User blog comment:JoshofBlades/Clearing something up./@comment-30303790-20111126221357

The real question is Does defeating the Stormcloaks help the Empire or the Aldmeri Dominion?

The Empire is in ruin, so much so that its existance may do more harm to the people it's meant to protect than good. Had the Empire stood for what it once did, I could easily choose them, but they lack one of the most important parts of a powerful nation, direction. They lost to the Aldmeri Dominion and the Thalmor, and now are trying to pick the pieces of their broken Empire back up. But they have no real leader and no real guidance, since the oblivion crisis they have been constantly loosing power and influence.

From a social standpoint, yes, many Stormcloaks are racist, but others want only to worship as they wish. Should helping the Empire mean siding with the Dominion, you would just be trading racial bigotry for religioius bigotry; making this a real "pick your poison" situation.

Skyrim's involvement with the Empire should benefit the land, not put it under opression. With what seems like no want to start to war with the Aldmeri coming from the Empire, perhaps it is better for the Stormcloaks to win.