You said:

It is clear that children left to wander at whatever age in whatever neighborhood at whatever time is a recipe for disaster, no matter your political beliefs. But, this is a growing "thing" with many powerful liberals/progressives adopting this "parenting philosophy,"

That is not my understanding from all that I have read about "Free Range Parenting." I think that most of them are more on the conservative side. They just believe that children should be allowed to be children, like in days gone by.

They believe that the actual statistics of the dangers of allowing children outdoors to play in their community, do not align with the fear tactics that are pushed on us by media, etc. They don't want to lock up their children in the house with their entertainment choices being limited to computers and TV.

These days CPS takes children away from parents just because the parents let them walk to school by themselves, or play at the park alone down the street.
Obviously each parent knows not to let really young children like toddlers out on their own, and each parent judges their own child's capabilities and responsibility level before giving them the level of freedom that they are able to handle.

(Ca-Co)