from 82% in 1963, annual inflation fell to 22.5% in 1967. in 1966, the budget deficit stood at 1.1% of gdp, from 3.2% in 1964. therefore, if one takes into account the aims of such economic policies, then they can be thought of as effective. but they were unpopular with both the broader society and the nationalistic sectors of the military. the latter accused the economic team of being sellouts ("entreguistas") bent on destroying national industries and delivering the country to u.s. multinationals. such accusations often appeared in the brazilian press, which went mostly uncensored during the 1964–1967 period. the public attributed to the american government an immense political clout over the brazilian regime, an impression encapsulated in a mock-campaign commenced by a humourist, otto lara resende, whose motto was: "enough with middlemen—lincoln gordon for president!" gordon himself complained that american advisors were implicated in "almost every unpopular decision concerning taxes, salaries and prices."