"You can't fall back on the private sector and say, 'You take care of the nation's banking system.' That's a fundamental function of the government, the Federal Reserve, the Treasury and the FDIC, etc. All of those agencies have a major role to play there"

This quote by Dick Cheney is referring to the role of the federal government in the banking system. He is highlighting that the government has a fundamental obligation to ensure the stability of the banking system, and that it can not be delegated the economic sector. He mentions the Federal Reserve, the Treasury, and the FDIC as examples of government firms that have a significant role to play in this regard. This quote highlights the value of the government in controling the banking system and guaranteeing its stability. It also functions as a reminder that the federal government has a responsibility to secure the public from financial instability and to make sure that the banking system is functioning effectively.