Why did violent crime peak around 1991 in the USA, Canada and elsewhere then commence to significantly reduce? In a New York Times article it was reported that the aggregation of all violent crime in the USA significantly peaked in 1991:
Perhaps nowhere has the drop been more stunning than in New York City, which reported only 328 homicides for 2014, compared with 2,245 in 1990.
There was not only a fall in serious crime, there was also declines in teenage pregnancy, child abuse and juvenile delinquency. [1]
Coincidentally, I only discovered the most likely reason for the falling crime rate from watching Catalyst, an Australian TV program, in an episode called Lead Astray[2] which included the following:
“New York today is a very different city to the one it was 20 years ago. For one thing, it’s considered to be much safer. There’s been a big drop in violent crime since the 1990s…. ..but oddly enough, as the rate of violent crime plunged in New York, it also plummeted in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, in fact, all over the United States and in many other countries.”
and
“Although it’s just a correlation, studies of individuals also show high childhood lead exposure increases the likelihood of a life marked by crime.”
Not only is there a correlation, the correlation between crime levels and lead levels has a 22 years delay, so that the peak in crime in 1991 is 22 years after the peak in lead pollution around 1969. 1969 is an extremely interesting date because the peak of the 357 years Scorpio sub-age and overflow (1791-1970-2148) is 1970. [For details of the mechanics and terminology used in macro-astrology – refer to The Age of Aquarius for Dummies]
In the same way that Scorpio indicates the excretory organs for a person, in a worldwide perspective, Scorpio rules the excrement of the world – especially pollution. The astrology supports the assertion that the crime wave peak in 1991 correlates to the lead pollution levels in the late 1960s.
“Perhaps the biggest crime associated with lead is that it was known to have serious toxic effects long before it was added to petrol.”
The history of the use of lead as a fuel additive has a direct correlation to Capricorn, the traditional ruler of lead. In 1924, the year before the start of the 30 year Capricorn micro-age and overflow (1925-40-55), 17 workers died from lead poisoning in Standard and DuPont refineries in New Jersey. This was so controversial at the time that it resulted in a one year moratorium on the addition of lead additives to gasoline (petrol) commencing in 1925, while an inquiry was under way. This inquiry and subsequent research were hijacked by the lead industry. The late 1920’s research by Robert A. Kehoe of the University of Cincinnati concluded that lead had no adverse health benefits – and this corrupt assessment held sway until the 1960s. When an independent researcher discovered in 1943 that children with lead poisoning developed behavioral problems, he was threatened with a lawsuit and the research ceased. It took almost 40 years to discredit Kehoe and in the 1970s, the US government finally commenced phasing out lead in gasoline. The lead industry then shifted their marketing to developing countries and actively lobbied these governments against phasing out of lead in gasoline.[3] This unethical practice by global corporations has been mimicked by numerous other industries once they get banned or limited in First World countries.
Finally, it was during the Leo quasi micro-age (December 1993-July 2007), that nearly all countries passed laws to stop adding lead to gasoline – only Germany and Austria pre-empted this period but they still enacted laws in the first part of the Leo micro-age. Leo represents the 8th house of death to Capricorn lead!
How many peoples’ lives have been ruined by lead? Very small exposure to lead seriously restricts the mental development of a child as they evolve into adults. Does this carelessness (to the point of criminality) of adding lead to gasoline apply to anything else? Are harmful residues of plastics, industrial chemicals, pesticides and so on having deleterious effects upon the general public? The astrology strongly supports this assertion plus there is the legendary unethical behavior of major corporations that are only focused upon their revenue like a drug pusher selling ice.
The strongest period for the Scorpio sub-age and overflow is the third quarter of its cycle – specifically the period 1970 to 2059. This is the period that Scorpio runs amok like a freight train out of control. Unfortunately, lead continues to be used widely in the world in a variety of situations other than a fuel additive. In addition, Iraq continues to add lead to petrol and other countries following the same practice are: Afghanistan, Burma (‘Myanmar’), North Korea, Algeria and Yemen.[4]
As a result of the rapidly increasing crime rates in the 1980s, the USA enacted draconian laws including expanding the death penalty, spent billions of dollars extra in law enforcement and built more prisons. The USA now imprisons more of its population than any other country in the world.
What is the astrological reason behind the plummeting crime rates? From the astrological perspective, 1991 as the peak date for crime occurred in a Leo micro-age (1985-2000) in an Aries quasi micro-age decan (Sep 1987 – Sep 1992). If anything, this Aries should promote excess violent behavior and it did! However the Leo micro-age (1985-2000) is the same period as the Virgo micro-age overflow. What has prisons got to do with Virgo when Virgo’s opposite sign, Pisces, rules prisons? Virgo sits at the 7th house position to Pisces and the 7th house indicates detraction or attack. In this case, prisons archetypally went on the attack capturing more and more of the general public and placing them in prisons like some giant one cell amoeba devouring its victims as depicted in horror movies I saw when a kid in California.
