BANGOR – The country’s war mentality, accompanied by a swelling defense budget that threatens to drain funding from humanitarian and social welfare programs, were key targets at a spirited forum Saturday in Bangor.

Called a “Real Security Hearing,” the four-hour presentation featured speakers from more than 15 social-activist groups who criticized current United States policies and leadership for an overemphasis on aggression abroad, and a tendency to give breaks to the wealthy classes at home while virtually ignoring the needs of the underprivileged, the underpaid and underinsured populations.

“There is a hostility growing in Maine and elsewhere between those who have and those who have not,” said Pat McCoy of Orrington. McCoy was a millworker and former union representative who lost his job a year ago in Costigan and has been struggling to survive ever since.

Sponsored by groups such as the Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine, the Maine People’s Alliance and the Bangor NAACP, the program also drew four congressional candidates and two candidates for governor. All candidates were invited, but many either sent representatives or ignored the event.

“We lost quite a few candidates to the dog races in Fort Kent,” said Doug Allen, moderator.

Congressional candidates Sean Faircloth, fresh from the dog races, walked into the auditorium at the William S. Cohen School about an hour after the event began. Also attending were David Costello, Lori Handrahan and Susan Longley, three other candidates for the 2nd Congressional District seat to be vacated by John Baldacci.

The only gubernatorial candidates that showed were Jonathan Carter and David Farsaci, both of the Green Party.

The main portion of the lengthy program was given over to speeches made by activists from area peace and justice centers, the National Organization for Women, the Maine People’s Alliance and others.

One of the more compelling speeches was made by McCoy, who said the sudden closure of International Paper’s stud mill in Costigan last year resulted in his losing his job, his pride and his financial security.

“At age 49 I had to cash in my 4019(k) to exist,” said McCoy who took a 20 percent loss to taxes once he withdrew the money. “Nobody should have to choose between buying food and skipping their medications or buying medications and skipping food. We need affordable health care and we need it now,” McCoy said.

Candidates and activists who advocated universal health care got rounds of applause. Amy Oliver of the Maine People’s Alliance said Maine is in a “health care crisis” with 165,000 of its residents without health care insurance.

“The big increase in the military budget after September 11, 2001, is supposed to make us feel secure. Real security won’t come for this country until we get universal health care,” Oliver said.

There was criticism of the newly passed Patriot Act which gives the government wide-ranging authority during investigations of suspected terrorists. The act is “a great assault on us and our world,” said Cathy Mink of the Peace and Justice Group of Waldo County.

“They now have the right to throw people in jail for no reason. … There is no security until there is security for the least of us,” Mink said.