Teach kids to farm, not code. — Kim Burgess

The ability to code itself does absolutely nothing to thrust developers into this elevated world of riches, status and disconnection that you allude to. Programming is simply a tool, a way to abstract a problem and enable it to be solved or solved more efficiently. What boosts mere mortal programmers into the world of software engineering demi-gods is their ability to clearly define these problems and present them in this abstract world. The programming part is nothing more than a hammer to a builder or a scalpel to a surgeon. Yes, you need to know how to use it, but the skill involves knowing what to do with it.

Even with absolute mastery of this skill you do not suddenly go riding into the palace of software engineering gods on the back of a sparkling unicorn to frolic in abundant riches. There are developers all across this planet that are absolutely incredible at what they do, serious geniuses and masters of the craft yet still barely earn enough to survive. What differentiates a programmer from a stupidly rich programmer is the problems they choose to solve. Addressing problems that improve the efficiency of advertising (Google, Facebook et al) are a pretty proven way to do this, as is high frequency trading algorithms or building things that people you already have a lot of money (VC / investor) can use to make more money. The list goes on.

What code.org advocates is teaching this art of programming. Yes, it is an advertising campaign that uses people who have made stupid amounts of money through some of the above tactics but lets remember it also an advertising campaign targeted at America and saying "Do x and you'll be swimming in vats of riches, shiny things and scantily clad women" is a proven tactic in that demographic. What code.org promotes is teaching kids how to look at problems, analyse them and present them in a way that captures what they are trying to solve. It promotes teaching kids how to use a new tool that can assist them to devise solutions to whatever problems they desire. Most importantly it promotes teaching them a tool that they can use to express and communicate this.

P.S. If you're having a hard time finding the applicability of programming to real world problems (i.e. things not contained in the get rich quick options outlined above) have a look at Random Hacks of Kindness and other similar initiatives.