it hasn't worked and it's been a negative for the economy and for income inequality. >> this is dick parsons if we had the right agenda, if we were doing the right things policy wise, we'd be back on the growth curve. >> right. >> what is that agenda? what do you think we should be doing? >> there are some big picture things, dick, that have always worked. that is lower regulation, lower taxes. and lowering the cost of doing business. and we have done the opposite of that, but we're over that. it's been done and there is no silver bullets left but there's a number of things that, in my opinion, we could be doing today that would help us. one is our energy situation, you know, frac'ing has put a whole new picture on us but we still don't have the keystone. it's been three years. we still don't have the keystone project which would add jobs but more importantly would make north america energy independent. we would no longer be slaves to the middle east. that hasn't happened. >> someone's not going to be watching the state of the union tonight. i have a feeling -- you're not dvr'ing, are you, d

our guest host today is former citigroup chairman dick parsons. mark mobius and thomas per easy, those two will be joining us during the 8:00 a.m. hour. this morning, we start with the markets. the dow closing at six-week lows. futures at this hour are indicated higher. dow futures up by about 100 points. the s&p futures are up by just over 9. yesterday, it looks like things were starting out strong. they gave that back by tend of the session. this is a pretty momentous

. >>> and tomorrow on "squawk box," another big lineup with guest host dick parsons. >> got to bring t. >> i don't know know he had a new restaurant. plus, leon cooperman of omega advisers will be here and dick kovacevich will talk financials. "squawk box" is back after a quick break. >>> welcome back. didn't even check it like that. welcome back to "squawk box." shares of merk getting a boost. upgraded by morgan stanley. two-grade notch up from overweight to underweight. i'd like to look into that and see what was different. who did we have on, gorman, had a lot of big-name people on. >> yeah, saw him out and about. is more done, do you think, honestly, andrew, isn't it really more about -- does anything ever get done? it's about the parties. >> it's what happens on the air. >> i agree. >> no deal making? >> there's deals. i think there's some deal making. it's usually the seeds are planted as opposed to real things done. a lot of regulatory conversations. >> but mostly parties? >> parties set the seeds for the other stuff. >> i think you might be right. more productive than i though