No bailout? Here's Plan B

The SEC and FDIC changes announced Tuesday are not the only ideas being discussed in Washington and among economists. Some others:

• Change federal requirements that force banks to keep a certain level of cash on hand for every dollar they lend out.
• Give banks the chance to exchange loan notes for FDIC notes, which be more valuable and allowing the banks more flexibility to make loans.
• Purchase on a massive scale mortgage-backed securities issued by finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
• Extend limits on short sales of financial sector stocks.
• Cut the fed funds rate - the Federal Reserve's target for short-term lending - perhaps all the way to zero, or in coordination with rate cuts by other central banks around the globe.