I’m Melvin Valkner, CPA, Founder of The Common Man™ and a life-long resident of the Kalamazoo, Michigan area. By way of background, after serving in the U.S. Army with tours in Vietnam and Germany, I attended Western Michigan University (WMU) graduating with the double majors of Political Science and Philosophy. Returning to WMU for a couple more years, I took business and accounting classes finally becoming a Certified Public Accountant and tax professional. After this I became a healthcare administrator, entrepreneur, business owner and the first Treasurer of Southwest Michigan Patriots (Kalamazoo Tea Party).

Like a growing number of citizens, I am very concerned with the recent events unfolding in Washington. Studying the U.S. Constitution for the first time since college I discovered both Democrats and Republicans (I have voted for both over the years) are guilty of ignoring it, thus causing many of the nation’s ills. Gradually and unknowingly, citizens have grown dependent on the federal government and are slowly giving up their liberty. This is not about promoting a left-wing or right-wing agenda. This is about upholding the Constitution.

Attending a Tea Party on April 15, 2009 literature from the Constitution Party, a maturing national political party, came to my attention. It was obvious they are a political party resolute in its determination to following the original intent of our Founding Father’s design of a federal government with the very specific and limited powers outlined in the U.S. Constitution. While I had never before joined a political party, I joined the U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan (USTPM), Michigan’s affiliate of the Constitution Party and organized the Kalamazoo County-USTPM Political Committee in Michigan’s 6th Congressional District. Feel free to contact me directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

I have recently finished writing an eBook titled The Common Man, highlighting my search for truth, available for free on this website. The Common Man is a colorful and honest chronicle of my evolution from farm boy to Adamant Constitutionalist.

This website and TCM Power Principles™ were developed to gain a common and clear focus on what needs to be done to get this nation and our leaders to again following the original intent of the Constitution. We must get “back to basics.” If implemented I believe Pareto’s Principle will apply, that 80% of the work will be done in 20% of the time, and power will be returned to the States and the People that is rightfully theirs and a new era of hope will begin. The way forward is clear and I am willing to do my share of the heavy lifting. The time to act is now. Will you help?

I believe...

• This country has reached a critical point in its history. It is obvious that neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party can lead the country out of the mire in which we find ourselves. After all, they were the ones who led us here.
• It will take new leaders who understand the obligation to protect and defend the U.S. Constitution, and the interests of The Common Man.
• What John Quincy Adams said is as true today as when he spoke it more than two centuries ago, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”
• We must be willing to reframe the argument and retake the higher ground. Standing on principles, what is right and good must be central to our actions and our very being.
• Our political leaders are obliged to rigorously follow the precepts ratified in the U.S. Constitution, one of the finest documents ever conceived by man.
• We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness.
• The United States is a sovereign nation and should always remain so by refraining from any agreement that would in any way subject its sovereignty to the power of any nation or group of nations.