"NSA has VPNs in Vulcan death grip" http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2014/12/nsa-has-vpns-in-v...

This again leads to the disempowerment issue, each measure seems to have been systematically either compromised or weakened. I look forward to new solutions such as the Dark Mail Alliance. The issue i have is that any solution needs to be very 'consumer friendly' as unless both parties are using a secure system taking extra measures is almost pointless. eg. i take steps to chose an email provider who doesn't share their data, or is outside of the NSA/GCHQ jurisdiction but then i have to send an email to an @gmail address i know that those steps i have taken are compromised by the other party.