A new book, written using crowdsourcing and certain to stir up controversy, has been published by a former Pasok deputy prime minister to prove the complicity of the public and politicians in creating the country's crisis.

Theodoros Pangalos said that Ta fagama oli mazi (We all binged together) backs up his controversial claim made in parliament in September 2010 that citizens, and not only politicians, are to blame for the country's predicament.

Pangalos, a portly Pasok veteran, caused a furore with his statement, delivered during a session of parliament's standing committee on public administration, public order and justice.

The book, which is only available in electronic format and costs 3.99 euros, claims to document numerous cases of waste and mismanagement, many of them submitted by the public via a special website, mazi-ta-fagame.gr, set up earlier this month for the purpose.

A statement published on Pangalos' website expresses the hopes that the book will help "educate" people, especially younger generations, on the need for reform and also help people better understand the political situation in the country.

Pangalos said that the project will continue, inviting the public to comment on the cases he documents and to submit more examples.

"Our goal is to develop the book, with the participation and assistance of readers, using the methodology and tools of crowdsourcing. New versions [of the book] will be generated will be distributed at regular intervals."

(Athens News/dmcu)