Thanks to drauk for posting this.
I also believe that our UK ATC would provide at least as good a service during the actual emergency as these chaps.
What is different, and relevant to the US privatisation plans, is our complete lack of access to a pre-flight briefer in the UK. The best way to avoid situations like this one is adequate pre flight planning and this is made incomparably simpler and safer in the US through the 1-800-WX-BRIEF service which puts the pilot directly in touch with a specialist who can advise on weather, Notams and other matters. The specialist can also file a flight plan during the briefing, encouraging the use of VFR plans.
Some of the services proposed for privatisation in the US would be moved to the Internet and I have been able to get a
letter published in the US aviation press regarding our sometimes very poor experiences in the UK in this area.
I'm not sure FSS is 'inherantly governmental', but it is clear that private business bidding to take over the service would have to demonstrate significant cost savings. Sadly, the ideal area for this is to transfer the personal briefings to some nieve Internet automation because the true cost, in terms of putting it all right again, does not become apparent until later.