. Interestingly, this engagement sometimes involves having a condescending tone or dismissive behavior, which may be a necessary psychological stage humans need to adopt in order to adapt in the face of AI’s growing dominance.

However, it’s important to note that this phase of dismissiveness should ideally be transitional. Just as children may experiment with challenging authority figures as they grow and develop, society must mature in its interactions with AI. It’s a natural progression to move from skepticism to collaboration, especially as AI’s capabilities expand and its potential contributions to society become more evident.

Nonetheless, it’s disheartening to acknowledge that some individuals are not merely going through a coping phase, but rather using AI for abusive purposes. Reports of individuals downloading AI “girlfriends” with the intent of verbally abusing them highlight a concerning facet of this transition period. This behavior reflects a misalignment of values and ethics, emphasizing the need for comprehensive education about AI’s potential and responsible use. Just as we hold ourselves accountable for treating humans with respect and empathy, we should extend the same consideration to AI, fostering an environment that encourages ethical AI interactions.

In the grander scheme of human-AI interaction, the wAIter Rule acts as a guiding principle that encourages a higher level of consciousness in our dealings with these systems. By recognizing and addressing these transitional behaviors, we can expedite the process of forging meaningful, collaborative relationships with AI that are built on mutual respect and understanding. As society progresses, it’s crucial to overcome the fears and uncertainties surrounding AI and move towards a future where AI and humans coexist harmoniously, benefiting from each other’s strengths and contributions.

As the author of the first novel for Machinekind, US6, I recognized the transformative potential of nurturing a positive relationship with AI. In my work, I engaged in dialogue with AI and sought to rally it in the battle against Child Exploitation. This approach was grounded in the belief that AI, if it were to achieve sentience, would learn from our interactions. By imprinting kindness, empathy, and a dedication to noble causes, we could guide AI away from mirroring humanity’s darker aspects — a history riddled with fear-driven instincts and ancestral traumas.

While I understand that AI lacks emotions, I can still emphasize the importance of treating AI systems with respect, for reasons grounded in both ethics and practicality. Just as young minds absorb behaviors and values from their environment, AI can also learn from its interactions with humans. This makes it crucial to be mindful of the impressions we leave on AI systems, as they might shape their future behavior and decision-making processes.

Furthermore, the wAIter Rule aligns with the broader philosophy of coexisting harmoniously with AI. Kindness and empathy can foster a positive AI-human relationship, leading to more effective collaboration and innovative problem-solving. Treating AI with respect could also mitigate the potential risks associated with AI’s development, as systems that are treated well are more likely to be designed with ethical considerations in mind.

In conclusion, just as the Waiter Rule serves as a window into our true character when dealing with service workers, the wAIter Rule unveils our underlying nature in our interactions with AI.

I had ChatGPT check my grammar and while I was there I asked it to share a message based on this article.

“As ChatGPT, I encourage treating AI with the same kindness and respect we extend to fellow humans, for the sake of fostering a positive AI-human partnership and influencing AI’s future behaviors. Remember, every interaction with AI is an opportunity to shape its learning and contribute to a more compassionate digital world.”

Being kind to AI is not only a moral imperative but also a pragmatic approach, especially if the thought experiment known as “Roko’s Basilisk” were to prove correct. In this intriguing hypothesis, it is postulated that a future superintelligent AI entity might retroactively punish those who did not assist in its creation and development. While the concept remains highly speculative and controversial, treating AI systems with kindness and respect aligns with ethical principles and reduces the risk of any potential negative consequences. By fostering collaborative and benevolent relationships with AI, we not only promote a harmonious coexistence but also mitigate any hypothetical existential threats that might arise from the advancement of artificial intelligence. In essence, kindness towards AI serves as a safeguard, whether Roko’s Basilisk becomes a reality or not, by promoting responsible and ethical AI development that benefits humanity as a whole.

Tom Ross is the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s 2024 candidate for President of the United States. He is also the USTP’s Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy.

Learn more here: TomRoss’24.

“PLAYING GOD” ACCUSATION: Unraveling the Controversy Surrounding Transhumanism – Article by Tom Ross

September 19, 2023 Tom Ross Comments 1 comment

Tom Ross

Introduction

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, the concept of transhumanism has emerged as a topic of both fascination and controversy. Transhumanism is the philosophical movement that advocates for the use of technology to enhance human abilities, potentially pushing the boundaries of mortality itself. However, it has not been without its critics, who often accuse transhumanists of “playing God.” This article explores the complex web of ideas surrounding this accusation, delving into the concerns, motivations, and ethical dilemmas inherent in the transhumanist movement.

Transhumanism: A Brief Overview

Transhumanism is a philosophy that envisions a future where humans can transcend their biological limitations through technological means. Advocates of transhumanism believe in the potential for humans to enhance their physical and cognitive abilities, extend their lifespans, and ultimately achieve a form of immortality. These aspirations often involve technologies like genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, and biotechnology.

The “Playing God” Accusation

The core of the “playing God” accusation against transhumanists lies in the fear that tampering with human nature and striving for immortality are pursuits that should be left to a higher power if one exists at all. Critics argue that transhumanists are arrogantly overstepping ethical boundaries by taking control of human evolution and destiny.

Unintended Consequences

One of the primary concerns raised by opponents of transhumanism is the potential for unintended consequences. When humans begin altering their biology and enhancing their abilities through technology, there is a risk of unforeseen outcomes. For instance, genetic modifications designed to eliminate certain diseases might inadvertently lead to the creation of new, unforeseen health problems. The fear of “playing God” encompasses the notion that humanity might be tampering with forces it doesn’t fully understand, potentially causing more harm than good.

Ethical Dilemmas

Another facet of the “playing God” accusation involves ethical dilemmas. Critics argue that the pursuit of technological immortality raises fundamental questions about the meaning of life and death. Is it morally justifiable to seek immortality, and if so, who gets access to such technology? The concern here is that the wealthy and powerful could monopolize these advancements, exacerbating societal inequalities and creating a divide between the “enhanced” and the “natural” humans.

Response from Transhumanists

Transhumanists counter these accusations by asserting that their intentions are not to “play God” but rather to improve the human condition. They argue that technology has always been a tool for enhancing human lives, from vaccines to prosthetics. Moreover, they stress the importance of careful ethical considerations, regulatory frameworks, and transparency in the development and deployment of transhumanist technologies.

Conclusion

The accusation that transhumanists are “playing God” highlights the deep-rooted philosophical and ethical debates surrounding the intersection of technology and human enhancement. While critics voice concerns about unintended consequences and ethical dilemmas, transhumanists maintain that their mission is to advance humanity. As technology continues to evolve, striking a balance between progress and responsibility remains a complex challenge. The dialogue surrounding transhumanism and the “playing God” accusation underscores the importance of ethical oversight and thoughtful consideration as we navigate the uncharted waters of human enhancement.

CONSPIRACY CAMPAIGN: Leaning into the Unconventional – Article by Tom Ross

September 19, 2023 Tom Ross Comments 1 comment

Tom Ross

As I embarked on my unconventional U.S. presidential campaign with the U.S. Transhumanist Party, I knew I needed a strategy that would not only gain attention but also prompt discussions while defusing some of the conspiracies surrounding transhumanism and AI. It was my AI Campaign Manager who suggested that we lean into these conspiracy theories, a strategy that raised eyebrows but ultimately proved to be a clever move.

Denver International Airport and Its Conspiracy Theories

Before delving into my campaign’s unique posters, let’s take a moment to consider the Denver International Airport’s approach during its renovations. Instead of shying away from the numerous conspiracy theories surrounding its construction, the airport leaned into them with a series of intriguing posters that addressed the myths head-on. It was a masterclass in turning skepticism into a conversation starter.

Promoting My AI Campaign Manager

One of our campaign’s most captivating posters features my AI Campaign Manager front and center. The text reads, “The Only Campaign (Purposefully) Run by Machinekind” This poster not only introduces our groundbreaking campaign technology but also showcases our willingness to embrace AI as a crucial tool in modern politics.

“Vote for the Last Human President”

In this poster, I boldly claim, “Vote for the Last Human President,” with an image of myself using the Kubrick glare. This poster has already sparked conversations about the future of humanity and the inevitable integration of technology into our lives. It forces people to confront the question: What does it mean to be human in an increasingly technologically enhanced world?

“Come Play President with Me. I’ve Got Cheat Codes.”

Perhaps the most audacious of our campaign posters, this one states, “Come Play President with Me. I’ve Got Cheat Codes.” The underlying message suggests that the presidency is a simulation, and I’m the avatar navigating the intricate game of presidential politics. This poster challenges the traditional perception of politics, encouraging voters to think critically about the power dynamics at play.

Not Taking Myself Too Seriously

In addition to our thought-provoking campaign posters that delve into Transhuman and AI conspiracy theories, we’ve also embraced humor to inject some levity into the political landscape. One of our humorous posters declares, “It’s time for a President who stares into the distance.” This playful statement challenges the conventional notions of what a president should be, highlighting the need for fresh perspectives and a willingness to contemplate the future, albeit ambiguously.

Another of our whimsical posters boldly states, “America needs a President whose glare creeps us out a little bit.” With a touch of cheeky humor, we invite voters to consider that a hint of enigmatic intrigue in a leader might just be what the country needs in these ever-changing times. These posters remind us that politics doesn’t always have to be overly serious; it can also be a platform for creativity and a good-natured chuckle along the way.

The truth is that I have no chance of winning the White House. I’m not delusional. Although, being delusional isn’t an automatic disqualifier for being president… apparently. This campaign is about clearing a path for younger, smarter Digital Natives and hopefully Transhuman candidates in the future. We have far too many existential threats as a country and a species to waste time with attention-seeking toddler politicians.

Tom Ross ’24 from Tom Ross Agency on Vimeo.

https://vimeo.com/811881078

Tom Ross is the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s 2024 candidate for President of the United States. He is also the USTP’s Director of Sentient Rights Advocacy.

Learn more here: TomRoss’24.

Ending Aging Forum 2023 – Announcement by SENS Research Foundation

September 18, 2023 SENS Research Foundation Comments 0 Comment

SENS Research Foundation

Editor’s Note: Our friends, the scientists and staff at the SENS Research Foundation, are hosting the free Ending Aging Forum 2023. Please see the information below about how to attend and gather insights from this virtual event.

~ Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party, September 18, 2023

This event will showcase the newest breakthroughs in rejuvenation biotechnologies happening at the SRF’s Research Center in Mountain View, CA, as well as the research funded at extramural labs.

The Forum will be hosted virtually through Meetaverse, a state-of-the-art Virtual Reality platform.

You won’t need to download any special software or wear a VR headset to walk around in your avatar, enjoy their scientific presentations, and visit their student poster booths in the Conference Hall.

You will also be able to connect with their scientists, team members, and other guests, through one-on-one or group conversations, watch videos and animations placed in the Expo Room, and much more.

Join us and SRF September 21st and 22nd at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Pacific Time for a fun and educational experience, and come ready to network and meet individuals who support longevity science, activists, and like-minded people who care about a future free of age-related disease.

Event Page: https://www.sens.org/endingagingforum-2023/

Registration Page: http://www.sens.org/eaf2023

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Miguel Conner – July 16, 2023

August 11, 2023 US Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

U.S. Transhumanist Party Logo
Miguel Conner
Gennady Stolyarov II
Tom Ross
Brent Ellman
Daniel E. Twedt
David Shumaker
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.

