Dave wrote:

Having spent 35 years dealing with guvmint bureaucrats of various stripes, I
want to have as few tasks performed by them as possible, particularly when
the job can be done by private industry. The contrast with for-profit
enterprises is stark.

I soloed my first airplane in 1973 (age 16), and I've been involved with general
aviation ever since. That is ~32 years of watching developments in weather reporting,
and reading accident reports. Also, a family member was/is an accident investigator
for the FAA. My considered opinion is that governement funded internet weather services
provided by the NWS help make aviation and boating activities more safe, and lead
to less fatal accidents involving airplanes and boats. A secondary opinion is that
these services should be encouraged and expanded, not thrown into the private sector.

BTW, since this is a boating forum, I've also been a boatowner for the last 18 years,
and a sailboat owner for about 7 years.

Let me ask you a second time since you dodged this question in your response:

Can you explain rationally your objection to the government making tax funded
information that they already collect available over the internet?? The only
additional cost to the governement is for the web sites. Do you really want to
see the US Government provide _less_ services when the services are inexpensive
and arguably save lives of mariners and pilots??

your response:

You clearly haven't bothered to learn the facts. After you do, come back and
we can talk about it.

I'll ignore this condescending statement, and ask YOU to explain your background
and your 35 years dealing with the "guvmint". I've had a few years of dealing with
the US "guvmint" myself. So have quite a few others on this forum.

So far you haven't provided much in the way of arguments for your point of view.

Don W.