If you haven't noticed the ads or today's article in The Charlotte Observer, you may have noticed a one-page letter in your mail informing you that your household will receive the Census next week. (Which you should totally fill out and return ASAP.)

Now, this is where I get really frustrated with our government.

Is it necessary to send a letter announcing the impending arrival of another piece of mail? Are we sure? 'Cuz, that seems a little excessive.

How much, exactly, did it cost to buy the paper, envelopes and ink for that little project? (It was all recycled paper, right?)

Please tell me the U.S. Post Office didn't charge for postage.

How many people-hours went into that mailer?

And, of course, now you've ticked off the English-as-a-second-language minority groups, Census peeps. Way to go.