Transparency

In a recent article on BBC News it seems like Barack Obama may "quit" using e-mails... Due to transparency laws, his private e-mails could be subject to the public eye. I had never thought of it being an issue for the president to use a cell phone or it being a problem for him to use e-mail. Is it really ethical that just because he's the President that his e-mails would be open to the public? I'm not sure I agree with this, although many would agree that when your place yourself in a position of public interest like an actor or politician, all aspects of your life are public too. We've used Jenifer Aniston’s boobs several times in class, and Sarah Palin's family as an example several times in class, and even though I can recognize those who agree that their private lives aren't private, I don't agree. Sure some may do it for attention, and really sort of want people hounding them, I feel as though everyone is entitled to their right to privacy regardless of their "Job." Hypothetically speaking if I were to become famous doing what I do, I wouldn't want my private life to become open to the public. Sure it could be argued that if that were to happen, it'd be my own fault of placing myself there, but there's a difference between wanting to succeed and do some great things, and wanting to be featured in tabloids in supermarkets around the US.

Do people really have the “right” to know what e-mails the president is sending? Do people really have a right to know the contents of an e-mail that anyone sends? I could see for security reasons why Obama would have to refrain from using his blackberry, but other than that he shouldn't have to worry about sending an e-mail...