Anyone have a new idea?

It pains me to say, but original, new ideas are few and far between. Often a new concept is only a twist on what has been there in the past.

In all of literature, there are seven basic plot points, and I usually boil everything down to these three: Person falls in love, Person goes to war, Person comes home.

Think about it, every movie, book or poem is about a subject that goes through an experience. It's what we know, it is what we communicate with each other. Every invention that has ever been made is there to assist a subject (person, physical object, organization) go through some sort of transition or accomplish a task.

So, when we are looking at original thoughts, feelings, products and services, how are we able to tell what was truly original or revolutionary?

Yesterday I noticed some chatter between political cartoonists. I'll let you decide for yourself, but it looks as if one artist is drawing a little too closely to another for framing up ideas. Plagiarism leaves a bad taste in the mouth, especially in creative circles.

Here, it appears that David Simpson used the composition from another older cartoon by Jeff MacNelly. Both cartoons tackled different subject matter, but you have to admit, the framing of the composition, the use of the "Psycho" house, is a bit too similar.

This example started a string of consciousness focused on what has been done here in Milwaukee, versus what has been done here in Milwaukee that was previously done somewhere else. 

So I ask you, does anyone have a new idea? Or at least an idea you've taken from somewhere else?