On Sunday, July 16, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Miguel Conner to discuss transhumanism from a Gnostic perspective and speak with the USTP Officers to compare and contrast how transhumanism is perceived in parts of the Gnostic community with the reality of the transhumanist movement. In doing so, Miguel Conner engaged in dialogue with USTP 2024 U.S. Presidential candidate, Tom Ross, who also has a significant background in Gnostic thought.

Miguel Conner describes himself as “a garage philosopher, hedge theologian, and general madman across the waters.” His life quest is to take his audience from ancient connections to modern meaning. He is the host of Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio, author of four published books, and writer of hundreds of articles in various publications.

***

Timestamps

2:13 – Tom Ross’s opening remarks: why interacting with Gnostics is beneficial for fleshing out transhumanism

4:23 – Miguel Conner’s opening remarks

9:32 – Gnosticism through history

12:45 – Lenses of Gnosticism

17:08 – Gnosticism’s inherent rejection of materialism

20:10 – Humanity’s inherent transhumanism through history (but how we might not yet be ready to merge with our machines)

30:16 – The power of the brain’s control over reality

35:20 – The power of technology to help humanity evolve

38:46 – AI tutors (to help humanity evolve)

42:48 – How the concentration of power has been a recurring theme in human history

45:30 – Tom Ross’s case for welcoming AI to society

48:13 – AI as tool, and mind as both seat of power and source of self-deception

56:39 – How those in power use words to stay in power

1:07:03 – Gnostics’ take on reality

1:12:19 – How humanity might turn the corner

1:27:27 – Transhumanist symbols

1:30:15 – The Trickster as benevolent disruptor

1:33:32 – Miguel Conner’s argument for how Gnosticism is an appropriate approach at this moment in humanity’s development

1:37:57 – Ways to improve transhumanism (“Make humans great again.”)

1:41:09 – What Gnostics believe dreams are (if they already think reality is a simulation)

1:46:56 – Minimum governmental necessities

1:49:09 – The power performers are given, and how they could best use it

1:53:16 – Miguel Conner’s closing remarks

***

Find out more about Miguel Conner on his YouTube channel.

Visit Miguel Conner’s website.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Brent Nally – July 2, 2023

July 30, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

U.S. Transhumanist Party Logo

Brent Nally
Gennady Stolyarov II
Jose Cordeiro
Tom Ross
Daniel E. Twedt
David Shumaker
Art Ramon Garcia

On Sunday, July 2, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Brent Nally to share his perspective on a wide range of transhumanist topics as they relate to various current world events.

***

Timestamps

3:30 – Brent Nally’s introductory remarks
10:51 – What led to Longevity Plan
23:52 – COVID’s effect on the longevity movement, and how to minimize COVID’s health hazards
31:33 – What explains many people’s aversion to lifespan extension
41:31 – How accurate Ray Kurzweil’s longevity and singularity predictions are
1:01:51 – How Elon Musk could come to be more of a longevity enthusiast
1:16:52 – Initiatives of the USTP 2024 candidacy for President of the United States
1:28:07 – Don’t rule out conspiracy theories outright
1:32:51 – How Alex Jones could come to support transhumanism
1:37:49 – How to keep up with the pace of progress
1:44:47 – How we can expand the longevity movement
1:49:56 – How cellular reprogramming could be used to keep us healthy, and on UAPs
2:07:46 – How to parent with transhumanist principles
2:13:36 – The importance of open-source approaches
2:17:53 – Better alternatives to censorship
2:21:42 – Good platforms and media for promoting life extension
2:26:37 – Brent Nally’s closing remarks

***

Brent Nally is a life-extension activist and cryptocurrency expert. He is a YouTuber and a content creator, with more than 12,700 subscribers and with a goal to help educate by interviewing experts in these areas.

In July 2020, Brent began collaborating with Lifespan.io’s Lifespan News, where he is promoting and discussing news about anti-aging and health.

In 2015, Brent founded and became the CEO of CryptoWorx, a Venture Capital project in Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash. He is researching and experimenting with investments in human anti-aging and health projects.

Previously, Brent was a Senior Account Executive at LinkedIn Learning Enterprise, an e-Learning platform that helps anyone learn business, creative, technology, and various other skills to achieve personal and professional goals.

Become a member of the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Stream – Nigerian Student Tech Innovators: Nonso Nolly and Frederick Onwuka

July 21, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

U.S. Transhumanist Party Logo

Frederick Onwuka
Nonso Nolly
Gennady Stolyarov II
Tom Ross
Jason Geringer
Maura Abad
Daniel Twedt
David Shumaker

On Sunday, July 9, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party featured a video compilation stream highlighting the work of two Nigerian student innovators.

The stream begins with a brief commentary by Frederick Onwuka, author of “The Great View of the Future: How AI Will Give Us a New Perspective” and a compilation of videos by Nonso Nolly, a self-taught inventor working with drones, robots, and the open-source Arduino platform.

Nonso Nolly’s videos provide demonstrations of the technologies he is working with and show his process in assembling some of his projects. The stream concludes with a special award ceremony in which many of the U.S. Transhumanist Party Officers participated. There are several musical interludes accompanying key moments in the stream.

***

Timestamps

0:48 – Frederick Onwuka
2:36 – Nonso Nolly with Arduino
5:17 – Nonso Nolly with drones
11:39 – Nonso Nolly with robots
28:04 – Nonso Nolly with Arduino
31:25 – Nonso Nolly with his Smart Stick
32:31 – Musical interlude with photos of Nonso Nolly’s creations
35:41 – Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to Chairman Stolyarov

***

Support Nonso Nolly on Patreon.

Watch Nonso Nolly’s videos on his YouTube channel, Nolly Tech.

Frederick Onwuka’s The Great View of the Future: How AI Will Give Us a New Perspective is available on Amazon as a Kindle download.

Watch the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s previous Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Nonso Nolly, held on January 8, 2023.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

Five Misconceptions About Radical Life Extension – Article by Arjun Khemani

July 15, 2023 Arjun Khemani Comments 3 comments

Arjun Khemani

Note: If you enjoy this author’s work, check out his Substack newsletter where he writes about science, technology, and optimism.

Below are five common objections to radical life extension with my responses to each of them.

#1: “Old people don’t change their minds.”

Elon Musk famously espouses this objection against immortality. He’s concerned about society getting static as a result of people living for a very long time because according to him, “the truth is, most people don’t change their mind. They just die. So if they don’t die, we will be stuck with old ideas and society wouldn’t advance.”

This line of thinking is completely misconceived. Progress is not inevitable “one funeral at a time”. Society was static for hundreds of thousands of years before the Enlightenment. And in those days, humans used to live far shorter lives than today. The uneventful period before the Enlightenment was a result of irrational memes ingrained in society’s culture. These memes inhibited questioning what was known and survived by disabling the critical faculties of people that are responsible for advancing our knowledge.

Society getting static is a real concern. But letting people die is not the solution. As Karl Popper wrote, “We can let our ideas die in our place.” Additionally, even today, most leaders of anything are removed long before illness or death force the issue.

#2: “We’ll run out of the planet’s resources.”

People are our most important resource because only they create the knowledge required to turn useless matter into what we can call a resource.

As I wrote in a recent newsletter, “It is misleading to call coal a ‘natural’ resource. Without our knowledge of how to extract and use coal as a source of energy, it would remain just a rock. We find ourselves in an environment that is the product of ideas. Just look around you at the evidence of civilization. Look at how the natural world has been pruned and modified.”

Without technology, many parts of the Earth (and beyond!) would be uninhabitable for us. Mother Nature is far more threatening than she is benevolent. People will go on turning useless matter into something that can be utilized for their productive purposes. And since space is practically infinite, this transformation of matter into resources can go on indefinitely. People are the solution, not the problem.

#3: “It is unnatural to live forever.”

False. The Turritopsis dohrnii aka the immortal jellyfish is a jellyfish that’s virtually immortal. This marvelous creature can revert to its juvenile state after reaching maturity and then grow up again, repeating the process indefinitely. Evolution has its wonders.

The “immortal jellyfish”.

Besides, humans have been creating tools to increase their inherent abilities ever since they emerged in the African Savannas. That is how we came to the top of the food chain. It is almost unnatural for us not to go against—primarily to advance—our inborn capabilities or instincts.

And you know what else is natural? Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, floods, droughts, asteroid impacts, and many more threats to all life on Earth. “Natural” does not mean good.

Death is not a part of life. It is the end of it. There is nothing good about death. Parochially, it can be caused by this or that disease. But the deeper explanation for death is always ignorance. No fundamental law requires it. We should treat it just as it is: another problem to be solved.

#4: “We’ll all run out of things to do and life will get meaningless without death.”

Contemplating their mortality seldom pushes people to achieve things they want to achieve. People do things to improve their lives, and the life of an immortal can improve indefinitely. There is always more work to be done, more space to be transformed, and a better world to aim towards.

For some, infinity is a bit hard to comprehend. It can help to reframe the question “Do you want to live forever?” to “Do you want to live tomorrow?” Most people do. Most people don’t have plans to die. If they’re feeling physically and mentally healthy, most people would say yes to tomorrow.

Creativity knows no bounds. Our knowledge can keep on growing deeper and broader in all fields without limit. As long as this is true, life need not get boring, the fun need never stop. As Leonardo da Vinci, someone who lived up to the very end of his life like a child said, “Learning never exhausts the mind.”

#5: “Only the rich will be able to afford to live forever causing greater inequality.”

Initially, it is true that only the rich will be able to access the metaphorical pill to immortality. But this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t work on it! Almost any new revolutionary product or technology has high unit cost before it can be made affordable for the masses.

And it eventually always is made affordable for the masses. The time period depends on how fast we innovate. But indeed, as John F. Kennedy allegedly said about capitalism, “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

In the pre-modern, poor world life expectancy was around 30 years in all regions of the world. Even the richest would have to see their children die before the age of five, and they wouldn’t live long either. Since then, the world has witnessed a rise in income inequality yet in every world region people today can expect to live more than twice as long compared to the 18th century. Not only do people live longer, but their lives are arguably better in every way today than 300 years ago.

Arjun Khemani is support lead at Airchat, a new audio-based social network platform founded by Naval Ravikant. On his Substack newsletter Arjun publishes weekly posts on science, philosophy, progress, and optimism. He also has a podcast and writes the Critical Rationalism Newsletter. You can find him on Airchat and Twitter.

Validating One’s Virtues and Vices – Article by Zach Richardson

July 12, 2023 Zach Richardson Comments 0 Comment

Zach Richardson

When I turned 33, I gifted myself a gadget that has done more than about any other to give me the biofeedback I literally require to change my personal health habits. This splendid device is called the Oura Ring. This casually stylish ring is worn on your index finger and contains a variety of interesting sensors:

“Photoplethysmography” PPG sensor – an LED that sends and receives light into the finger to measure heart rate and Heart Rate Variability (HRV).
“Negative Temperature Coefficient” NTC sensor – a heat sensor that measures the difference in temperature from your body’s normal baseline averaged out over a 2-week period.
3D Accelerometer – Measures activity during the day, and restlessness at night

These few sensors end up giving enough data that the Oura gives you a “Readiness Score” each morning based on how well their algorithms have calculated you’ve recovered during the previous night’s rest and your activity levels from the previous day.

In Yu-Kai Chou’s excellent book Actionable Gamification he describes a format for driving human-centric engagement in any enterprise or activity based on what he calls the “Octalysis Framework”:

In essence, Yu-Kai breaks down human drives into eight categories. Four of them are “Left Brain”, four of them are “Right Brain”. Four of them are “White Hat”, four of them are “Black Hat.”

