You can get pretty good privacy with the pgp public key system. Though, this takes some preparation. And I was trying to figure out to simplify the process of using it.

ftp://ftp.cert.dfn.de/pub/tools/cryp...gpi/7.0/7.0.3/
ftp://ftp.demon.co.uk/pub/pgp/pgp26uix.zip

I almost think that it is our duty to encrypt trivial as well as sensitive email.

Also, I have "heard" that Skype allows private communications in part because there is no centralized communications server. One key method of obtaining freedom is to de-centralize power and control. This also is a benefit of the pgp encryption software -- that it is de-centralized.