SMS > wrote:
> Jonathan Kamens wrote:
>> Sqwertz > writes:
>>> Obtaining payment from another by threat of harm is certainly
>>> extortion.
>>
>> Obtaining payment from another for a service rendered is not
>> extortion. Companies that do not wish to have their products
>> certified kosher do not need to avail themselves of the service
>> offered by the certification agencies and thus do not need to pay
>> for it. Ther eis no "threat."
>>
>> Products that are not certified kosher are not purchased by Jews who
>> care about such things. This is not a "boycott," it is capitalism in
>> action.
>
> But the real reason for the huge increase in the number of certified
> kosher products is because products that are not certified kosher are also not purchased by non-Jews that care about
> such things.

Easy to claim, hell of a lot harder to substantiate that claim.

> Since so many non-Jewish consumers prefer to buy kosher products,

Easy to claim, hell of a lot harder to substantiate that claim.

> a company that didn't get certification would have far lower production volumes, and higher costs that far exceed the
> cost of inspection and certification.

Easy to claim, hell of a lot harder to substantiate that claim.

> For those like Sqwertz, they could form a company that produced foods
> that were certified to not be kosher, and could charge higher prices
> for such foods because they would be specialty foods not intended for
> the mass market.

Mindlessly silly.