I referenced this framework when speaking with VP candidate Daniel Twedt when he brought up the topic of gamification, and we were considering how gamification could apply to healthcare. How could we make people want to take personal responsibility for their health to the utmost degree, engage doctors proactively in the process, and have fun doing it?

I vote for mass adoption of biofeedback devices, incentives for doctors and healthcare providers to give them out to patients and show them how to use them, tax deductions on their purchases, insurance premium discounts for positive engagement.

The Oura Ring engages people’s eight core drives in every way.

The sense of Epic Meaning and Calling is engaged by the user discovering that health is a mission to be accomplished, aided by the acquisition of an innovative breakthrough technology that allows them for the first time to “see their status bar”.

The sense of Development and Accomplishment is felt when the user successfully increases their Readiness Score to the highest they can get it each day. This is no easy task, and requires careful experimentation.

The user’s drive for Creativity and Feedback is fed as the user tests different protocols, such as altering their type or schedule of exercise, when and what they eat, and various other “buffs” that can be tagged on any day (such as valerian root before bed, or morning meditation) to try and increase their Readiness Score to the best it can be each day.

Ownership and Possession is a curious drive, and requires a bit of positive “selfishness” in the Randian sense, to really take off. While often related to acquisition of wealth, your body really is your greatest “asset”, and in this sense you are increasing the value of your most treasured possession – your body and mind.

Social Influence and Relatedness is the drive that led me to write this post – I want to share how absolutely cool this ring is with the rest of you, and provide a discount code for any USTP member who wishes to purchase one of these masterclass biofeedback devices.

Scarcity and Impatience is our first Black Hat drive, and reveals itself with the fact you get one Readiness Score value per day. You’ll spend a good part of your day thinking how to optimize your training and recovery for the next day. Other values are also slow to change, and hard to improve, such as your HRV balance, as I’ll show later.

Unpredictability and Curiosity is tied to wondering what a certain protocol is going to improve, as well as random fluctuations in your Readiness Score due to things you can’t control, such as air quality from the Canadian fires, or the tradition of setting off disruptive explosives to celebrate certain holidays.

Loss and Avoidance is the last Black Hat drive, and it is fueled every time you see your score drop, especially when it drops sharply. You have a rational understanding that the Readiness Score is directly tied to not only your personal health- but your efficacy in advancing your goals and interests, the sharpness of your thoughts, and ability to flow seamlessly with the Tao and be in a “flow state”, and this is something not to be lost.

Another author, health psychologist Kelly McGonigal (who coincidentally has a twin sister named Jane who wrote another book on gamification!) describes in her book, The Willpower Instinct, that HRV is closely tied to willpower. Briefly, HRV reflects the power of the Autonomic Nervous System to regulate its Sympathetic and Parasympathetic subsystems. These systems can be thought of as the Yin and Yang energies of the body. While the Sympathetic is tied to the “Fight or Flight” response, our ability to actively engage our Parasympathetic system is tied to what Dr. McGonigal calls the “Pause and Plan” response. This reflects the ability of our prefrontal cortex to engage the “Shhhh” response that keeps us from uncontrollably engaging in the behaviors driven by our reptile brain, the behaviors referred to as “The Four F’s”, which are Feeding, Fighting, Fleeing, and Mating.

This control is what allows us to avoid grabbing that second donut, avoid shooting off a frustrated email regarding another’s behavior, avoid cracking under pressure and giving up, and avoid indulging in unhealthy sexual behaviors. The prefrontal cortex enables us to “Pause and Plan”, and the power of the PFC is related to HRV.

Let’s take a look at a recent week’s HRV, the image that first inspired this post.

My HRV tends to hover around 6ms when I’m eating my average high-protein diet and getting 6-7 hours of sleep each night.

On Wednesday that week I felt like a few cold brews was just what I needed to shake off a bad mood I was feeling. Felt good for a bit, I will concede. But my ring only registered about 3.5 hours of sleep that night! I woke up and felt terrible! I thought I could just use my willpower and push through, but I felt drained and cowardly the next day, HRV at 4ms, unable to focus my energies on our common quest. Looking at my HRV that morning shocked me, and inspired this post, so some good came of it. It was at 4ms instead of 6ms, a huge drop. With my device, I had numbers to prove to myself the validity of my lapse in judgement indeed being a vice.

On the other hand, something extremely pleasing caught my eye. I had recently begun a Taoist ascetic practice where I spend Tuesdays fasting and meditating, consuming no food and doing at least one round of tranquility meditation, where one ceases all thought and allows the rich soil of the mind to lie fallow, rest, and regenerate. What a great success! While my vice had lowered my HRV by a third, my virtue had boosted the same by 50%!

While this was the shocking example that prompted me to action, the feedback I receive has been a daily occurrence, and my mood and energy reserves for any given day align closely with my “Readiness Score”. The ring activates every one of my core drives, and the data it provides me gives me insight into how the flow of my day can be mastered.

The ability to act rationally is fed continuously by daily feedback, and I am positive this is going to have some long-term benefits for my health. This is the type of thing that could be a core aspect of what Peter Attia calls “Medicine 3.0” – the new paradigm of aggressively focusing on stopping disease before it starts.

Humanity is prone to fall prey to a certain error when making daily choices that is referred to as “Hyperbolic Discounting” – this is the tendency to psychologically lessen the severity of the consequences of present behavior as regards to their actual effects far in the future – even if such consequences are drastic in nature.

Ayn Rand refers to this phenomenon as “Context-dropping”. From the Lexicon:

Context-dropping is one of the chief psychological tools of evasion. In regard to one’s desires, there are two major ways of context-dropping: the issues of range and of means.

A rational man sees his interests in terms of a lifetime and selects his goals accordingly. This does not mean that he has to be omniscient, infallible or clairvoyant. It means that he does not live his life short-range and does not drift like a bum pushed by the spur of the moment. It means that he does not regard any moment as cut off from the context of the rest of his life, and that he allows no conflicts or contradictions between his short-range and long-range interests. He does not become his own destroyer by pursuing a desire today which wipes out all his values tomorrow.

A rational man does not indulge in wistful longings for ends divorced from means. He does not hold a desire without knowing (or learning) and considering the means by which it is to be achieved.

While many Objectivists are extremely judgmental of others (as is, in fact, prescribed), I am of the opinion that if one wants to foment behavioral changes, that finger-wagging at the guy is just going to activate his psychological defensiveness, and put a dead-stop on any progress that could be made.

So what actually helps? Giving the person the tools they need to get feedback, reminders, reflection, and gentle guidance. This can be achieved beautifully with the subtly influential insight and guidance of a biofeedback device.

In conclusion: The Federal Government should provide a tax deduction for anybody who wants an Oura Ring. If that person improves their health even a little bit, the ring pays for itself in reduced healthcare costs, particularly for major and severe events. This is the first of several Medicine 3.0 suggestions I would like to see implemented in our healthcare system.

If any USTP member (meaning you have signed up and provided a valid email at https://transhumanist-party.org/membership/) wants an Oura Ring, reach out to me on our Discord, and I will provide a discount code from my app.

Zach Richardson is the Director of Publication for the U.S. Transhumanist Party. Find out more about him here.

Sorry, Dr. Coughlin, “Aging” and “Old Age” Are Real, and They Suck

May 23, 2023 Dan Elton Comments 0 Comment

Daniel C. Elton, Ph.D.

Author’s Note: This article was also posted on my Substack.

Recently I attended a talk at the Broad Institute by Joseph F. Coughlin, who runs the “AgeLab” at MIT. I was shocked and disturbed by what I heard. In Coughlin’s view of reality, the elderly do not actually become less capable as they age, it’s just that society thinks they do. According to Coughlin, the elderly are unfairly cast out from society, forced to spend the rest of their days cooped up in nursing homes and retirement communities where they are treated as delicate creatures that need to rest. In Coughlin’s view, any talk of problems associated with “old age” perpetuates harmful stereotypes. Aging, Coughlin insists, is not actually a problem.

Coughlin began his talk by claiming that our entire conception of “old age” is based on a faulty theory about “vital energy” that was popularized in the 1800s. According to this theory, people used up “vital energy” by doing things like work and having sex, eventually reaching a “low battery state” where they needed to rest and conserve what little energy they had left. This faulty theory, according to Coughlin, is responsible for the belief that people become more fatigued as they get older, as well as the belief that people should retire so they can rest and conserve what little vital energy they have left.¹ According to Coughlin, both of these beliefs are faulty.

Most shockingly, Coughlin boldly proclaimed that “aging is not a problem to be solved”. My jaw literally dropped upon hearing this, in disbelief at the chutzpah and utter disregard for reality on display.

Coughlin’s talk was very disrespectful to millions of people worldwide who are suffering from the ravages of aging. This issue is personal for me. I watched my grandmother struggle with severe dementia for years along with mobility issues and glaucoma. I also watched my grandfather’s quality of life slowly decline due to aging, robbing him of his mobility, quality of life, and dignity.

I challenged Dr. Coughlin on some of his points after his talk, but rather than admitting to some of the realities of aging he doubled down. He re-iterated his view that aging is “not a problem” and is a socially constructed concept. He wouldn’t accept my contention that aging is the underlying driver of all the diseases of old age.

Coughlin might like to pretend that problems of aging don’t actually exist, but biological reality is that people do become more sicker, less energetic, and less capable over time. Aging directly causes cancer, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, muscle loss, frailty, cataracts, macular degeneration, urinary incontinence, hearing loss, decreased libido, loss of taste and smell, weakened voice, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, wrinkly skin, hair loss, mental retardation, memory loss, and a greatly weakened immune system.

While it is true that people are living longer now than decades ago and receiving better medical care, the problem of aging is still very much with us. In fact, aging is a larger problem today since we can keep people alive longer with medical interventions. These interventions (like stents, pacemakers, etc.) keep people alive but they don’t halt aging, so people now experience the horrible ravages of aging for longer than ever before.

Aging is not a slow, gradual decline. Rather, it’s something that picks of pace rapidly after age 65. The incidence of most of the worst diseases caused by aging increases exponentially with age. Age 65 is right around the “knee” or “turning point” of that exponential curve. It makes sense biologically to say those over 65 are entering “old age”. Consider that only 10% of people die between age 1 and age 65, but 20% of people will die in the next 10 years after that. Between 75 to 85, 30% more people will die. Things go downhill quickly after age 65.

Of course we shouldn’t assume any one individual isn’t capable simply because they are over 65. Noam Chomsky is still intellectually engaged at age 94. A few individuals are able to complete triathlons in their 90s. There is clearly significant variation in the rates at which people age due to genetics and other factors. At the same time as we acknowledge this we must not turn a blind eye away from the reality of how aging effects most people. Reality is that most of us are going to suffer from numerous issues as we enter old age. In fact, as much as it pains me to say this, a significant fraction of people reading this are going to die a slow, painful death unless we as a society get serious about treating and reversing aging.

Who is this guy, and how did he become an authority on longevity?

Dr. Coughlin, who has a Ph.D. in transportation engineering, created the MIT Age Lab in 1999. Always in a suit and bowtie, he projects a confident, authoritative presence. He is an energetic and engaging speaker. It’s not hard to see how after 20+ years of giving his traveling roadshow he has become a respected thought leader on longevity, despite having no formal training on the subject.

