User blog comment:Zippertrain85/"Why the Empire Should Prevail Over the Stormcloaks" refuted (part 1)/@comment-24635935-20140319145439

Its an honest gamble to side with eaither of them, the Empire is weak enough as it is, and Skyrim on its own wouldn't be enough to stop the Thalmor. However, the idea of Skyrim, High Rock and Hammerfell joining forces seems a safer bet than siding with the Imperials, who have a destroyed Morrowind on their side. The Empire is slowly dying, its Emporer, Titus Mede II, is dead, its provinces are lying in ruin, and the Thalmor stand strong.