User blog comment:JoshofBlades/Why the Empire Should Prevail Over the Stormcloaks! Part 3 (Economics)/@comment-193.66.81.13-20111201023034

Do you like the Thalmor? If yes, help their Imperial puppets to crush the rebellion and make things easier for the Thalmor for their eventual rule over all of Tamriel. If not, help the Stormcloaks purge the Empire's (read = Thalmor's) influence from Skyrim and Hammerfell will no longer be alone in the rebellion. I really, really hate the Thalmor, so no way I would support their puppets in this war. Thalmor gestapo spying on everyone, arresting people and torturing them for worshipping Talos? That is happening in the Empire now, only because the coward Emperor wants to keep his throne. The next step would be to slowly take over the Empire from the inside with Thalmor agents, and Skyrim being part of the Empire is not going to stop that from happening. Independent Skyrim can do the same as Hammerfell did, drive out the Thalmor. Sure Ulfric is not a perfect do-gooder, but he is just one piece in the long struggle to stop the Aldmeri Dominion.