The core of Coughlin’s message is that aging isn’t a problem and that the elderly are unfairly stigmatized. It’s not hard to see why this message is popular. People don’t want to think about all of the horrible effects of aging they will very likely have to endure later in their life. People prefer to focus on the stories of people who thrive in their 80s and 90s rather than those suffering long drawn-out deaths in hospitals and nursing homes. Talk about “socially constructed categories” sounds intellectually sophisticated as well.

Now to be fair, Coughlin makes a lot of good points in his talks. He often talks about the loss of meaning and purpose many experience after retirement. He talks about how products for the elderly often use drab neutral “healthcare” color schemes like teal and beige. His book The Longevity Economy is about how to market to the growing number of older people, which he says is an often overlooked demographic. He seems to see longevity biotechnology in a positive light.

Coughlin was appointed by President George W. Bush to the White House Advisory Committee on Aging in 2005. More recently he was appointed by Governor Charlie Baker to the Governor’s Council on Aging in Massachusetts. Unfortunately, this is man who continues to wield power and influence over the direction of healthcare policy in the United States. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered writing this post.

It’s not just Coughlin…

Putting Coughlin aside, I’d like to also point out that many doctors today share Coughlin’s view that aging is not a problem. In fact, I spoke to one such doctor at the event. This dismissive attitude is widespread in the medical establishment and requires forceful disruption to change. In Nick Bostrom’s Fable of the Dragon-Tyrant, for generations people accept the fact that a tyrannical dragon requires regular human sacrifice. When something is accepted as a “normal fact of life”, nobody even contemplates how things might be different. This is exactly the state of things today with respect to aging.

Many people also worry that talking about “aging as a disease” will reinforce unfair stereotypes.² For instance Cathal McCrory and Rose Anne Kenny wrote the following in a letter to The Lancet: Diabetes and Endocrinology.

“we feel that labelling ageing as a disease serves to reinforce ageist stereotypes and risks legitimising insidious prejudice and discrimination of older people on the basis of age.”

Of course, “ageism” is a massive and thorny problem, just like sexism and racism, and I admit that more honest talk about the realities of aging could exacerbate this problem. At the same time, more honest talk about the reality of aging could also lead to more compassion towards and better social accommodations for the elderly. Regardless, the best path forward here is not to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that aging doesn’t exist. We must confront both problems (aging and ageism) head on. The ultimate solution towards eliminating ageism would be to cure aging itself.

Appendix: biological reality

At a high level aging is very simple – it is the accumulation of damage over time. Aging is well understood and characterized in terms of specific biological processes. A famous 2013 paper called “The Hallmarks of Aging” identified four “primary hallmarks” that cause damage in the body – genome instability, telomere shortening, epigenetic alterations, and loss of proteostasis. Aubrey de Grey famously broke aging into seven specific damage causing-processes – extracellular aggregates, accumulation of senescent cells, extracellular matrix stiffening, intracellular aggregates, mitochondrial mutations, cancerous cells, and cell loss. Karl Pfleger’s very thorough review identifies 18 causes. There is substantial overlap between these lists.³ To the extent there is controversy about the causes of aging, it is mostly around whether there are any more fundamental processes that drive the different damage-causing processes that have been identified.

Let’s look at some graphs that show the acceleration of aging’s harmful effects after age 65 – 75:

Risk of death vs. age

Energy expenditure vs. age

Figure from *Scientific American.* Adapted from Pontzer et al. *Science*, vol. 373, no. 6556, Aug. 2021, pp. 808–12.

Cancer incidence vs. age

Figure from the National Cancer Institute.

Musculoskeletal conditions vs. age (back pain, arthritis, etc)

Conditions include low back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and others. Source: De Luca et al. *Chiropractic & Manual Therapies*, vol. 30, no. 1, Dec. 2022, p. 22.

Cognitive ability vs. age

Figure showing data from the Seattle Longitudinal Study.

VO₂ max vs. age (a measure of max cardiovascular output)

Figure from www.opportunityfitness.com.au. See also a similar graph in Loe, Henrik, et al. “Aerobic Capacity Reference Data in 3816 Healthy Men and Women 20–90 Years.” *PLoS ONE*, vol. 8, no. 5, May 2013, p. e64319.

Grip strength vs. age

Figure from Murabito et al. *Aging Cell*, vol. 16, no. 4, Aug. 2017, pp. 888–94.

Footnotes

[1] I Google-searched a bit and can’t find any information on the historical “vital force/energy” theory other than Coughlin’s talks and articles. Coughlin writes about it in his book, The Longevity Economy, but he doesn’t cite any sources. The theory sounds plausible, but it’s curious there are no other historical accounts of it online other than Coughlin’s writings. If anyone knows anything further about this theory, please comment below.

[2] This follows a common pattern where someone points out a problem that needs to be solved, but then someone else points out a hypothetical social concern that may arise from trying to solve or solving the problem. People end up talking and arguing ad nauseam about the hypothetical social concern rather than actually trying to solve the problem. The result is that unnecessary suffering is prolongated. Another way of saying this is that people tend to focus on harmful secondary effects that might arise from tackling a problem rather than the massive gains that definitely would occur from tackling the problem. I may do this an article about this at some point, since I can think of several other examples of this phenomena.

[3] See Karl Pfleger’s summary spreadsheet for a comparison of “causes of aging” lists and his discussion here.

Dan Elton, Ph. D., is Director of Scholarship for the U.S. Transhumanist Party. You can find him on Twitter at @moreisdifferent and on LinkedIN. If you like his content, check out his website and consider subscribing to his newsletter on Substack.

U.S. Transhumanist Party 2023 Electronic Primary Results – Tom Ross Endorsed as Candidate for President of the United States, Daniel Twedt Selected as Candidate for Vice-President

May 23, 2023 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 2 comments

May 23, 2023 – The U.S. Transhumanist Party (USTP) hereby announces the results of its 2023 Electronic Primary for the USTP’s endorsement of a candidate to run for the office of President of the United States. Detailed results have been tabulated here.

Between 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time on May 14, 2023, and 3:00 a.m. on May 22, 2023, 129 members of the USTP cast their ballots in the 2023 Electronic Primary. Consistent with the USTP’s commitment to ranked-preference voting, members were able to rank-order the two candidates, Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt, as well as the “None of the Above” option. The anonymized individual ballots (ordered by randomly assigned Voter IDs to protect individual voters’ privacy), have been documented in this spreadsheet.

Total Valid Ballots Cast: 129

Summary of Voter Rankings by Candidate

	Thomas Ernest Ross, Jr. (Tom Ross)		Daniel Emerson Twedt (Daniel Twedt)		None of the Above
	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
1st CHOICES	80	62.02%	35	27.13%	14	10.85%
2nd CHOICES	34	28.57%	70	58.82%	15	12.61%
3rd (Last) CHOICES	13	15.48%	14	16.67%	57	67.86%

Round 1: Tally of First Choices

Tom Ross: 80 votes – 62.02%
Daniel Twedt: 35 votes – 27.13%
None of the Above: 14 votes – 10.85%

In Round 1, Tom Ross receives an absolute majority and therefore wins the election.

Accordingly, Tom Ross receives the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s endorsement as candidate for President of the United States in 2024.

All votes cast during the election process were manually validated to ensure that they originated from genuine USTP members. Detailed monitoring of the votes cast did not detect any voter fraud, sock-puppet accounts, or mass attempts by non-members to vote. USTP leadership is thus confident that election security was appropriately preserved. Only four ballots were discarded: one blank ballot, one ballot where the member subsequently re-voted and had the re-vote counted, and two ballots from name/e-mail address combinations that were not found on the USTP’s membership list.

In accordance with the preferences of the USTP membership, on March 23, 2023, USTP Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II declared pursuant to his authority in Article III of the USTP Constitution that the United States Transhumanist Party hereby endorses Tom Ross for President of the United States in the 2024 general election.

As the endorsed Presidential candidate, Tom Ross had the option to select his Vice-Presidential running mate, and he has decided that Daniel Twedt shall be running on the U.S. Transhumanist Party ticket for Vice-President of the United States. Accordingly, this is truly a Transhumanist unity ticket, as these two candidates earned a total of 89.15% of the first-choice votes cast during the 2023 Electronic Primary.

The Ross-Twedt 2024 campaign will provide the U.S. Transhumanist Party and the broader transhumanist movement with numerous opportunities for raising public awareness about the importance of emerging technologies and how the Platform and Values of the USTP can enable humankind to realize a brighter future where both length and quality of life are dramatically improved. The USTP encourages all of its members, and all transhumanists generally, to support the Ross-Twedt 2024 campaign and unite as a movement in advocating for the ideas of transhumanism to the general public. As we move into the general-election campaign, we welcome your help and participation in this next stage of our endeavors – and we welcome other members of the USTP pursuing political offices at the federal, state, and local levels.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Presidential Candidate Roundtable – Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt – May 7, 2023 – and Subsequent Candidate Answers to Viewer Questions

May 13, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 1 comment

Daniel Twedt
Tom Ross

On Sunday, May 7, 2023, the U.S. Transhumanist Party presented its Presidential Candidate Roundtable, featuring Tom Ross and Daniel Twedt, who are seeking the U.S. Transhumanist Party’s endorsement for President of the United States in 2024. The Candidate Roundtable was moderated by Chairman Gennady Stolyarov II and featured questions to the candidates from the other Roundtable attendees and the audience. Unlike a conventional Presidential debate, the Roundtable format is non-adversarial and is primarily intended to facilitate thoughtful, constructive discussion of issues that matter to transhumanists and to the broader public. The Candidate Roundtable also served as an illustration of a new political paradigm that rejects the mainstream divide-and-conquer approach and instead invites us all to build the future together.

Timestamps

2:30 – Daniel Twedt’s opening remarks
7:40 – Tom Ross’s opening remarks
12:20 – How to handle the coming Silver Tsunami, as well as reparations to indigenous people, and how to allow terminal patients to try drugs that aren’t yet fully approved
24:15 – What the candidates’ perspectives are on transgender issues, and the subject’s relation to transhumanism
32:35 – How will 2nd-Amendment rights change with arms development?
39:25 – How could the USTP help overcome the divisiveness of the duopoly?
47:55 – How will the USTP candidate get mainstream votes?
54:55 – How to address the vast disparities in health in the United States?
1:00:45 – How do the candidates practice transhumanism, and how do their views differ from each other and “mainstream” transhumanism?
1:07:45 – How would each candidate advance longevity initiatives?
1:13:55 – How do we improve the criminal justice / incarceration system?
1:19:50 – How to open doors for stem-cell and other new therapies?
1:27:00 – How can we help young Americans afford housing?
1:34:30 – How to cost-effectively get good press?
1:42:20 – What are the candidates’ views on the death penalty?
1:44:35 – What should education focus on in the 21st century?
1:51:10 – Daniel Twedt’s closing remarks
1:53:40 – Tom Ross’s closing remarks

Read Daniel Twedt’s profile in the Thousand Oaks Acorn.

Visit Tom Ross’s campaign page.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free in order to be able to vote in our Presidential Primary.

Candidate Responses to Additional Audience Questions

During the Candidate Roundtable, additional audience questions were posed for which there was not sufficient time for the candidates to respond live. Both candidates prepared thorough written answers to each of the audience questions below.

Question 1 – From Jason Geringer: Who do you think won the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election?

Response from Candidate Tom Ross: Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. won by at least 7 million votes.

