That's a bit cynical. I think at least a large portion of it is that people tend to believe that whatever skill sets they have are important. So a plumber thi

That's a bit cynical. I think at least a large portion of it is that people tend to believe that whatever skill sets they have are important. So a plumber thinks that basic plumbing knowledge is something everyone should have. Chefs think that everyone should be able to cook the basics. Programmers think that programming is valuable knowledge that everyone should have some familiarity with. If confronted with this, all of them will be able to rattle out perfectly rational arguments in defense of their positions. They aren't wrong. It is just that what they prioritize or think about most often is influenced by what they know and do. Basic plumbing knowledge is useful for anyone who owns a home (or just uses a toilet, sink, or shower), but how often do you see chefs advocating for that sort of practical education? Being able to cook a nice meal for friends or family is a great skill with a lot of social value, and cooking your own food can be very economical, but how often do plumbers advocate for that? We see a lot of people advocating for tech education and extolling the virtues of tech knowledge because we surround ourselves with people who are already in this field. This said, I think there is some truth in what you say. I get pretty suspicious when I see national campaigns for tech education being pushed by the elite. Business leaders or politicians; people who have made something other than programming their profession. Maybe there is a plumbing equivalent of things like code.org, but if so I am not aware of it.