BILL Hoffman, you normally get it right but on this occasion I feel you are left of the mark (Daily, January 27).

On reading your column, I nearly rushed out and tore down the flag flying proudly in my backyard symbolising my jingoistic and ignorant patriotism.

But I stopped and thought "what do I replace it with?".

I thought that a combination of the Coles and Woolworths flags would probably do the trick as they are all about growth and jobs and let's face it if they shut down tomorrow I would struggle to find a beer or a pie!

What is going to change if we become a republic?

Will we all of a sudden become more attractive as an international investment haven?

Will we all become richer or smarter or will things remain much the same?

The pollies getting richer and us getting shafted.

I think it's time we moved on from the sins of our fathers and focused on the positive things that will make our lives better, rather than constantly referring to the past.

I'm sure that we are all sorry but how many times do we have to say it!

DON PORTORS, Mooloolaba