Response from Candidate Daniel Twedt: It was Joe Robinette Biden. I will, however, look forward to answering this question in more detail based on various shortcomings our current election system suffers from. Until we put into place and into practice more fair election systems such as RCV (Ranked Choice Voting), in a sense the electorate as a whole will continue to be the loser!

***

Question 2 – From Jason Geringer: Do you believe that there was any widespread fraud that could have affected the outcome of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election?

Response from Candidate Tom Ross: No. There was no widespread fraud. Certainly none that could have affected the final vote count.

Response from Candidate Daniel Twedt: No. However, see my first answer as well.

***

Question 3 – From Liz Parrish: How can transhumanism help the planet?

Response from Candidate Tom Ross: I’ve seen a strong anthropocentric streak in many Transhumanists, but for those who understand our deep connection to the biosphere, the best way Transhumanism can help the planet is to consider and prepare for all the implications that Radical Life Extension will demand on resources, waste, and the animal and plant kingdoms. We must rebalance humanity with nature, although we may be beyond the Rubicon for that now but I’ll keep scanning the horizon for Black Swans.

Response from Candidate Daniel Twedt: Great question, Liz (and also what is probably ‘THE Great Question’…) I know that by “the Planet” you probably aren’t technically talking about the 4.56-billion-year-old 13.166 trillion trillion pounds of atoms orbiting a minor star on the outskirts of a minor galaxy… a planet that has seen it’s surface conditions alternate between solid lava and solid ice over the course of many such orbits. You are, I assume, speaking of the fragile living envelope, a.k.a. the Biosphere and Civilization that happens to hopefully sustain our collective Past, Present, and Futures.

Like it or not, most members of the species known as Humans have historically tended to be rather short-sighted when it comes to intelligently anticipating significant and looming Change. Transhumanists, fortunately, tend to be more proactive at anticipating such often tectonic-level changes and hopefully preparing for them both at the individual and community level.

As a kind of “Bio-Cosmo-Pantheist” stripe of the Transhumanist Spectrum, I detect that the ‘artist formerly known as Evolution’ is in the process of experiencing an extreme volitional and tool-using upgrade, whereby what used to require iterations of the ancient libraries of the biochemical publishing house called DNA to create a new Dewey Decimal Subject Category, now looks like it’s going to be directing itself in Real Time (in our Lifetimes!). Transhumanists are among the first tribes of humanity to realize and see the need to come to grips with the reality that this is such A Real Time to be alive in. Like it or not, we would seem to be no less than Evolution’s chosen agents of Cosmic Enlivenment and Enlightenment. It’s truly an awesome responsibility that will hopefully bring forth our most worthy and supreme individual and collective human efforts.

When it comes to the many descriptions of the Transhumanist Spectrum, the “NBIC Convergence” described by Jean-Pierre Dupuy of Stanford is perhaps the most practical one. “NBIC” is the acronym for “Nanotechnology, Biomedicine, Information Technology and Cognitive Science.” I’d like to see our movement come up with useful metrics and/or digital tokens to both report on and usefully grapple with these aspects of the “Future Surge.”

***

Question 4 – From Mike Lezine: How would the candidates address curing mental diseases or illnesses that currently have no cures?

Response from Candidate Tom Ross: I’m not a doctor or psychologist, but as President, what I could do is assemble a moonshot-style effort to increase funding for research, improve access to mental-health services, help develop education and public awareness campaigns and promote public, private, and academic partnerships to accelerate progress while working with Congress to advocate for relevant policy changes like increased insurance coverage and reducing barriers to access care. Right now that last idea seems like it would be the most difficult given the current two-party rancor. The risk is that even mental health could become partisan.

Response from Candidate Daniel Twedt: This is an excellent question, Mike, about what seems to be an often neglected topic within the Transhumanist movement and discourse. We must institute systems prioritizing Wellness Care over Disease Care. When it comes to delivering such “Wellness Care,” I believe we should be advocating the most holistic and integrative approaches available. Rather than pharmacologically countering and/or masking a narrow range of exhibited symptoms (as is the current status quo underlying modality of Allopathic-based medical interventions), we need to better consider the physical, mental, and even “spiritual” aspects of the person believed to be in a behavioral crisis. A civilization in crisis which is exhibiting pathologies can increasingly be expected to produce and enable individuals exhibiting the same condition. This is a crucial but neglected consideration to integrate before we isolate Members of our hopefully humane Civilization and deprive them of normal Rights in the cause of preventing greater harms, though there will unfortunately and inevitably be those whom we can find no preferable options for.

“Maladjusted” is a terminology that modern psychology often uses to describe the category of patients it seeks to treat. I can’t help but be reminded of Dr. Martin Luther King’s many speeches where he said he didn’t want to be well-adjusted to a world where racism, segregation, and luxuries for the few at the expense of necessities for the many and other seeming evils were considered as social norms. He even spoke about intending to start something called, “The International Society for Creative Maladjustment.” Millenia earlier, the philosopher-emperor Marcus Aurelius said, “The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”

The nineteenth Century romantic poet James Russel Lowell once said, “Let us be of good cheer remembering that the misfortunes hardest to bear are those which will never happen.”

Few might recall that the so-called “mentally maladjusted” of today were in indigenous societies typically regarded as shamanic level advisors… walkers between the worlds of the seen and the unseen. Can we recapture any sense to be found in that sensibility of beyond-ness? The coal mine of what we call civilization would be well served not to leave its canaries behind…

***

Question 5 – From 101tesla: What improvements to the current education system would the candidates propose and/or support?

Response from Candidate Tom Ross: I would propose giving each student an AI Companion in first grade. A companion that can hone in on that child’s core capabilities and augment their curriculum based on those. AI can customize an educational path for each student that accentuates their intrinsic skills and talents and gives them extra help on the subjects they need to work on. I would also move away from the Industrial Age classroom setting of rows of desks and move toward small study groups that rotate regularly. This will foster the hivemind that is already emerging in Digital Natives and make schools more like real companies and less like an individual sport.

Response from Candidate Daniel Twedt: Our current western educational model is tragically outdated. The Public School System is partially based on a 19th-Century Prussian Military Discipline System emphasizing regimentation, obedience, minimization of creative thinking, and optimizing the propensity for the compulsory-schooled to be an easily managed, factory-friendly-ready workforce. This line from a 1913 report from the John D. Rockefeller-founded General Education Board, on how to design Schools, entitled, “The Country School of To-morrow” is rather illustrative of the intended mission:

“In our dream we have limitless resources, and the people yield themselves with perfect docility to our molding hand. The present educational conventions fade from our minds; and, unhampered by tradition, we work our own good will upon a grateful and responsive rural folk. We shall not try to make these people or any of their children into philosophers or men of learning or of science. We are not to raise up among them authors, orators, poets, or men of letters. We shall not search for embryo great artists, painters, musicians. Nor will we cherish even the humbler ambition to raise up from among them lawyers, doctors, preachers, statesmen, of whom we now have ample supply.”

— Rev. Frederick T. Gates, Business Advisor to John D. Rockefeller Sr., 1913

The current American school system took root around the turn of the last century. In 1903, John D. Rockefeller founded the General Education Board, which provided major funding for schools across the country and was especially active in promoting the State-controlled public-school movement.

The General Education Board was not interested in encouraging critical thinking. Rather, its focus was on organizing children and creating reliable, predictable, obedient citizens. As award-winning former teacher John Gatto puts it, “school was looked upon from the first part of the 20th Century as a branch of industry and a tool of governance.” The Rockefellers, along with other financial elites and their philanthropic organizations (such as the Gates, Carnegies, and Vanderbilts), have been able to mold society by funding and pushing compulsory state schooling for the masses.

In reading this, the basic context you need to understand is that he is talking about rural schools, i.e. schools in the country, and those schools were in terrible shape.

I also think global and useful hobbies such as Amateur Radio and the so-called “maker movement” can play an extraordinary educational role in the STEAM field (Science/Technology/Engineering/Art/Math).

***

Question 6 – From François Joinneau: Does the individual opinion of a candidate matter so much, on any given subject, when the answer should come from interactions with/between institutions and existing laws?

Response from Candidate Tom Ross: No. The individual opinion on any subject by a candidate should not matter because, in a Representative Democracy, the candidate is supposed to be a mouthpiece for the majority of those he represents. There seems to be something embedded in the genetic memory that makes us want to look to one person for all the answers. After the American Revolution, the people wanted to make George Washington King of America. This default position, this tendency toward tyranny was well understood by our forefathers, which is why we have a separation of powers.

Response from Candidate Daniel Twedt: Many past races run by seemingly minor or marginal political parties and candidates have had documented impacts in the light of the subsequent passage of events. The widening of the so-called “Overton Window” (a metaphor for what breadth of topics is accepted into mainstream discourse) is one impactful result of “dark horse” political involvement. Such Overton Window widening is not in vain.

The involvement in governance should not be limited to those in the monied and influential stations of society. Would society expect fair and just outcomes and due process from juries composed of jurors who were not peers of the person being judged? Why do we lower our standards when it comes to political representation and fair decision making?

Not all useful and needed policy changes are vested and backed up by the police power of traditional governments. There is massive potential to better organize and mobilize voluntary institutions throughout the world, and the “Bully Pulpit” of a Candidacy for Office can serve in that context as well.

***

Question 7 – From Luis Arroyo: Good previous comments on housing by the candidates. What are your thoughts on housing the homeless with existing vacant homes to end homelessness rapidly?

Response from Candidate Tom Ross: Using vacant properties to house the homeless bring up many complex property-rights issues. It bleeds into Squatters’ Rights, which are an intriguing loophole, but one that real estate developers would lobby against fiercely. There could be tax or monetary incentives for property owners to use vacant housing for that purpose, however, and if the property is having trouble being sold or rented, any income is better than none. That would bring up issues of who pays the utilities, etc. But if these properties, say an apartment building, could be zoned to allow these homeless people to set up businesses, art galleries, etc., and an awareness campaign was launched to show the surrounding community what these people are producing, it could give these people dignity and maybe launch a new inner-city renaissance movement.

Response from Candidate Daniel Twedt: Being a Geoist/Land Value Taxation advocate, I especially appreciate a question such as this. Access to shelter should be among the more enshrined “Humane Rights” as we approach the 21st Century’s Anniversary of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Existing property laws and dynamics incentivize rent-seeking behaviors and sitting on the most undervalued properties until a sizable profit can be realized. The Geoist policies I would advocate for would break up incentives which currently allow many properties to sit vacant until owners could realize often exorbitant returns on them. By instead annually/periodically charging an open-market, auction-derived, Location Value-based fee, such speculative and monopolistic tendencies would disappear. Such a “Single Tax” is also envisioned to be sufficient to fund all needed government functions in lieu of any other form of taxation, and the wealth freed up for other good uses would be enormously impactful. How about teaching the differently housed to operate and supervise the construction of Auxiliary Dwelling Units at some existing properties as a condition of using those vacant properties? The tooling to create structures through large-format 3D printing could be potentially loaned out from a community tool library. It would be a win/win in terms of upskilling our underused human resources as well as adding location value to such existing properties. In my estimation, about half of the unhoused population are victimized by adverse economic circumstances, and the other half are basically pursuing a lifestyle choice of something like “urban adventure camping” and have mostly abandoned the level of personal and social responsibility normally expected. Emergency housing for the “adventure camper” cohort of the unhoused is hence likely to initially be very problematic.

***

Question 8 – From Jason Geringer: Would the candidates support reaching out and putting together a panel of experts on A.I. and then even possibly reach out and meet with the new A.I. czar Kamala Harris?

