Kooky France and their big ideas: Disallowing headwraps and yarmulkes in public schools, banning U.S. hormone-fed beef, and now taxing airlines tickets for the benefit of those suffering with AIDS in poor countries.

The tax will result in tickets for flights departing from France costing anywhere from $1.27 to $51 more than usual depending on the destination and class of ticket. That means most normal people will hardly feel it, and the net money raised will be in the neighborhood of $256 million each year.

However, if you think your $1.27 will go to help AIDS victims the next time you fly, think again unless you're departing from France. Every U.S. airline is opposed to the tax along with the Bush administration.

HIV airline tax begins in France [The Advocate]