[__jal]

> the idea that everyone should become a programmer is honestly just plain wrong

For this to be fruitful, we need to define terms.

I agree that the notion that "everyone" should have the skill set of a full-time software engineer is silly. But I don't think that's what people mean when they say that.

The idea that "everyone" should be capable of creating software automation, I think, is a good one. By that I am thinking of things like spreadsheets, IFTTT, the late Yahoo Pipes, maybe some very basic scripting. I don't see this as substantially different than asking that "everybody" learn multiplication tables, basic algebra or how to balance a checkbook.

Or put another way, it is possible to function without basic algebra or trivially basic accounting knowledge, but extremely limiting. And I think that the ability to automate routine, simple things you want your computer/phone/cloud-enabled toaster-bunion remover to do on your behalf is becoming a similar basic life skill.