We live in an era where the global capital markets are the super power in the world, and when they move against you as they've moved against Russia, as we've all seen in the ruble, there's nothing that can stop that. Roger Altman More Quotes by Roger Altman More Quotes From Roger Altman Mergers generate substantial synergies. Roger Altman substantial generate mergers The 2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession that followed have had devastating effects on the U.S. economy and millions of American lives. But the U.S. economy will emerge from its trauma stronger and widely restructured. Roger Altman american will great stronger The 2008 economic crisis and Great Recession forced widespread restructuring throughout the U.S. economy - not unlike a company gritting its teeth through a lifesaving bankruptcy. Roger Altman great teeth company crisis Within a few months in 2008, household finances were crushed as asset values fell, millions of jobs were lost, countless credit cards were canceled, and thousands of homes were foreclosed on. Roger Altman values credit lost cards Too many companies are just being big for the sheer sake of it. Too many CEOs thinking bigger is better. Roger Altman better big being thinking The Fed is the major U.S. firefighter. It's not the Treasury. It's not the Congress. We certainly saw that vividly in 2008. Roger Altman saw major treasury congress I don't think there's a more battle-hardened veteran anywhere than Larry Summers. Roger Altman anywhere than more think When Xi Jinping came to power, there were a series of hints that market-based capitalism would be allowed to move forward under his leadership. At the first real threat, they've fallen over themselves to impose government control. Roger Altman control government power leadership I think Obamacare, for all its controversy, is actually working. Roger Altman i-think working think controversy The United States is much further along because its financial crisis struck three years before Europe's, in 2008, causing headwinds that have pressured it ever since. Roger Altman crisis financial three years The long-standing wisdom that everyone wins in a single world market has been undermined. Global trade, capital flows, and immigration are declining. Roger Altman single immigration wisdom world The financial and economic crash of 2008, the worst in over 75 years, is a major geopolitical setback for the United States and Europe. Roger Altman over economic worst financial Reasonable mergers generate substantial synergies, so that provides for earnings and cash-flow growth even if it doesn't provide for revenue growth, and I think that's a big driver. Roger Altman i-think big think growth In this age, if the currency of a major nation collapses, or its access to borrowing ends, it just can't function. Roger Altman nation just function age Russia's oil fields are mature and require capital and Western technology even to keep production flat. Roger Altman oil russia mature technology Many Russia experts note the deep and sad capacity of the Russian people for suffering. Roger Altman deep sad suffering people The more Mr. Putin extends the fighting in eastern Ukraine, the more the financial markets will ratchet up their own pressure on Russia. Roger Altman own will fighting pressure There are a lot of anachronisms in Washington, but the need to periodically raise the debt limit by Congressional vote is certainly one of them. Roger Altman limit need debt vote As we all know, the budget decisions which give rise to increased debt are what counts, and the debt is just a by-product of those budget decisions. Roger Altman decisions rise know debt China is beginning to act more like a world citizen. We need China to be more active on the world stage. For example, we should want China to be a bigger participant and a bigger shareholder in the IMF. We should want it to be an even more active participant in the G8 and G20. Roger Altman need beginning want world