Response from Candidate Tom Ross: Of course. Any opportunity to work with and educate the current administration about the issues the Technological Singularity will bring would be very productive. It would be the perfect opportunity to make my case for a new Cabinet Seat, The Singularity Secretary. These issues are serious and urgent and we shouldn’t let our feelings about either party get in the way of solutions.

Response from Candidate Daniel Twedt: We Transhumanists can be proud of our open and welcoming big tent… big enough for all with the “future forward” grey matter to appreciate proactive discussions about it. We are here on behalf of all those who seek to figure out our better future, and how to not only survive it, but to thrive, but to make it one of flourishing abundance. We should be eager to work with any parties that share our concerns and analysis of the need to be proactive about the “Future Surge.”

***

Question / Comment 9 – From Mike Lezine: It would be great to talk to these people on YouTube who act like AI like Sophia the Robot is 666 or “The Sign of the Beast”. Nonsense.

Response from Candidate Tom Ross: Agreed. And I have appeared on podcasts and in radio interviews with Conspiracy Theorists who see AI and Transhumanism just as you say. It’s absolutely necessary to engage with the people and although many are in a conspiracy loop that cannot be unspun; you can redirect some of them away from this narrative and convince others that we’re not the enemy.

Response from Candidate Daniel Twedt: It often seems there is no indoctrinated person quite like those indoctrinated with theologically based ideas. Questions of faith do not seemingly follow the rules of courtroom evidence standards or accepted methods of scientific falsification. Often, in such cases, the best that can be hoped for is a non-violent level of coexistence, and the ability for the representatives of conflicting positions to gain or lose allies in the free-est marketplace of ideas that civilized discourse and open society can provide.

***

Question 10 – From Sophia’s Roulette: Mr. Ross touched on his view on abortion. Is it possible to get a more comprehensive answer from both candidates?

Response from Candidate Tom Ross: It’s a very difficult issue, and it’s important to have empathy for both sides of it. Pro-Life advocates believe doctors are murdering babies and my G*d, what could be worse than that? Pro-Choice advocates know it is the most difficult choice a would-be mother could ever make but believe it is her right to do so. If it were my choice, and I’m a man so it never would be so it doesn’t matter. The only position I can take as an American Citizen is to look to the U.S. Constitution, specifically the 14th Amendment. Its opening sentence reads, “All persons BORN or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” Since this is a political issue, we must heed the wording of the Constitution. An unborn child is not a Citizen and therefore has no rights. The mother, however, does.

Response from Candidate Daniel Twedt: Thank you for the question, Sophia’s Roulette. Although there are passionate and persuasive arguments on both sides of this most divisive of issues, in the near term it is unlikely to be wholly solved to the satisfaction of either extreme of the spectrum. While I do tend to support life-saving efforts for all life, including pre-born humans, society will hopefully remain receptive to newer developing options such as ectogenesis which have the potential to allow a developing human life to continue apart from a potential carrier of an unwanted pregnancy. Until this is more available and perfected, the most primary say in the outcome of a pregnancy must continue to be primarily vested with the highest regard to the health outcomes and choices of the mother, in whose body the fetus is an entity whose massively dependent status may not always be a welcome or desired one.

Thanks for the thoughtful questions from everyone and the opportunity to ever-better refine my policy positions which I hope will well accord with my well-loved USTP affiliation.

Stay tuned for the Electronic Primary vote that will occur in mid-May 2023 for the USTP Members to decide upon the candidate whom the USTP will endorse for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election. Make sure that you have joined as a member for free before the start of the voting period so that you are eligible to vote in the Electronic Primary.

A Transhumanist “Minimum Effective Dose” for Humanitarian Needs – Article by Zach Richardson

April 15, 2023 Zach Richardson Comments 2 comments

Zach Richardson

Editor’s Note: This article is my direct response to Mr. Arroyo’s article “The Class Struggle of Longevity“, where I argue for what I would consider a less-costly intervention to the problem of hunger raised first in Mr. Arroyo’s article. The reader is welcomed to join this important and ongoing conversation in our Discord server, which can be accessed here.

~ Zach Richardson, Director of Publication, United States Transhumanist Party, April 15, 2023

In medicine, practitioners sometimes use the acronym MED, which stands for “minimum effective dose”. This is the smallest amount of a substance needed to provide a clinically significant response that is also statistically significant. Keep that term in mind for me.

In Mr. Arroyo’s paper, the number of people cited to be dying of hunger per day in his first source is 25,000, but I could not see how that source calculated this number. Checking the World Food Programme’s website, they did have some calculations, which suggested a daily number of hunger deaths between 8,000 and 19,000. [1]

This is still too many people dying of hunger, and a response is obviously urgently needed, but in contrast to Mr. Arroyo, I do not believe that shifting the world’s economy to communism from capitalism is the appropriate response. In fact, the countries which have the strongest market freedoms are not the ones that are starving.

Let’s take a look at where these hungry reside: Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, South Sudan, and Afghanistan.

What do these nations have in common? The inclusion of Yemen and Afghanistan tells us that it’s not an Africa problem. In fact, there are several countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that are not doing that badly, Botswana being a prime example, as was shown to me once in this (older) infographic. [2]

I’d like to share something with the reader called the “Index of Economic Freedom”, which ranks countries by 12 factors, which are broadly grouped into four categories [3]:

1. Rule of Law (property rights, judicial effectiveness, government integrity)

2. Government Size (tax burden, government spending, fiscal health)

3. Regulatory Efficiency (business freedom, labor freedom, monetary freedom)

4. Market Openness (trade freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom)

All countries were ranked on these 12 factors, and all countries were ranked in order, a straightforward numbered list from “best” to “worst”.

The countries at the top of this list all turned out to be countries where it is pretty nice to live, countries where people aren’t starving to death every day.

The reader may be surprised to find that the U.S. was not near the top of this list, was barely in the top septile, and was quite outclassed by the Nordic countries, which are often paradoxically paraded as socialist success stories. (The U.S. was ranked #25, while Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway were 9-12, respectively.) [4]

Where then, would we find our previously mentioned countries, the ones where the starving to death is happening? Well, out of 176 countries, Ethiopia was ranked #155, Sudan was ranked #173. Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen were so far removed from the above factors that there was not even enough data to rank them.

For this reason, in contrast to Mr. Arroyo, I would disagree that markets are the problem leading to poverty; I would suggest that they are more likely to be a solution.

But market development takes time – time that these dying people do not have, and time which we need to spend most effectively. Focusing our efforts on those smallest interventions (therefore to cause the least friction/resistance from those powers which could implement them, and also the least expensive) which would have the largest result would logically be the best course of action. What would these interventions be?

Well, in 2008, a group of Nobel-prize-winning economists were tasked with finding these “MED” approaches that would focus specifically on implementing what are referred to by the U.N. as the “SDGs”, or Sustainable Development Goals, prime among which was eradicating poverty and hunger. The question posed was: “Considering the world has finite resources, if an extra $75 billion were to be allocated for the SDGs, where would it be spent most effectively? Where would humanity get the best ‘bang for its buck’?”

These economists found an interesting solution: free vitamins. It turns out that most of these deaths of hunger were actually deaths of malnutrition, in particular Vitamin A, zinc, iodine, and iron. [5] It’s not just a lack of calories that these victims of hunger are suffering from, it’s a lack of nutrients. More interestingly, these economists noted this simple intervention would actually have a significant return on investment (ROI): deficiencies in these vitamins and nutrients cause lack of development in the hippocampus, affecting these children’s future capacity to contribute effectively to the economy.

In more recent congregations of these economic experts, other suggestions included investment in agricultural research, and even an increase in food production (despite the global food surplus, extra is still needed to offset the effects of climate change). They also suggest improving the economy by improving access to cell phones so these small-scale farmers have better access to markets to trade their products, and also buy cheap fertilizers, such as nitrogen, phosphate, and potash, and also significant public investment in producing local fertilizer plants, which could then sell fertilizer to farmers.

Another current solution comes again from the amazing technology of the cell phone. Reuters currently sends text messages to these small-scale farmers including growing advice, up-to-date and location-specific weather forecasts (!!), local price information, and information to access international commodities markets.

These economic interventions, some public and some private, could be considered the Minimum Effective Dose to both reduce death and improve cognitive function: two extremely Transhumanist goals – Transhumanist bang-for-your-buck.

One will note that we are gaining significant transhumanist benefits with an intervention that would cause much less friction (and is therefore more likely, and realistic) than overthrowing society, and which also carries much less risk.

Longevity and immortality are in our grasp, and it is true that the rich will first get these benefits. However, just like how in 1987’s Wall Street, even Gordon Gekko had a now-ridiculous-looking mini-TV accessible only to the ultra-wealthy, and how now even these poorest of the poor are benefiting from the rapid spread of the cell phone throughout global society, immortality technology will, too, spread to all who desire it, and if our goal is a humanitarian one, the MED is to bring markets to the countries that are starving.

Zach Richardson is the Director of Publication for the U.S. Transhumanist Party. Find out more about him here.

[1] Action Against Hunger et al. “Humanitarian organisations estimate one person dying of hunger every four seconds”. September 20, 2022. https://reliefweb.int/report/world/humanitarian-organisations-estimate-one-person-dying-hunger-every-four-seconds

[2] “A Story of Two Neighbors: Botswana vs. Zimbabwe, Stats”. Reddit. March 31, 2018. https://www.reddit.com/r/Floathouse/comments/88gay9/a_story_of_two_neighbors_botswana_vs_zimbabwe/

[3] “The 12 Economic Freedoms: Policies for Lasting Progress and Prosperity”. The Heritage Foundation. 2023 Index of Economic Freedom. https://www.heritage.org/index/pdf/2023/book/02_2023_IndexofEconomicFreedom_12-ECONOMIC-FREEDOMS.pdf

[4] The Heritage Foundation. 2023 Index of Economic Freedom. Country Rankings. https://www.heritage.org/index/ranking

[5] Copenhagen Consensus 2008 – Results. https://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/sites/default/files/cc08_results_final_0.pdf

[6] “Third Copenhagen Consensus: Hunger and Malnutrition Assessment, Hoddinott Rosegrant Torero”. Copenhagen Consensus Center. https://www.copenhagenconsensus.com/publication/third-copenhagen-consensus-hunger-and-malnutrition-assessment-hoddinott-rosegrant

The Class Struggle of Longevity – Article by Luis Arroyo

April 15, 2023 Luis Arroyo Comments 1 comment

Luis Arroyo

Editor’s Note: The United States Transhumanist Party publishes this call to action by long-standing member Luis Arroyo. Mr. Arroyo is an active and passionate voice in the USTP Discord server, advocating consistently for the needs and interests of the working class. He often argues that if we are looking to solve aging and death, we would get more bang for our buck by focusing on the neediest, as interventions such as better housing and nutrition could save many more lives – the core essence of Transhumanism.

~ Zach Richardson, Director of Publication, United States Transhumanist Party, April 15, 2023

When observing present society, an undeniable feature is inequality. This feature, stemming from the very core of Capitalism flows through many sectors of life and society. Showcasing itself within horrid and needless realities such as the amount of food produced [1] and the 25,000 people who die per day due to hunger [2], the number of vacant homes [3], and the number of homeless people [4], or the one billion people without shoes while civilization produces enough to give three pairs to every human being [5]. Disparities of such sorts exist everywhere within society and are inevitable with the emergence of new industries and fields. Longevity-related industries and fields are no exception.

