No, it is not preposterous. From the earliest moments of his campaign, when he volunteered he strives to pay no taxes, Trump has signaled that his taxes are a problem.
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has proposed that a nominee of a political party running for President of the United States must release the last three years of tax returns within 15 days of the nomination or, at that point, the IRS will publish them. Wyden should make certain that tax returns means everything for that year, not just the front page.
Good, sensible... Although 10 years would be better because, as Mitt Romney's father said, a person can start playing it straight in the few years prior to running because he knows he is likely to run.
Trump could probably weather the storm of paying no taxes. Romney did.
But, he cannot abide the world seeing the likely disclosures in his returns: wealth not close to what he claims, debt, absurd deductions (anything remotely connected to enhancing the Trump name, possibly Melania's wedding gown), his hairdos, offshore tax havens, amnesty, unsavory business partners.
Hence, if the Wyden bill passes, Trump may bow out. The Republican Convention would truly be open and it is anyone's guess who would emerge [although I would bet on Paul Ryan, (R-WI).]
The Economist Intelligence Unit, hardly a liberal rag, concluded that a Trump presidency would pose as great a threat to the world economy as a jihadist attack. (Aside to media: Why are we not talking about that?)
Robert Kagan, a neocon, has explained how Trump is fascism come to our shores.
If Republicans want to save their party, if Congress wants to preserve the republic rather than descend into fascism, if we all are frightened beyond belief at an unstable, insecure narcissist having his fingers on the nuclear trigger, then Congress should pass the Wyden bill. Immediately.
When the founders wrote our Constitution, Benjamin Franklin was asked by a woman, "what have you given us?" He answered, "A republic, madam, if you can keep it."
The Wyden bill may be the last chance.
Will it act to save our republic?