When management fails to produce long term strategy and innovation you can always raise the subsidy rethoric, call in Mother Bush to punish the nasty neighbour, or you can try to lease 100 reengineered 767s as as refueling tankers (at 100 Billion USD with thanks to Dicky Perle....).
In truth, Boeing and Airbus have both certainly received various forms of government help over the years. Some of this controversy reflects two different cultural and business styles. European governments are more open about assisting private industry. The U.S government promotes limited government intervention into the markets but provides indirect help as well.
At the end itīs the product that makes the difference.