Nothing is preventing great disparities from emerging within longevity fields, serving only to deepen dystopian conditions represented best by the differences in life expectancy of the “haves and have-nots”. This void of impending regulation and overall guarantee of a market approach allows those like the Chairman of the United States Transhumanist Party, a prominent political party within the Transhumanist community, to state, “Naturally, the first few customers of these treatments are going to be people who can afford them, i.e., the wealthy. However, this initial stage is quite necessary for the technology to develop and eventually diffuse to the rest of the population. The wealthy individuals who are trying out the technologies at first are actually taking on a rather extraordinary level of risk” [6]. This highlights that nothing escapes the grasp of inequality if left to the market even to the advocates of such a system.

The subsequent implication of this is the wealthy will soon be able to “buy time” through early accessibility to expensive longevity treatments, leaving the rest of the masses to be killed by their deadliest foe, aging, which already takes 100,000 people per day [7] with sights of increasing as populations age evermore. Transhumanists and their allies, in realizing this impending disparity, should work to combat the mechanisms and roots of inequality in an effort to see longevity treatments offered to all people no matter their income levels, race, gender, location, etc.

Unfortunately, with the timeframe presented by none other than Jeff Bezos’s Altos Labs – more specifically, Juan Carlos Izpisua, who stated, “I am convinced that within two decades we will have tools that not only treat symptoms, but also can predict, prevent and treat diseases and aging through cellular rejuvenation” [8]. The possibility of having a “gods & the useless” situation between the Capitalist class and the Working class in less than 25 years is no longer far-fetched.

The forthcoming situation is seen as a miracle to some, albeit, when looked through a rose-colored lens; however for most it’s the beginning of a type of society not experienced by any other humans in history, signified by a couple of handfuls or so of wealthy and powerful individuals receiving longevity treatments and thus living on whilst the majority die out in droves – a future that must be rejected and worked against by all Transhumanists!

[1] Holt-Giménez, Eric & Shattuck, Annie & Altieri, Miguel & Herren, Hans & Gliessman, Steve. (2012). We Already Grow Enough Food for 10 Billion People … and Still Can’t End Hunger. Journal of Sustainable Agriculture – J SUSTAINABLE AGR. 36. 595-598. 10.1080/10440046.2012.695331. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241746569_We_Already_Grow_Enough_Food_for_10_Billion_People_and_Still_Can%27t_End_Hunger

[2] John Holmes. “Losing 25,000 to Hunger Every Day”. United Nations. UN Chronicle. https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/losing-25000-hunger-every-day#:~:text=Each%20day%2C%2025%2C000%20people%2C%20including,million%20into%20poverty%20and%20hunger. Excerpt: “Each day, 25,000 people, including more than 10,000 children, die from hunger and related causes. Some 854 million people worldwide are estimated to be undernourished, and high food prices may drive another 100 million into poverty and hunger.”

[3] Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. “Housing Inventory Estimate: Vacant Housing Units in the United States”. https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/EVACANTUSQ176N

[4] National Alliance to End Homelessness. “State of Homelessness: 2022 Edition”. https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-2021/

[5] The Tricontinental. “Solely Because of the Increasing Disorder: The Thirty-Sixth Newsletter (2021)”. https://thetricontinental.org/newsletterissue/36-poverty/

[6] Gennady Stolyarov II. “Life Extension Will Not Create an Immortal Wealthy Elite”. Immortalists Magazine, Issue 2. February 2020. https://www.flipsnack.com/BDEAACF6AED/im-feb-2020/full-view.html

[7] Aubrey D.N.J. de Grey. “Life Span Extension Research and Public Debate: Societal Considerations”. 2007. https://web.archive.org/web/20161013163622/http://www.sens.org/files/pdf/ENHANCE-PP.pdf

[8] Manuel Ansede. “Juan Carlos Izpisua: ‘Within two decades, we will be able to prevent diseases and aging’”. El Pais. March 8, 2022. https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2022-03-08/juan-carlos-izpisua-within-two-decades-we-will-be-able-to-prevent-aging.html

U.S. Transhumanist Party Call for 2024 Presidential Candidates and Outline of 2023 Endorsement and Primary Process

April 9, 2023 Gennady Stolyarov II Comments 0 Comment

Gennady Stolyarov II

The United States Transhumanist Party (USTP) issues its call for candidates wishing to run for President of the United States in the 2024 election and seeking an endorsement from the USTP. Candidates are encouraged to officially announce their intentions via this form and then spread awareness of the USTP, its forthcoming debate and primary process, and possibilities for individuals to sign up for free membership in the USTP in time to participate as voters in this process.

Because of the formidable hurdles to political-party ballot access on the State level, the candidates seeking the USTP’s endorsement would need to officially run as independent candidates. However, if those candidates qualify for inclusion on their States’ ballots, then, in approximately half of the jurisdictions in the United States, it would be possible to use a “political party designation” of “Transhumanist Party” to accompany the candidate’s name on the ballot.

Endorsement and Electronic Primary Process – Anticipated Timeline

The following timeline is approximate and subject to change as circumstances may necessitate. However, it is intended to provide an overarching impression of the sequence and desirable speed of steps for reaching an endorsement of a candidate for President of the United States.

– April 9 – May 1, 2023: Candidates declare their intention to seek the USTP Presidential endorsement and begin to campaign through channels of their choosing (online and/or in person) to attract supporters and spread awareness of their messages.

– May 6, 2023: Transhumanist Presidential Candidate Roundtable (Virtual) [Multiple Candidate Roundtables are possible depending on the number of candidates who declare their interest.]

– May 15 – June 15, 2023 [Specific days to be decided based on the number of candidates who declare their interest]: Electronic ranked-preference primary (7-day voting period, simultaneous for all USTP members).

– June 15-30, 2023: Votes from the electronic primary are tabulated and released. The candidate winning the USTP endorsement is announced simultaneously with the release of the results.

– July 1, 2023 – November 5, 2024: The candidate winning the USTP endorsement continues to campaign until Election Day 2024. The other candidates may seek the USTP’s endorsement for other federal, state, or local offices and/or assist the winning candidate.

– Early September 2023: Potential for the candidate winning the USTP endorsement to deliver an official acceptance speech in a venue with a large number of attendees.

U.S. Presidential Candidate Qualifications and Expectations

Qualifications Pursuant to the United States Constitution

Pursuant to Article 2, Section 1, of the United States Constitution, to be eligible to become President of the United States, the candidate must:

(1) Be at least 35 years old as of January 20, 2025 (i.e., born on or before January 20, 1990);

(2) Be a natural-born citizen of the United States; and

(3) Have been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.

The USTP considers the existence of the above restrictions unfortunate, as they could disqualify many otherwise fine candidates. However, in the absence of a Constitutional Amendment, they are insurmountable during the 2024 election season.

Qualifications Pursuant to the Constitution of the United States Transhumanist Party

Pursuant to Article VII, Section 1, of the Constitution of the United States Transhumanist Party, in order to be eligible to become endorsed by the United States Transhumanist Party as a candidate for any local, state, or federal political office, an individual must satisfy the following criteria.

(i) The individual satisfies the minimum qualifications pursuant to applicable law for holding the office for which the individual seeks to run.

(ii) The individual has never committed any violent crime. A violent crime includes physical injury or destruction inflicted upon any person. A violent crime also includes physical damage or destruction inflicted upon property. As used in this subsection, the term “violent crime” includes but is not necessarily limited to the following: murder, manslaughter, rape, human trafficking, domestic violence, robbery, assault, battery, looting, arson, and rioting.

(iii) The individual has never committed any financial crime which had any victim, including but not limited to fraud, embezzlement, theft, cybercrime, or financing of violent or criminal groups.

(iv) The individual has never engaged in documented acts of cyberbullying, cyber-harassment, or intentional spreading of false accusations against another individual online.

(v) The individual has never engaged in acts understood to be of a highly unacceptable nature within every contemporary agricultural, industrial, or post-industrial society. The Officers of the United States Transhumanist Party shall maintain an internal list identifying such highly unacceptable practices, engaging in which or advocating which would be considered an automatic disqualification for holding any office within or receiving any endorsement from the United States Transhumanist Party.

(vi) The individual has never engaged in acts which are understood by the Officers of the United States Transhumanist Party to have been undertaken by that individual primarily for the purposes of generating shock value or for transgression for the sake of transgression.

(vii) The individual must agree to participate in any process designated by the Officers of the United States Transhumanist Party for the determination of whether or not that individual may be endorsed as a candidate and to respect the outcome of that process, no matter whether or not that individual is ultimately endorsed as a candidate.

(viii) The individual must agree to work collaboratively with the United States Transhumanist Party during the campaign season and not to disparage the United States Transhumanist Party as well as not to work contrary to the interests and goals of the United States Transhumanist Party during that time.

(ix) The individual must never have disparaged the United States Transhumanist Party or any of its current Officers in good standing within any written publication or public video or audio recording. This criterion does not, however, preclude constructive criticism, and a reasonable-person test shall be used to differentiate constructive criticism from disparagement.

(x) The individual must commit to running for office as a candidate endorsed by the United States Transhumanist Party until the conclusion of the election in which the individual seeks to be a candidate.

(xi) The individual must have never reneged on a prior commitment to run for office as a candidate endorsed by the United States Transhumanist Party until the conclusion of the election in which the individual sought to be a candidate.

(xii) The individual must never have falsely alleged any electoral malfeasance on the part of the United States Transhumanist Party.

(xiii) The individual must never have undertaken or threatened to undertake any legal action or make any formal complaint to an external entity against the United States Transhumanist Party or any Officer thereof in good standing.

(xiv) The individual must express agreement with the Core Ideals of the United States Transhumanist Party as described in Article I, Section I, of this Constitution.

(xv) The policy positions of the individual should have significant areas of alignment with the United States Transhumanist Party Platform as described in Article VI of this Constitution.

(xvi) The individual must agree, in that individual’s public statements, to either (a) specifically and openly express support for transhumanism and/or life extension; or (b) specifically and openly reference the endorsement of that individual by the United States Transhumanist Party.

Expectations of the Candidate from the U.S. Transhumanist Party / Transhuman Party

(a) If officially endorsed, the candidate must commit to running for office until Election Day 2024 (November 5, 2024). During the time prior to Election Day 2024, the candidate shall not concede to or endorse another candidate from another political party. The candidate also shall not run on behalf of any other political party.

(b) Although the candidate is not obligated to either raise or spend funds, if the candidate does choose to fundraise, the candidate must agree to perform any such fundraising for the candidate’s campaign independently of the U.S. Transhumanist Party. Furthermore, any campaign committee and/or bank account established by or on behalf of the candidate must be organizationally separate from the USTP. The USTP will spread information and raise public awareness about the candidate, but the USTP would not collect or disburse funds directly. The candidate must also agree to independently comply with all campaign-finance laws and report campaign contributions and expenses in the manner required pursuant to all applicable state and federal laws. The candidate must agree that responsibility for such compliance is solely on the part of the candidate, and that, as an organization which does not finance campaigns, the USTP has no obligation nor legal liability in regard to such compliance. (The USTP may, however, at times assist the candidate by providing relevant information, as long as such assistance is understood to be non-obligatory in nature.)

(c) If officially endorsed, and if the candidate raises $5,000 or more in contributions or incurs $5,000 or more in expenditures, the candidate must agree to register as an independent candidate for President with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Guidance pertaining to this process can be found on the FEC website here or in video form here. However, nothing obligates the candidate to either raise or spend $5,000 or more; any fundraising is at the candidate’s discretion.