From a statistical perspective, it is very possible that in the USA, a significant percentage of crimes and prison inmates were probably due to excessive childhood exposure to lead levels, especially prevalent in inner city and former industrial areas. However reality is finally catching up, and some lawmakers are re-examining the costly crime control infrastructure to bring it back in line with the current much lower crime levels but Republicans are recalcitrant, and with Republicans controlling both houses of Congress, don’t hold your breath. Canada never enforced draconian legal enforcement measures like the USA but its crime wave has also plummeted as with much of the world.
Why the heavy-handed response from the USA? The USA has Capricorn high on its totem pole, probably situated in third place after Pisces then Aquarius. Capricorn is hard-headed and lacking emotional warmth or connection. Certainly the USA’s response to the spiraling crime wave of the 1980’s was a hard-headed response compared to most of the rest of the world. This Capricorn explains why amongst First World Nations, the USA appears to have the most backward and conservative policies in many areas. On the other side of the equation, the Capricorn archetype that the Puritans brought with them to the USA (mainly in the Capricorn sub-age overflow 1612-1791) also gave them a self-reliant nature with a determination to get ahead in the world – something the USA has certainly accomplished in only a matter of a few centuries. However with Pisces at the top of the USA’s totem pole, it is also prudent to view the USA as if it is bi-polar – a land of extremes.
The perception of most people in the world is that everything is getting worse, especially crime but this is not backed up by any facts. There is a noticeable gap between perception and reality by the general public. For example, when people were asked to rate the safety of 10 major cities in the USA, New York was rated the second most dangerous city, while Dallas and Houston were generally rated safe. The actual crime rate in New York is half of Dallas or Houston. This pessimistic outlook that appeared somewhere a few decades ago is in line with the Scorpio sub-age overflow (1970-2148). Under Scorpio, people feel vulnerable and insecure. The previous sub-age influence was from Sagittarius, and despite two world wars and tens of millions of people killed due to war, violence and pogroms etc., people in western nations felt optimistic. Sagittarius is an optimistic sign and Scorpio is the sign of insecurity. What has occurred in line with falling crime rates is more intense reporting of crime increasing the feeling of vulnerability by most people.
The New York Times does briefly mention the possible connection between crime rates and lead pollution but scientists do not accept statistical correlation as proof. This is why scientists reject astrology. Even if astrologers can demonstrate statistical relationships, unless the underlying cause can be proved, Capricorn ruled hard-headed scientists will continue to reject astrology.
In summary, lead as an additive to gasoline was used prior to the Capricorn micro-age and overflow (1925-40-55) but during this Capricorn period, it became an entrenched commercial practice resulting in a culmination of lead pollution in 1969 – one year off the absolute peak of the Scorpio sub-age and overflow (1791-1970-2148). The 22 year delay between lead levels and crime resulted in a crime peak in 1991 occurred in an Aries quasi micro-age decan (Sep 1987 – Sep 1992) with Aries always associated with violence. Lawmakers in the USA became alarmed and introduced a series of draconian law enforcement measures resulting in a burgeoning prison population in a period ruled by Pisces opposite sign Virgo, in the Virgo micro-age (1985-2000). Finally, in the Leo micro-age and overflow (1985-2000-2014), and even more specifically during the upper half of the bell-curve for Leo, the Leo quasi micro-age (December 1993-July 2007), nearly all countries passed laws to stop adding lead to gasoline – Leo represents the 8th house of death to Capricorn lead!
References:
[1] Erik Eckholm, In a Safer Age, U.S. Rethinks Its ‘Tough on Crime’ System New York Times, Jan 13, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/14/us/with-crime-down-us-faces-legacy-of-a-violent-age-.html?rref=politics&module=Ribbon&version=context®ion=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Politics&pgtype=article
[2] Catalyst Lead Astray, http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4174798.htm
[3] Tetraethyllead, Wikipedia, Retrieved February 16, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tetraethyllead&oldid=647309043
[4] Anne Roberts, Six countries still use leaded petrol. Why?, LEAD Action News vol 11 Number 4, June 2011, ISSN 1324-6011, The journal of The LEAD (Lead Education and Abatement Design) Group Inc., http://www.lead.org.au/lanv11n4/lanv11n4-5.html
Further resources from Terry MacKinnell
www.macro-astrology.com – details of purchasing the book available
The Age of Aquarius for Dummies – explains the structure and sub-periods associated with the astrological ages
Aquarian Age Economics – Examines the relationship between macro-astrology and financial cycles
At the Cutting Edge of the Aquarian Age – Cutting edge research into the astrological ages for astrologers
FaceBook – keep up to date with what is happening
Demystifying the Aquarian Age 
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