I'm Melvin Valkner and I have a very important message for you. I know it sounds like hyperbole, but after the Bible, THE COMMON MAN is the most important book of our lifetime. Why? Honesty.

Growing up in the 1950s, The American Dream was very much alive. Oh how things have changed. This is not the country of my youth. The American Dream is fading fast. Everyone senses it, but it seems no one knows what to do about it – until now.

Entertaining and informative, THE COMMON MAN is a remarkable book. This is not dry academic research that puts you to sleep. THE COMMON MAN is absorbing and inspiring. It is the, “If experience is the best teacher, I should be President by now,” type of book.

After giving some background, God & Home, the first section, begins by recounting my coming home from the Vietnam War disillusioned, using drugs and groping for the meaning of life. Graduating from college in political science and philosophy, I set out to find truth at any cost.

After the successive deaths of a good friend, father, brother and newborn son I accepted Christ. That was the easy part. Even as I committed myself to being a family man, job losses and business setbacks led me to seek a deeper relationship with God. I read the Bible through in its entirety year after year, more than 30 times now, and comparing it to the Koran find them diametrically opposed.

I started journaling, trying to make sense of things. Whenever you seek God you can expect significant life events. Stories with nuggets of wisdom abound. And that's when things went to another level.

In God & Country, the second section, I joined the Tea Party. As I lay very still in bed after a vivid dream night, God asked, “Are you ready to go to Washington?” So I ran on a third-party ticket against long-time Michigan incumbent Rep. Fred Upton in 2010.

Since then I've spent countless hours continuing a search for the truth, trying to figure out where the U.S. went wrong and what is needed to get it back on the right path. It may sound egotistical, but I found the answer. I got it. I know what to do. The answer surprised me. I thought the root of the nation's problems was of recent origins, but I was wrong. For example, did you know that 100 years ago the total effective tax rate (federal, state and local) was about 8% - now it's about 40%. Small wonder the middle class is vanishing. Now this is just a symptom, not the disease itself.

Leaning on my financial background and Biblical knowledge, I found two multi-faceted “smoking guns” in the hands of Democrats and Republicans that, unintentionally or otherwise, are killing The American Dream.

Again, this is not dry academic research, but a book filled with engaging, fact-filled stories having the twists and turns of a great novel - except this is all true. Think of it like good dinner conversation. Click on THE COMMON MAN book cover below and the first three chapters appear for free in PDF format so you can see for yourself that THE COMMON MAN is no ordinary book.

Amazon (click here) offers both the Kindle and the printed copy. If you would like an autographed copy please order it through this website on menu at top of page. Either way, there's no time to waste.

Book Testimonies...

What a character! - Rich Bowman

A fascinating story, enjoyed it - Joe Sanger

Finally, someone who has a clue - Richard Henderson

Can't wait to get home and read more - Melissa Ball

You have experienced much, thank you for sharing - John Briggs

Cannot help but be compelled to a clear course of action - TL Adamson


About Mel Valkner...

Mel Valkner, CPA is a life-long resident of the Kalamazoo, Michigan area. After serving in the U.S. Army with tours in Vietnam and Germany, he attended Western Michigan University (WMU) graduating with the double majors of political science and philosophy. Returning to WMU for two more years of business and accounting classes he eventually became a CPA and tax professional.

Leaving public accounting he became a healthcare administrator, financial executive in manufacturing, education and service industries, entrepreneur and author. He is a former First Vice-Chairman of the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan (USTPM.org), Michigan's affiliate of the national Constitution Party.

THE COMMON MAN is dedicated to restoring The American Dream.