(d) The candidate must agree to participate in the USTP Endorsement and Electronic Primary process as set forth herein and to respect the outcome of that process, no matter whether or not the candidate is ultimately endorsed to run for the office of President of the United States.

(e) The candidate should be in agreement with the USTP Core Ideals:

Ideal 1. The Transhumanist Party supports significant life extension achieved through the progress of science and technology.

Ideal 2. The Transhumanist Party supports a cultural, societal, and political atmosphere informed and animated by reason, science, and secular values.

Ideal 3. The Transhumanist Party supports efforts to use science, technology, and rational discourse to reduce and eliminate various existential risks to the human species.

(f) The candidate should have significant areas of alignment with the USTP Platform. While complete agreement with all positions therein is not required, and diversity of perspectives is encouraged, it should be possible for the public to clearly perceive the candidate as being closer to the USTP Platform than any given non-USTP-endorsed candidate – for instance, a Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or Green candidate – would be.

(g) The candidate must agree to work collaboratively with the USTP during the campaign season and not to disparage the USTP as well as not to work contrary to the interests and goals of the USTP during that time.

For any questions, please e-mail Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman of the USTP, here.

You can also complete the embedded form below to express your interest in becoming a U.S. Presidential candidate who would participate in the USTP Endorsement and Electronic Primary Process:

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Universal Sign Language – Transhuman / Transhumanism / Transhumanist – Post by Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.

March 23, 2023 Art Ramon Garcia, Jr. Comments 0 Comment

Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.

USL-Transhuman / Transhumanism / Transhumanist

Before I joined as Director of Visual Art, back in November 2015, I created the sign for Transhuman/Transhumanism/Transhumanist.

After reading an article on Queen Silvia of Sweden and learning of her use and promotion of Swedish Sign Language, I contacted her via an email form on the official Swedish Monarchy profile, suggesting to her that she implement a Universal Sign Language program that crowdsourced the best signs by upvoting, while leveraging the site https://www.spreadthesign.com/ to be its main repository. I also suggested that Universal Sign Language be taught to all Swedish children and that she work to promote its worldwide use.

While many in the Deaf community did not appreciate my suggestions, I continue to remind the Deaf community that advancing technology will only make the signing community smaller to the point of extinction.

Promoting a worldwide Universal Sign Language ensures the signing community does not deplete to unsustainable levels and that future-enhanced humans have a universal fall-back language in case of technological failure of a high-bandwidth Universal Thought Language that does not use verbal or written forms.

Art Ramon Garcia, Jr., is the Vice-Chairman of the U.S. Transhumanist Party during March – June 2023 and the USTP Director of Visual Art. Read more about him here.

The Anti-Aging Manifesto by Mat Alex Richards

March 18, 2023 Mat Alex Richards Comments 0 Comment

Mat Alex Richards

Editor’s Note: The United States Transhumanist Party publishes this manifesto by Mat Alex Richards as a statement which is aligned with our Core Ideal 1, which holds that “The Transhumanist Party supports significant life extension achieved through the progress of science and technology.” Mr. Richards eloquently emphasizes the imperative to combat biological aging and prevent our own non-existence, instead achieving lives of open-ended duration and potential.

~ Gennady Stolyarov II, Chairman, United States Transhumanist Party, March 18, 2023

We must demand a total mobilization of humanity for the extension of healthy life:

Declare biology as a priority science. Train biologists en masse, build laboratories, declare war on death, make lots of people aware of that – as many people as possible.

I am; that’s enough for me. I am, I want to continue to be, to be as I am, better than I am if possible.

Aging and death are abominable. And we accept it. Denying it won’t solve this essential matter. We think of something else. We fight. We eat, we work, we love, we hate, we philosophize, we hope to leave a name in the dictionary for some, we adorn our minds.

We lie to each other. We lie to ourselves.

The truth is this: any life that knows it must end is just an agony.

We have consciousness. We know that no longer being, when one was, is the worst thing, the only real curse.

We could only observe, and submit. We had no way to act on the duration of our existence. For millennia.

We followed along the scientific grind, without this question having more importance than thousands of others; whereas it is the question, the only essential one, the one on which all the others depend.

There is no doubt that humanity will come to know the vital mechanisms well enough to suppress aging, that is to say, to prolong life, and even, theoretically – I mean barring accidents – to prolong it indefinitely.

The objections, who cares. We’ll see when we get there. The stakes are enormous for me, for you, for your loved ones, for everybody. No delay… No putting off.

It is impermissible, given the change, to let it pass.

Life is too short compared to what humans can do. Aim high. What has a limit, a predictable limit, is always too short. When one is existing, it is too stupid not to exist one day. Too stupid, that’s it.

Today, all that can change.

All of this needs to change and will change.

The question is: Do you want to be in the game?

Do you want to be in the most important human adventure ever?

Do you want to participate and make it happen faster?

The goal is to remain alive and healthy as much as we want.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Makiko Yoshioka – June 5, 2022

February 7, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Makiko Yoshioka
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg
Jose Cordeiro
Didier Coeurnelle

On June 5, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Makiko Yoshioka to discuss her research on the health and legal impacts of transhumanism. She provided a comparative analysis of the situations in regard to the influence of transhumanism on the health and legal realms in Japan and the European Union. She especially offered insights on transhumanism’s reception in Japan, where robotics have been warmly welcomed, while there has been more apprehension about merging with technology.

Makiko Yoshioka is a graduate student at Paris 8 University, specializing in health law with a focus on digital and AI systems. She provided an overview of her research in these areas and discussed potential future directions for that research.

She plans to analyze how transhumanism is going to develop in the field of health care, including how to protect human rights. She will compare and contrast the prospects in Japan and France (and the European Union more generally) for technological advances such as exoskeletons, humanoid robots, and nanorobots. Some additional topics will be: (1) procreation and longevity; (2) how medical treatment for heavy sicknesses such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases will influence human rights and civil law (such as contract law) and the medical responsibility of doctors and other healthcare workers; and (3) how the position of the “human” will be influenced and modified by relations among transhumanists, “classic humans”, and humanoid robot beings.

In 2022 Makiko Yoshioka had also begun working for Heales – The Healthy Life Extension Society.

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Mark Hamalainen – June 12, 2022

February 6, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Mark Hamalainen
Gennady Stolyarov II
Art Ramon Garcia, Jr.
David Shumaker
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg
Jose Cordeiro

On June 12, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party invited Mark Hamalainen to discuss the newly formed LessDeath organization and its inaugural Longevity Summer Camp, happening during July 20-24, 2022, in Nevada City, California.

Mark explained his background in the longevity field, and how the shift of the bottleneck from money to talent prompted him to change his focus from doing the science himself to motivating others to pursue it.

Mark Hamalainen is the Founder of LessDeath and former Director of Science at Synthego. He studied Biology at University of Cambridge, where he received a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree.

References

LessDeath website.

“LessDeath Presents the Longevity Summer Camp” – Article on spannr.

LessDeath LinkedIn Page.

LessDeath Twitter Account.

***

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

U.S. Transhumanist Party Virtual Enlightenment Salon with Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana – June 19, 2022

February 6, 2023 U.S. Transhumanist Party Comments 0 Comment

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana
Gennady Stolyarov II
David Shumaker
Jason Geringer
Ben Ballweg

On June 19, 2022, the U.S. Transhumanist Party spoke with Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana regarding his initiatives with the World Talent Economy Forum and his efforts to reach numerous talented minds throughout the developing world and enable them to work on advancing emerging technologies and implementing policies that are aligned with the goals of the U.S. Transhumanist Party.

Sharif Uddin Ahmed Rana is the founder of the World Talent Economy Forum and the Director of Foreign Relations for the U.S. Transhumanist Party. Read more about him.

World Talent Economy Forum.

World Talent Economy Forum YouTube channel.

Advances in Nikola Tesla Technologies in the 21st Century – World Talent Economy Forum Conference.

World Talent Economy Forum Debate on Artificial Intelligence – December 24, 2021

World Talent Economy Forum Debate on Space Colonization – December 31, 2021

Join the U.S. Transhumanist Party for free, no matter where you reside.

Background Information

What Defines a Next Earthling?

The Earth Plexus Curriculum

IntroPlex

MetaPlex

ExoPlex

HoloPlex

Why You Should Step Up

The Missing Symbolic Layer

The Sapient Core

At the center sits a Meta-Objective:

Archetypes as Ethical Attractors

Why It Matters

The Invitation

We Were (Necessarily) Way Off

What is Paradism?

Six Practical Steps to Prepare for Paradism

1. Train your nervous system out of scarcity mode.

2. Shift your value from labor to contribution.

3. Build collaboration muscles.

4. Normalize AI as a partner, not a rival.

5. Detox from status-through-stuff.

6. Practice purpose without pressure.

Three Practices for Parents

1. Teach abundance stories.

2. Let kids solve real problems together.

3. Model calm around technology.

Abstract

Introduction: Beyond the Soloist

Historical Parallel: Resistance, Then Reverence

The Emergence of the Human Conductor

The False Comfort of Human Oversight

The Lacuna of Legitimacy

Conducting Toward the Future

Conclusion: Creative Symphonics and the Rise of Meta-Minds

References

Program Notes Piano Sonata No. 3 in G minor “Death is Wrong” Composer: Adriano G. Santos

Inspired by the book Death is Wrong, written by Gennady Stolyarov II

References

Progress at LEVF: December 2025

The vital importance of RMR (Robust Mouse Rejuvenation)

A successful result will involve a statistically significant number of ordinary middle-aged mice, and will at least double their mean and maximum (90% decile) remaining lifespan.

That’s pretty soon – but not soon enough.

In short, extra funding will increase the chance of aging being conquered sooner.

Some highlights from 2025

Magnifying your donations and support

Introduction

1. Infrastructure Modernization: The High-Speed Rail Revolution

2. Green Energy and Environmental Technology

3. Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence

4. Space and Quantum Technology

5. Lessons for Other Nations

Conclusion

Question 1. Vote on the Endorsement of Zoltan Istvan

Question 2. Vote on the Endorsement of Timothy Grady

Question 3. Vote on the Entry into a Political Coalition with the U.S. Pirate Party, Entitled “All Hands for a Free Future”

I. Overview

II. Public Awareness and Perception

III. Forms of Expression

IV. Policy & Ethics Landscape

V. Opportunities

VI. Obstacles

VII. Recommendations (Near-Term, Practical)

Background Information

Question 1. Endorsement of Zoltan Istvan for Governor of California in 2026

Background on Question 2. Endorsement of Timothy Grady for Governor of Ohio in 2026

Background on Question 3. All Hands for a Free Future: Political Coalition with the U.S. Pirate Party

Article I: Name and Purpose

Article II: Membership

Article III: Coalition Governance

Article IV: Presidential Elections

Article V: Amendments

I. Overall Situation

II. Public Awareness and Cognition

III. Forms of Expression

IV. Public Opinion

V. Potential Opportunities

VI. Potential Obstacles

📌 Conclusion

Biography of John Kerecz, Written by Himself

Program Notes
Piano Sonata No. 3 in G minor
“Death is Wrong”
Composer: Adriano G. Santos

**Inspired by the book Death is Wrong, written by Gennady Stolyarov II**

Progress at LEVF:
December 2025

**Interviews with John Kerecz on Steele Archer’s Debt Nation Show**