Agreed, but I think this article is railing against a strawman. The choices aren't between basic and C++. Python, for example, can be used with simplicity riv

Agreed, but I think this article is railing against a strawman. The choices aren't between basic and C++. Python, for example, can be used with simplicity rivaling most dialects of basic, but it is also a fairly powerful and expressive language once they get used to it. Then there are things like squeak or Alice that are aimed at providing a gentle and fun introduction to programming. Learning basic is certainly preferable to learning nothing, and like a great many people here I also was introduced to programming through it. But as far as I can see there is little to no reason to consider it a preferable introductory language.