still can't get pip to run

[Skaperen]

i am still having troubles getting pip to run:

Output:
lt2a/forums /home/forums 1> pip list
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/local/bin/pip", line 7, in <module>
    from pip._internal import main
ImportError: No module named 'pip._internal'
lt2a/forums /home/forums 2> cat /usr/local/bin/pip
#!/usr/bin/python3

# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
import re
import sys

from pip._internal import main

if __name__ == '__main__':
    sys.argv[0] = re.sub(r'(-script\.pyw|\.exe)?$', '', sys.argv[0])
    sys.exit(main())
lt2a/forums /home/forums 3>

i did a full fresh install of Ubuntu 16.04.5 LTS and everything else has been working fine (except --system mode of pulseaudio). any ideas?