Please, Pretty Please, Do This For Us--Next Week That Is

My house got a letter this week from the US Census Bureau. I don't remember when it came, sometime earlier this week. I assumed this was the 2010 census form. It wasn't. This is what the letter said:

About one week from now, you will receive a 2010 Census form in the mail. When you receive your form, please fill it out and mail it promptly. 

Your response is important. Results from the 2010 Census will be used to help each community get its fair share of government funds for highways, schools, health facilities, and many other programs you and your neighbors need. Without a complete, accurate census, your community may not receive its fair share.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,
So and So from the Government

That's it. Is it just me, or does this seem really silly? Have you ever got a letter telling you to pay a utility bill on time, before the bill even came? Does the government send letters out asking for tax returns early? You get a call from the doctor's office when your late on payment, not before your appointment.

And what am I supposed to do with this? This letter gave me no new information, and didn't dispose me to take care of the census form any faster. I mean, I don't even have it yet! I can't act on this information. I guess I am just supposed to file this somewhere in the back of my head as a really important concept, and remember how dire it is that I turn in the census form sometime next week, because I—supposedly—need a whole host of programs the government is going to fund.

Oh well. I think I will just laugh about it instead.