I've worked along side a couple of AOA representatives over the past few years. The most hilarious justification for the new schools I've ever heard, which could only come from an AOA or ABO rep, cited the need for "more ODs in underserved areas," as if new programs had anything to do with filling that need. Sure, let's place a school in the middle of nowhere and hope that those who attend it will somehow choose to practice in underserved communities around the school? This makes less than no sense.
The solution is to create incentives for new grads to actively choose to practice in those types of settings. They need to be drawn there since virtually no one wants to live in those settings. But since that solution does not involve the creation of more ODs, more schools, more commercial optometry, and more money for investors in programs, it will never happen. The AOA has to be one of the most shortsighted organizations in history - led by people who are absolutely out of touch with their own profession.
As Tippytoe points out, the idea of going rural now days doesn't fly anymore. Back when ODs could make a good living seeing 6-10 patients per day, the rural doc could do just fine. Those days are over, baby. Now, thanks to vision plans, it's all about "making it up on volume." "Don't worry doc, we'll only pay you $12 for that comprehensive eye exam with a laundry list of requirements, both in and out of the exam room, but you can must make it up on volume. Oh, we hope you don't mind, but we're going to allow our plans to be accepted at every WM, Sam's Club, Costco, Burger King, America's Best, Shop N Save, Toys R Us, and Cinnabon that's within 100 miles of your office, but no worries - it's all good."